Ketchikan

I liked Ketchikan.  It was fairly touristy but in a fun way.  Lots of cruise ships came and went while we were there.  Bear and I went on a "duck boat" tour and met two women from Iowa who were on a cruise ship.  Both of their homes were flooded while they were gone so they were anxious to get home.  The situation there is so sad. 

In Ketchikan there is an old "red light district".  Back in the day, when there was a 7-to-1 men to women ratio there, brothels were thriving.  The first one was Dolly.  Dolly's house is still there and is now a museum (Eric paid to go through it but Bear and I wandered on!).  Dolly was quite the entrepreneur.  She bought her house in 1919 for $800.  She wanted to pay it off quickly so she went to work.  She charged 50 cents for a shot of whiskey, 50 cents if your feet were muddy and $3 for "her services".  She paid off her house in two weeks!  She was the last brothel to be shut down and when given two weeks notice, she had a "going out of business sale".  She put two-for-one coupons in the local paper and a 20% discount coupon.  She was 72 years old when she stopped her "practice" and she had a boyfriend for 20 years too.  She was said to be 5'10" tall and 200 pounds.  She could take care of herself.  Quite the story, eh?!