Jacksonville |
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Our trip to alaska began with a drive to Seattle with stops in Jacksonville und Ashland, Oregon. Jacksonville is one of the typical western ghosttowns. Like many of these places, it had its heyday in the 19th century after gold was found in the area. As the gold ran out, the town was rapidly (and largely) abandoned, resulting in the continued existence of many fine old buildings. Today the town is a National Historical Landmark and largely lives off tourists and the Britt Music Festival which takes place every summer. Its offerings range from Jazz, pop to classical music. Unfortunately, we were too early for Britt, but we did have time for a leisurely stroll through the old town and a delicious lunch at the Jacksonville Inn:
here are a few more pictures of Jacksonville (Who is the lady in green?)
Besides the Britt Festival, Jacksonville also proudly proclaims itself as a gateway to
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US (almost 2,000 feet!). The lake resulted from the eruption of Mount Mazama about 7,700 years ago. The tipof Mount Mazama is now known as Wizard Island (seen in the picture above). I have been a fan of this park for many years, but unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit it this time. Next year in Crater Lake....
Of course, Jacksonville was only a brief stop, we had dates with the theater in Ashland:
Ashland
Ashland, just like Jacksonville was a boomtown moer than a hundred years ago and then sank into obscurity. But Ashland, beginning in the 1930's reinvented itself as the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. By now this is a mammoth undertaking and includes a lot more than Shakespeare
City Center
Wir spent two nights in the McCall House Bed and Breakfast, a charming, historical house. When it was a private residence, notables like General Sherman and President Rutherford B. Hayes stayed there.
The McCall House then and
now.
Ashland is small and the McCall Haus is in the center of town. That made it possible for us to walk to the theater, an unusual treat. and walk we did: In two days we saw one Shakespeare Comedy (Measure for Measure); the Imaginary Invalid by Moliere; and a modern black comedy "August, Osage County" by Tracy Letts.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: http://www.osfashland.org/
three plays in two days seemed quite a lot to us, but in Ashland that is normal. After all, that is why people come here!
Much as we enjoyed Ashland, we had a date with theater and opera in Seattle and then, of course, ON TO ALASKA!!!