Swims like fish, smells like fish, tastes like fish...NOT fish.

I feel the need to clarify that I really do know that a whale is a mammal and not a fish. So in my previous post when I speak about the whale in terms of fish, it appears as though I'm scientifically challenged. I'm not, but you've got to imagine the moment. I see this mammal that swims in the ocean, came out of the ocean, smells of the ocean, and tastes of the ocean...and I think 'fish'. But it's not. One of God's little jokes on us, I think.

Barrow is steeped in tradition. This one, in which the entire community partakes of the catch of the whaling crew, was a particularly moving experience. An anthropologist likely has a detailed description of how this came about. My limited understanding is the concept of feeding the community so all are able to survive. Think how important this was 200 years ago; think how important it is today.

I feel so fortunate to have been invited to partake and to witness the occasion. I don't know how to describe what it was like to see scores of community members arriving at the house, walking into the kitchen and queuing up to gratefully receive a portion of the bounty. Congratulations to the hunters were in abundance. What a proud moment for all. Understand, this happens with each successful hunt.

When we got back to our meeting place, new delicacies were put forth. Of course I tried them! First, I tried unalik (that's my spelling, I don't know if it's correct). This was cooked maktak (notice I corrected the spelling of the delicacy I previously referred to as whale sushi). Unalik is maktak that is boiled. Our culinary guide encouraged us to dip it in ketchup...really. I liked it better than maktak (that could have something to do with the ketchup), but I'm thinking it may be an acquired taste. Next, I had a chance to taste whale meat. It tastes like chicken! (No, I'm just kidding). It tastes kind of like red meat of any kind. I understand some folks put various sauces on it. This I liked quite a lot, because it tasted more like the mammals I'm used to.

Did you know (I heard this in the lobby of the hotel I was staying at) that they figure the whale weighs about a ton for every foot it measures in length?