Tuesday...Seattle Time

Coffee at?   Starbucks of course.   Then back to the hotel...where the elevator was broken down!   Up 8 flights to our room.   The elevator was stuck on the 11th floor so I thought I'd go the extra mile (up) and see if I could lend a hand ... maybe it was just propped open (like the doors at Art Works sometime...grrrr).... But it was beyond my skills and the stairwell I used had only an attic ladder access to the 11th floor.   I didn't risk it.  

Back to the room - the cool breeze blowing the curtains.   We got dressed and gathered up everything we needed for the day which included jackets (a little rainy today) and took off for breakfast at a sweet little diner we found.  They know us know and give us extra portions.

We decided to ditch the car ... who needs one in Seattle anyway.  Then using our public transportation cards - went to see Gravity at the IMAX in Seattle Center Park.    Bill and I haven't been to a movie in years.  It was fun.  We're posted on someone's facebook - a family taking pictures and got us too.  

I love the mural there... thinking of Art Works walls.   I'm inspired

Late lunch at Pikes Market - Thai food.

A little shopping in a Beads Shop... very nice people and they have a little puff of a dog.  I'm missing Patty.

A fun day.  

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday in Seattle, WA

The road signage for routes have a silhouette of  George Washington.   Bill noticed this first.   Makes sense - Washington State!   

A car is completely unnecessary in Seattle.   In fact it's a hindrance.  The  cost to park it is $35 a day.  The subways, Orca are open, clean and are buses and trains.   The signage, however is not so great.   A little difficult in finding where to get on to go where you want to go.

People are friendly and helpful.

Bill at original Starbucks holding baked apple crisps.

The Pike Place Market - busy - lots to see - throwing fish - fresh veggies - fresh flowers - original Starbucks with a line out the street. 


Seattle Center- rode the monorail from 1960 World's Fair... $2.25 (cash).    Lovely park.   International Fountain was wonderful.. water to music.  Sculpture of huge flowers with solar power...humming ... singing ...lunch at the Armory ... (see video)

Olympic Park- on the water.   One sculpture needed a coat of paint...ha ha..not really. 

What's on the schedule for today?    Tuesday....it's raining (finally)!   We don't need no stinkin umbrellas! 

Saturday in Seattle

Breakfast - we chatted with young people who were staying at the hotel.  They write applications for cell phones, etc.... so we had something in common ... software big or small ... same issues to resolve and lots of fun doing it.

Off to Enumclaw, WA for the Festival my school girl friend Bonnie coordinates...she was voted most talented in High School (I was nominated and happy enough to just be considered)...Bonnie - beautiful voice and actress and very dedicated.  

On the way saw Mt. Rainier in the distance...SO BIG...so beautiful...so white....
and mountain streams with people fly fishing, farms, cows, horses, little towns. 

We followed navigation on my droid...for Enumclaw, WA.. which took us past the town on and on, up a mountain .... your destination is on the right - a pull over and a Shooting Range...   Bill and I couldn't stop laughing.  We met some nice people at the range who were picking up trash from other shooters.   I have pictures.  Funny...

 

Then back to town and the festival where we listened to good music, ate a bratwurst and a hamburger, bought some art...oh yeah!

 

Then on to Mt. Rainier.. OMG.   Bigger than anything, everything and dwarfing all life's silly problems and thoughts of Washington D.C. squabbling.    I am rocked! 

 

 

 

October 4th We Arrive

Crossing the country, there they were - the Rocky Mountains - snow capped.   It has been a long time since we've seen snow.   And then in the distance a huge white form - a mountain ... Mt. Rainier.   A glacier.... I've never seen a glacier.   And the trees - conifers - evergreen - so many.   Then the cities (Seattle and Tacoma) dwarfed by the mountains.    Then the peninsulas and water, docks.   Beautiful.

The drive from the airport to the city - gorgeous.   Trees so tall (some poplars too).   Buildings (no red brick) -  air crisp.    Everything in this place is beautiful.  

More later.

Glenda