Ride-Share

I have to find a way for the two of us to get from London to York and back again.  The simplest way seems like the train, right?  The problem with the train is that... well why take the train if we can catch a ride with a stranger?  Seems logical.  Now before you all start freaking out, don't worry.  I don't plan on hooking up a ride with some whack-job through Craig's list.  There are people who do this sort of thing regularly.  They have to drive somewhere far and would enjoy the company, the companionship, the conversation, or maybe just the shared expenses.

First I looked up trains from London to York and then had the brilliant idea to look up rideshares.  I found one site that has all sorts of people looking for a ride or looking for someone who needs a ride.  I came across one ad that says, My filing cabinet needs a lift from Torquey to London. and this got me thinking about all those movies we've seen where someone ends up riding in the back of the truck with the herd of sheep, or the tons of potatoes, or the piles of fertilizer, or worse...

photo from http://www.rewards-insiders.marriott.com/people/razorbackfan/blog/2012/10

Maybe a train is a better idea.

Yikes!

Egads! Oh no!  I just read that United Airlines was voted WORST American airline.  Why do I care?  You guessed it; because we're flying United.  According to the article they don't even keep toilet paper in stock.

You're looking at a picture of a make-shift paper holder with napkins.

This is ok, really it is.  There are two possible ways to resolve this.  #1 Don't wipe.  Kind of gross, but it could keep our seatmates from getting too close.  Or #2 bring our own.  Just think, if we bring our own we could sell some to other passengers.  5 cents a sheet, until we enter British air, then it will 5 pence a sheet. At the current exchange rate I could rack in some serious quid (slang for pound). And it will free up some space in our luggage.

In order to get voted worst airline that can't be the only problem.  Maybe the food is cold.  Cold food cannot be as bad as mystery meat.  Seats too small?  Well that's a given no matter the airline.  So, what could make this the worst airline?  We'll find out soon enough.  

Contest

I'm having a contest.  Each time you comment (up to once a day) you are entered into a drawing for a gift from London. . Who knows, it could be a vat of Marmite, a postcard of dead body parts, a picture of my mugshot, or something else equally fun.

To be sure you get all the most recent content you can subscribe by clicking the "Subscribe" button on the right of this page and enter your email address.

The contest will run from today, June 17, 2013 through July 9, 2013.  That is one full week before I leave.

Hunterian Museum

So I have this crazy knack for finding the strangest things to see when I go somewhere.  Remember Archie McPhee's in Seattle?  I'm looking for cheap or free things to do for our vacation, and believe me you, I'm finding them.

One of the great things about the UK is that so many museums are free.  Last time I went to Soane Museum, which was not free, but I don't want to go there again, anyway.  Instead I'm going to take Hannah to see the Hunterian Museum .  Unfortunately no photos are allowed, but we can make drawings.  Oh, and they sell postcards.  So what's the deal with this museum?  Why is it so special?

 It's full of body parts.  I'm not sure how I'm going to get Hannah to go.  I mentioned it to her; it went something like this:

Me: Hannah, would you be interested in going to a museum that has bones and stuff like that?

Hannah:  No, not really.

Me: Why not?  It could be really interesting.

Hannah:  I don't know, I'm not really interested in dinosaur bones.

Me: Oooooh, no, not dinosaur bones; human bones and other body parts.

Hannah: (see photo below)

I told her that she could choose where we would go for lunch afterwards.  

I have learned that York is where Guy Fawke's grew up.  This is that guy who attempted to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605.  There is actually a Guy Fawkes Inn that claims it is Built on the Spot Where the Notorious Plotter was Born!  It's not far from where we are staying, and the menu looks really, really good, but I don't imagine Hannah will be all that into it.  I might be able to get her to a museum to see body parts, but I'm not sure any amount of begging, bribing, and/or cajoling will get her to eat Belly Pork with Black Pudding and Chili Jam.

Summer 2013 plans

This summer I am taking Hannah to Europe for a month.  Originally it was going to be the whole family.  Hannah and I were going to London for two weeks, then head to Zurich via ferry and train, where we would meet the rest of the family.  Then it was going to be Bob, Ariel, and Jacob joining us.  Then it was going to be Ariel joining us.  Now it's just the two of us.

We'll be staying on a boat that I rented via Airbnb.  This is the company we used when we went to San Francisco and Seattle.  We will be there for a few days, head north (far north) to York where we will be staying here:

After getting gluttonously full on York Chocolate we will return to London where we will stay on a different boat.  Then on 1 August (European style) we will head to Amsterdam via ferry.  We will be staying here:

We will stay here for a few days and then head to Zurich where we haven't found accommodations just yet.

I bet  you can't wait.

Seattle August 14, 2012 Pt 2

The hostel is great.  They call themselves an art hostel because each room has been painted by a local Seattle artist.  It's got a great young atmosphere and everyone is friendly.  We get breakfast each morning and yesterday we met Cora, a young woman who lives in Minnesota but is from the Congo.  We invited her to join us on a trip to the beach.  I need to get myself psyched up just to tell you about the trek.  We took a bus which was about a half hour ride.  Once there it dropped us off at an unassuming corner with two arrows; go this way for cars, go that way for trucks taller than 9'.  That was it.  There was a trail and we figured that must be the way.  The first thing we saw were 78 concrete steps.

At the bottom of these 78 steep steps were... more steps!  Then a long and steep dirt path with wooden beams to create the illusion of steps.

  Don't be fooled, it was as steep as a dirt foot path on the edge of a mountain.   Then we had a ninety degree turn and more steps.  We finally reached the bottom.  Pant pant pant.  We crossed a street, walked through a tunnel that ran under a train track and emerged on the other side to see... the beach.

The sand was hot.  I could see the heat waves coming off of it, and the water was cold.  We stayed for a little over an hour.  Hannah was the only one who would go in the water, but it was even a little cold for her.  During our walk down I kept remembering the heed to hikers going down the Grand Canyon, "Remember, if you go down, you must come back up!"  Here is what we saw as we walked down and then back up the side of the mountain.  It was gorgeous, like emerging from a forest, an emerald forest, to discover a beach or street corner.  Three separate worlds.

If something pops into your mind after reading this next sentence you HAVE to reply with whatever it was that popped into your mind.  On the way back we ran into a man and his dingo.  

After doing a few more things that aren't all that interesting to most, half of us went to the hostel and the other half went to a friend's.  

This morning we all met up at the Space Needle.  The Skycity Restaurant is a revolving restaurant that does a full revolution every 47 minutes.  We sat right beside the window.  After lunch we were able to go up to the observation desk.  Remember one of my goals was to hang from the Space Needle?

  Yes, hanging from the guard rail counts.

After that we went to the EMP, Experience Music Project at Sara and Sean's suggestion.  It's kind of like an interactive music museum.  They had an exhibit about Nirvana, the movie Avatar, an exhibit showing various instruments, and a Jimi Hendrix exhibit.  I didn't get any requests for a kilt, but if this orange velvet is more your number let me know before I leave.

In their sci-fi section they had some cool memorabilia.  Walking stick and necklace of Yoda's this is...

 I didn't buy anything in the gift shop, but I found some things funny enough to photograph.

We are now back at the hostel, resting.  

I have enjoyed my time here but I don't know if I'll be back.  The number of homeless in Pioneer Square, where we first stayed, is staggering.  It was a loud commentary on how America treats its poor and how Seattle treats its poor.  The reason for the heavy concentration is that so many agencies for the homeless are located in Pioneer Square.  With one or two exceptions, everyone (except the bus drivers) in Seattle has been friendly, accommodating, and helpful.  Like any city it has its dirt, but once you get out of the immediate downtown area it cleans up beautifully.  It is a beautiful city, lots of trees, flowers, art, and more.  There are great restaurants too.  If you've been thinking about heading here you should.  I would not advise someone to stay away from Pioneer Square, just don't stay there alone.  A group of women, or bringing a guy friend along will increase your feelings of being safe.  But remember, Pioneer Square is just one of dozens of neighborhoods, many are exceptional.

Thanks for coming along with me.  I hope you had fun and remember, I want to hear from you if the dingo made you think of ANYTHING!!!

Seattle August 14, 2012 Pt 1

Don't believe any of the rumors that I got myself arrested or hospitalized.  I'm fine, and so is Seattle. 

Much has happened since my last update, but I'm going to give you the abridged version, because one should be able to read my emails during their lunch break and if I give you a full run down it could take hours.

I caught a water taxi and visited West Seattle.  

Along the way I saw some West Seattle sand.  It looks like sand I saw in England.  Seems like it will be a few thousand years before it's as soft as Siesta Key sand.  Then I found some grass and it's been so many years since my feet have felt soft grass I had to take a few minutes to enjoy it.

While there I ate at Salty's.  It's a great restaurant with great food and if you visit Seattle you should consider it.  They had this sign out front.  

Having music on select evenings is always so much better than having on unselected evenings.  I like to believe that someone at Salty's knew I was coming and included this in their menu so I would have something extra to write about.  

Let's talk about allergies, seriously.

The food was great and I'm so so so happy that Sara suggested it.  I won't tell you about my meal, but I do have to say that the creme brulee alone was worth the trip.

 The water taxis only set off once an hour and my time was quickly approaching so I headed back.  The restaurant and dock were close enough to see one from the other.

Salty's from the water taxi

  I took some pictures of Mt. Ranier but they don't show up well in the pictures.  I have included two anyway, just in case you really really want to see it.  It is behind the giant metal structure.

The next day I decided to tour the yarn stores of Seattle.  I only got to two before I changed my mind.  I stopped at an Egyptian restaurant then on my way back to the bus stop I passed this fun display and then along a block was an apple tree that I had to take a picture of.  This apple tree house had a mail box that said, "Free Poetry.  Open and take on."  I forgot to take a picture, but I did take a poem.

I will only be here for a few more hours.  If any of you guys wants/needs a kilt let me know ASAP.

The next day I met up with a friend of my daughter, Cassie's.  Evan moved out here a year ago.  We went to Chinatown, then walked to the Frye Museum.  They weren't far from each other but it was the most incredible urban hike I've ever had.  The street was so much higher than any other place I had walked.

 I saw some Cha cha cha instructions at a bus stop.  This is a great way to kill some time.

  That night the girls and Tyler returned from the farm, and the next morning we moved to the hostel.  It was a good choice.  The apartment and hostel are only about a mile apart, but world's apart.  I never felt truly unsafe in the apartment, but a few things happened that I didn't write about when I first arrived.  I was happy to be staying in a different neighborhood, even though the apartment was beautiful and in a great historical part of the city.  

We decided to go to the Space Needle, but the line was long and it cost to take the elevator up unless you're eating at the restaurant.  I made an executive decision that we would eat at the restaurant today, instead.  I didn't get to hang from the Space Needle, but I did give it a flick.

More to come...

Seattle August 8, 2012

Yesterday I made the decision to not do too much.  It's easy to do too much if you don't make a point of taking time off from being a tourist.  

I had to go to the grocery store; I was down to my last drop of coffee creamer (gasp!). I learned an interesting thing recently about the streets of downtown Seattle. I am two blocks from James, then Jefferson, Cherry, Columbia, Marion, Madison, Spring, Seneca, Union, University, Pike, and Pine.  Someone created a mnemonic for it; Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest.  Now, whenever I am out and I'm walking home I just have to remember that the closer I get to Jesus, the closer I am to home.  Hee hee.

You guys have had to read all about the homeless in Seattle.  I haven't been approached by many panhandlers, but I have been approached by a few.  I found a way to avoid that.  I kind of goes along with the whole "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em..." approach.  I have figured out how to make myself look like one of them.

No, really.  Not only did homeless people avoid me (averted their eyes, walked on the other side of the sidewalk), but it got lots of people to smile.  One man said I looked like a cross between Pippy Longstocking and Rebecca from Sunnybrook Farms.  Another said to me, "Those are some cool ass socks!"   I said, "You like 'em?" He said, "Hell yeah!  I've been watching you walk all the way down this hill!"  Here's the really funny part.  I used that luggage cart that I got in Atlanta to carry the groceries and along the walk back I started getting too warm for my jacket so I put it in the bag.  At some point I turned behind me to look at the bag and realized that I did actually look like I was pulling a homeless person's belongings.  I laughed all the way back to the apartment.

Speaking of hills... I don't know why Seattle isn't known for it's hills, but it's as hilly as San Francisco.  There is a bench on the sidewalk, the bench is level, the sidewalk and street are not.  Yes, it kills my calf muscles.

After unloading the groceries and having some lunch I went to the Seattle Art Museum.  It was ok, just ok.  Forgive me if you've had to hear this rant from me before.  Sticking a bunch of things together and hanging them from the ceiling makes a mobile, not art.  

 This is a car with light sticks sticking out of it.  There were a few more.  Sorry, doesn't constitute art in my book.  Here's another...

This are metal sticks holding up lights and what you see on the bottom are all the wires and connectors.  It's like an electric erector set.  It had some sort of description about the fluidity of water, blah, blah, blah.  My personal take is that if you have to explain what you're showing me then maybe you should find a better way of showing it.  

There was a great aboriginal exhibit.

On my way home I stopped at a restaurant and grabbed an early dinner.  I spent some time chatting with the man sitting beside me about Seattle, London, the Olympics, and other things.  He was interesting and explained some things about this city, including the best way to get to the airport.  

I had to take a picture of this skirt on my way home.  I've been looking at it every day since I arrived and wondering if it's in the window because it actually gets people in, or is it because no one is foolish enough to buy it so they will try just about anything to get people to buy it.

I got home, relaxed, watched Masterpiece Theatre's Wuthering Heights on Netflix and went to sleep. 

I was woken up far too early by a kid.  Being half way across the country doesn't stop it, "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom..." There is no escape.  

Seattle Tuesday August 7, 2012

Yesterday didn't start out with much on the "things to do" list, but I managed to get in plenty anyway.

When Ariel and Hannah left for the farm they forgot to bring Hannah's clothes.  I had to mail them to her.  I figured that while I was going to the post office anyway, I should mail my quacker as well.

(It never arrived!)

 I went to the post office and was promptly told, "You can't mail that!"  I asked, "Why not?  I've mailed all sorts of weird things before."  She replied, "Well... you just can't."  I said, "I can, but that's ok.  I'll go somewhere else."  

I grabbed a bus and drove passed the Klondike Gold Rush National Park.  This park isn't actually a park.  It's a museum, but it has a national park designation.  It's free and interesting.  I read a woman's account of being a young child and going up to Alaska with her mother and two younger siblings to meet up with her father.  It was both fascinating and terrifying all at once.  

You might be wondering what Seattle has to do with the gold rush.  It was the last stop in civilization for many miners and stampeders on their way up north in search of riches, and the gold rush is what ultimately put Seattle on the map.  The two are as intertwined as any city and event can be.  While there I could see what the building I'm staying in was over 100 years ago.  It was just a restaurant.  I was really hoping to find out it was a brothel, but that building was a few blocks away.  

I went to a different post office and successfully sent my quacker off.  I'll let you all know when and if it arrives.  

I wanted to see the hostel we would be staying out once we make the switch, so I headed out.  It's about a mile away.  On the way I went into a place and got a gyro.  It was huge, and I knew I would never finish it, but I had plans for the other half.  I finished what I could, wrapped it up and headed toward the hostel.  I needed to go into Pike Place Market, because after seeing the pictures from yesterday someone put in a special request.  I ordered my stuff and had it shipped out with a special note, Do not eat this until I get home! 

Along the way I passed Nancy's favorite Seattle place.  I went in, but crumpets and tea just aren't my thing. But hey, I was thinking about ya'.

Remember that half a gyro I had?  When a homeless guy asked for a $1 for something to eat I offered him half a gyro.  He said sure.  The day before I gave the very same guy $1.  I figured that since so many of them will go rummaging through the trash for half eaten food I may as well offer my half a sandwich.  People can get sick going through the trash.  

Oh, check this out.  Sarasota has never seen a roach coach quite like this before.  What do you think they might call it?  The swine line, the pig rig?

I found the hostel and checked it all out.  Looks safe.  I was long overdue for a sit down by now and stopped in a coffee shop called Bedlam.  Then I went back to the apartment and took a long needed nap.  That nap that occurs about half way through my trip usually signifies that I have worked through my jet lag.  I am officially on Seattle time.  I woke up and got ready for my big evening: Toastmasters!  The meeting place is pretty far north of my apartment, but it was just one bus ride.  The bus dropped me off right across the street, with 45 minutes to spare.  I found a great used book store and spent a few minutes in there.  Then the time had arrived.  

This club, Chamber 540, meets in a restaurant, Razzi's Pizzeria.  They do a few things much differently than our club does, and I really enjoyed it.  Watch out fellow Positively Speakers, some changes might be coming.  I forgot to get a picture of myself in front of their banner.  A member gave me a ride home because I was a bit concerned about walking back to the apartment from the bus stop so late.  Thanks Niko.  Oh, poor guy; he asked to be included in my emails. I told him there was an opt-out option.  Hee hee.

Seattle Monday August 6, 2012

Wow, what a long day.  Are you guys as tired as me?

I started the day deciding to do some laundry, remember?  But the washing machine and dryer cost a combined $3 and I only had $2.75 in quarters.  I figured I would do the laundry at the end of the day.  I sent off two emails (hope you got them) and headed out for a walking tour of Pike Place Market.  I had over an hour  before it started, so I swung into a deli first and grabbed something to eat.  Now that Hannah's not with me I see no sense in keeping up with the Hannah/mommy cinnamon roll ritual.  

Remember yesterday I showed you a picture of the skylights underground?  Here's what it looks like above ground.  They look like magenta glass bottles.  The above ground view is really pretty.

After my meal, I passed a store with the cutest vintage style dresses and decided to pop in.  The prices nearly made my head fall off so I kept going.  I arrived at the market far too early for the tour so I walked through to kill some time.  They have all sorts of things.  There's the obvious fruits and veggies, but they also have clothes, silly trinkets no one wants and people only buy for souvenirs, magazines from all over the world, nuts, jams, flowers.  You get the picture.  Speaking of pictures...

I think these are the biggest lobster tails I've ever seen in my entire life!!!

Pike Place Market needed their floor replaced a few years back so they had a fundraiser.  It was the kind where you could buy a floor tile, or a fish scale, or something along those lines with your name engraved.  One of these days I'm going to buy one and it will say Here lies Jimmy Hoffa.  

A certain percentage of the taxes Seattlites pay goes toward funding art in and around the city.  Here are just a few.  These gutters have plants growing out of them, and the light posts hanging on the walls are another example.  It might take a second or two for your brain to orient itself to what it's seeing.

Gutter

Street Light

Street light closer up.  This picture is NOT sideways.  The man is.

There were some fun buskers, like this hula-hooping/one-man band.

After the walking tour I walked a few blocks over to the Duck Tour . I had some time to waste so I sat at this park, Westlake Park.  There is nothing sadder than depressed trees.  Why so blue? 

There were some interesting things at the park.  A giant chess set, life size sculptures of men, and this interesting *fountain that one can walk through without getting soaked to the bone (in theory anyway). 

Before the Duck Tour started I went to the bathroom.  I am short.  I not only accept it, but I embrace my lack of height (it's the easiest way to speak to good looking men, "Excuse me sir, would you get that for me please.  I'm too short to reach it...") but this bathroom was for extra, extra short people.  The walls and doors of each stall only came up to here... 

I would've taken pictures, but uh...that's just weird.

It was time for the tour.  We were given assigned seats when we purchased the tickets. I sat beside a ten year old boy who was soaking wet (see "*fountain that doesn't get you soaked"...)  We all, well many of us had quackers; silly duck-bill shaped noise makers.  The little boy had one too.  Really, he did and he never stopped making noises with it.  I almost threw him overboard..

Just kidding.  He was a cute kid.  I told him, "I'm going to call you honey.  It's not because I'm weird, it's because I call all kids 'honey'.  Ok?"  He just looked at me like someone who might take pictures of short bathroom stalls.  I did end up calling him honey, by the way.  "Oh!  Don't stick your arm out so far, honey!"

  

This is what it looked like.  It would've been more fun, but the driver wasn't especially into his job.  One could tell he's been using someone else's jokes for far too long.  He could use Toastmasters.

Oh yeah, Toastmasters.  You guys know it wouldn't be like a vacation if I didn't attend a Toastmaster meeting.  It's kind of like AA, but without having to stand up and say, "Hi, my name is Diana and I'm addicted to public speaking..."  I will be attending a meeting tomorrow evening at Razzi's Pizzeria.  (Robert, Sharon, it's NOT in my neighborhood.) I'll let you know how it goes. Of course, there's little chance it could be better than Positively Speaking Toastmasters (my club), but I'm going with an open mind. 

I need a life...