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!!!