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...

Worry About Seattle August 1, 2012

Hi.  Some of you may know (but many probably don't) that my daughter, Ariel, is traveling the country.  She left the week before Mother's Day.  (I'm trying not to take it personally).  She is WWOOFing.  That stands for WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms.  She travels the country working on farms in exchange for room and board.  Before she left she asked if Hannah, my six year old, might be allowed to go see her this summer.  Because minor children flying alone require direct flights, and frequent flier miles NEVER EVER have direct flights, (and because I would never spend real money on sending a kid across the country) it was decided that I would join Hannah in a flight from the most southeastern state (Florida) to the most northwestern state in the continental US (Washington).  Seattle more specifically.  We leave Thursday, noonish.

This trip will be different than the others.  You see, we will be in Washington for two whole weeks, but only one of those weeks will be spent together.  For one week Hannah, Ariel, and Ariel's boyfriend, Tyler will be on a farm five hours away from Seattle while I will be left to wander the city on my own.  "Oh no!  What will Diana do to occupy her time?" I know that just crossed your mind.  Don't worry about me.  I have plenty planned.  Worry about Seattle. 

Seattle has long been #2 on my list of places inside the US, and got bumped up to #1 after I visited San Francisco.  I've gathered a list of things to do from well seasoned Seattlites willing to share ideas.  The list includes visiting the Space Needle, seeing EMP(Experience Music Project), checking out Pike's Place and buying some almonds, eating at Salties on Alki Island, going to the Waterfront, and visiting the Seattle Public Library. Of course I will be checking out at least one Toastmaster meeting while I'm there.  It seems I have lots to do and I haven't even stepped on the plane yet.  

Things I definitely plan on doing:

Hang from the Space Needle

Catch a flying fish

Drink some coffee (duh!)

We have rented a cute loft studio apartment in Pioneer Square for the first ten days, then we move to a youth Hostel, http://www.hostelseattle.com/.  I'll send pictures as soon as I can.  

In the past year I have taken a few trips and most of you have been a delight to have along.  Like most groups there have been some unruly members, but all in all, you've added to the fun.  That's why I wanted to take you along again.  This is the first trip where I actually asked some of you if you'd like to receive my emails.  In the past I just sent them to you, assuming you would want to tag along.  After all, who wouldn't?  But this time I thought that you should have the option of "Opting-Out".  That being said, if you'd like to opt out of getting these fun-filled, exciting, descriptive and observational emails, respond to this email with the subject line "Please don't include me in your fun.  I'm far too boring to bring on vacation!" and I will remove you from the list.

Just kidding.  There's no opting out.