Well my trip to
Seattle started with a hiss and a roar......ok not quite, just a first class
seat!!! And what a great experience it was. I don't believe I'll need to be
eating, or drinking, the whole time I'm in Seattle.
I got to the hotel
around 9.30pm new time, 12.30pm NYC time, and I was a little woozy. Couldn't tell
if it was the champagne or time difference :-)
Friday morning
started, eventually, with a run around the streets. The smells coming from the
cafes/coffee shops/restaurants were amazing.....not good when you are hungry
though. I'm glad I don't run with my wallet otherwise the run would not have
been long. Seattle is certainly not a flat city. Me calves are going to get a
great workout over the 4 days.
My first stop was the
Pike Street Markets where there is every kind of food under the sun, for both
the locals and tourists. I had a yummy sandwich for lunch, then did a walking
tour (from my guide book) around the market. Saw the famous flying fish stall
where I could have stayed all day - great entertainment. Had a latte from the
first ever Starbucks. I must say it was very good, considering I don't drink
coffee in the States I was impressed.
From the Pike Street
Markets I wondered along to Pioneer Square stopping in a few boutique stores.
One store was kind enough to give me some pointers of what to see/do/eat while
I'm here. People are certainly very kind and friendly here.
I was surprised with
the number of homeless people around the city.
Mid afternoon I did
the Underground Walking Tour which was rather interesting. Things were
certainly very different way back then. Our guide was very good at the bad
jokes.
I wandered back to my
hotel stopping at a few places including the library which is super modern! I
definitely didn't feel like I was in a library.
By this stage I was
needing to sit down and have a drink. I came across Ruth's Chris (well known
restaurant in America) where I met some wonderful people, on both sides of the
bar. I also believe I've met my husband......however doesn't this happen on
every trip I take???? :-) For dinner I ate at Wild Ginger where I'd been
recommended by a couple of people. What a huge place it was! My waiter (again
recommended) was great, had visited 56 countries. He's differently given me a
run for my money. I believe my count is around 25.......I have a lot to go.
Every year he goes to Spain for the "running of the bulls". His first
ever trip was to Kiwiland, ye ha, which gave him the travel bug.
After dinner I went
back to Ruth's Chris bar to met my new friends for drinks. A lot of fun with
many laughs!
Saturday morning started
super early, sleep ins for me seem to be a thing of the past :-( I power walked
across town to Macrina Bakery & Cafe (again recommended to me), at one
stage thinking I was walking back to NYC. However it turned out to be
amazing.....the decision on what to eat was not easy though. From there I
trekked back across town to take the ferry to Bainbridge Island. The views of
Seattle as we were leaving were amazing......don't bother checking out my
website to see the photos though as I forgot my camera :-( The village town of
Bainbridge was small but very nice. I spent a couple of hours here just
wandering around looking at a few shops.
On my return to
Seattle, with the amazing views, I wandered the streets. Did a little bit of
shopping....well just looking really! Ended up back at the Pike Street Markets
where there were people for Africa. Given it was a Saturday and nice weather
people were out enjoying it.
I managed to find
somewhere for a drink and bite to eat, before heading back to the hotel to
change and go back to Ruth's Chris bar to meet my new friends. A couple of them
took me to a local wine and cheese bar, which was great, where we just sat and
chatted for hours and hours. The barman kicked us out at 2am. Well past my bed
time!!!! I was driven back to the hotel via some amazing view points of
downtown Seattle. I'm always a suxer for night time views. Finally got into bed
at 5.30am which as everyone knows is most unlike me.
Sunday was a little
slow starting. I did some window shopping. Then took the monorail to the
Seattle Center, which is a large complex housing things for all age groups.
After lunch I headed up the Space Needle which has fantastic views of Seattle.
It was a great day so you could see for miles and miles.
From here I wandered
along the water front back to the Pike Street Markets. Stopping at the new
Sculpture Park. It was great to be by the seaside again!
I met up with my new
friends early evening for a couple of hours before trying out a great seafood
restaurant. I'd met the manager two nights earlier so he looked after me :-).
The food was amazing.
After dinner I headed
back to say goodbye to my friends :-( they had been so nice to me it was hard
to say goodbye.
Monday morning I
chilled out then headed to the airport. It was hard to believe my time had
ended :-( I'd had a wonderful time, met some great people and ate some
fantastic food. I would love to return here one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment