Goodbye Seattle

After we finished our tour with Terry, we decided to go back to the hotel to refresh ourselves and decide what to do for lunch/dinner. Dan was in the mood for oysters. My gastronomic goal was to try salmon while in Seattle and potatoes in Idaho.  We ended up walking across the street to Daniel's Broiler - Dan had called and found out salmon was on the menu. I thought the name had karma.

We sat outside on the harbor - watching boats coming and going and being strafed by water planes! It costs $80-$100 to take a 15 minute aerial tour of Seattle. Must be pretty popular - I've seen lots of these planes since we arrived.

Dan started off with oysters - he thought they had a softer texture than back in Boston. I had my salmon with roasted asparagus, zucchini, and potatoes. I usually only eat salmon in Ireland. So I was surprised that this didn't have a stronger flavor, but, boy, it was delicious! Dan had scallops wrapped in bacon which were to die for - real scallops like we would take from the shell in Sneem. 
My glass of Washington Riesling was light and refreshing. Dan had spied Key Lime Pie on the menu and had a fancy for that. I ordered mango sorbet. Both were good, but we loved the sorbet! It came with blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

When we finished, I walked through the waterfront park - it is a lovely place. It was late but kids were still riding bikes, families were strolling, people were jogging.

Looking toward the harbor.

A family out for a stroll.

Such beautiful vibrant flowers!

Looking toward the fountain and a footbridge over part of the lake.

Historic boats being restored.

Daniel's Broiler on the right near the two trees - our hotel is the building beside it - a street away.

I walked home when it started to get dark and people were leaving. Tonight I pulled out that sofa bed which was quite comfortable. Watched the news which is on here at 10 and off to bed. Heading through Idaho to Montana tomorrow. 

Wednesday rambling in Seattle

I was pretty tired last night - I was falling asleep as I ended the blog - way too tired to open up the pull out couch.  So I just pulled a blanket over me - of course we had the air conditioning cranked way up - and slept on the couch. I hadn't pulled the blinds on the patio doors so the lights of Seattle were the last things I saw before I fell asleep.

Woke up this morning about 6:30 but stayed on the couch till my alarm went off at 7. It is vacation after all - I feel like I should loll in bed for a while. Turned on the CBS Seattle affiliate to hear that rush hour traffic was a mess - tractor trailer rollover on route 5. Backups for 6 miles. Glad we aren't going to be driving today in that mess.

Weatherman predicting 80 degrees, sunny and humid. He said it is unusual to have high humidity in Seatlle. We must have brought it from Boston.  

Dan was awake as I poked around - watched some news - got my things for today together. Suddenly, Dan let out an ungodly scream and uttered a few frantic epithets. He had lost part of his blog that he had been working on for an hour. I could feel his pain. That has happened to me as well. I could only sympathize with him. But I still headed down for breakfast!

Breakfast was included with the room so we had decided to try it.  Scrambled eggs, red potato wedges, sausage and onion hash, turkey bacon, assortment of toast, muffins, bagels, cereals. The make your own waffle station was packed. I started with a bowl of oatmeal and some OJ. Dan made it down as I was eating a forkful of eggs and hash while reading on the TV that Diane Sawyer is out - David Muir is in. I was touched when Dan brought me a waffle with blueberries and strawberries. He had the same. I think mine was the practice one.

We went back to the room to apply sunscreen and pick up our knapsacks. Then we met Terry, our tour guide from Shutter Tours - http://www.shuttertours.com, out front. He had a 12 seater bus, and we were the first stop.  We picked up 8 other people and headed out to Snoqualmie Falls which is a miniature version of Niagara Falls. Terry explained to us that he had been a professional photographer for 10 or 12 years - had done magazine covers, a Globe Trek article on Thailand. He finally had to get out of the business when digital photography became popular - he explained that publishers could look on the internet and get pictures for free or very little. Big loss to photographers. Terry said he then worked in a bank until the big collapse - lost his job in 2012 but by that time he had a back up option - a tour company that he had developed. 

So we headed out of town to the falls. Snoqualmie Falls are a popular attraction here in Seattle. The force of the falls provide enough power for two plants to serve 85,000 people in the area.

Terry told us that the Snoqualmie people were moon worshipers - they believe that the man in the moon created the world and everything in it. They have a casino a short distance from the falls - they will provide door to door service to your hotel!! But the profits from the casino pays for college education for any of the Snoqualmie who chose to go.

This area is where filming for Twin Peaks took place. We drove through the small town used as the setting for Twin Peaks.

Terry was giving photography tips at each stop. He took this picture using Dan's camera.

Our next stop was to see a giant troll under the George Washington Memorial Bridge that once was the location for the homeless and discarded trash. A competition was held for ideas to upgrade this area under the bridge, and the Troll was the winner. It is surrounded by sand, and while we were there, kids were climbing all over it.

Fremont Troll

View of Dan from the Troll's left hand.

Our next stop was a chocolate factory - we weren't able to take a tour, but we sampled some of the chocolate. Unfortunately, it was all dark chocolate which might be good for you, but did not appeal to us. Give me milk chocolate any day!

I thought of JB and Amy when I heard that it was an organic and free trade roaster.

We headed to Ballard Locks and the salmon ladder.

The locks are how ships go from Puget Sound to the fresh waters of Union and Washington Lakes and vice versa.

Lock draining water so the sailboat can move into Puget sound.

I found the locks quite interesting because I had been through the locks in Lowell on a cruise through the canals to the Merrimac River. 

These white tubes are helping salmon into the fresh water going to Union and Washington lakes. They will lay their eggs there. Then the young salmon will return to the ocean. They eventually return to the fresh water to lay their eggs. They seek out the smell of the waters where they were born and return there. The salmon die shortly after laying their legs.

Dan at Ballard locks.

When Dan was young, we spent time at the Salmon Weir in Galway City when we were there a couple of summers. He and other kids loved watching the salmon jumping. Unfortunately, we didn't see too many salmon in Seattle. The fellow from the US Army Corps of Engineers told me that the fish are very slow this year - just starting to pick up now. But it was a beautiful sunny day, and we were on the water! What could be better!

Flowers along the walkways to the locks. 

Our last stop was Kerry Park in Seattle for a view of the city.

Space Needle on the left.

Lake Union - our Marriott Residence Inn was on Lake Union.

Dan's picture - he shot the Space Needle through the sculpture.

Terry pointed out a lot of the sights as we drove through Seattle. He told us that Seattle has the highest number of people who bike to work in the US despite all the hills. We saw people cycling, jogging and running. Outdoor sports are very popular.

Terry said that they have a well educated young work force - not sure if he was joking when he said that the long dark days in the winter were conducive to studying. He talked about the different start up companies that took advantage of the graduates. He said there are a lot of high tech companies that pay good wages so real estate is booming. There is a Seattle Big Dig taking place as well.

Terry said that they only have 8 days of snow yearly! He said that they don't have as much rain as people think, but they do have more cloudy days. So between short dark days in winter and the increased cloudy days, people who move to Seattle may suffer from seasonal affective disorder from the lack of sun.

The architecture was quite interesting as we traveled around. There were many small houses - no driveways. Trees, shrubs, flowers everywhere!! Even sidewalks had shrubs and flowers. Trees were everywhere - in parking lots, along highways, on overpasses, on roofs! Talk about a green city!! That is what I will remember - all the beautiful parks and the trees!!

Travels in the Pacific Northwest

Of course, I was absolutely delighted when Danno asked me to go to Seattle with him. I was able to get the time off from work on short notice. I started researching Seattle and the National Parks out here. Then work got busy, and I was working long hours overtime and wasn't able to do as much research as I normally would for a trip.

Mike drove me to Danno's apartment in Lowell last night. We had dinner and hit the hay early - 10 PM is very early for me.
John Brendan picked us up at 4:30 AM to drive us to Logan airport. Check-in went smoothly, we cleared security with a body scan and then a pat down. We boarded our Alaskan Airlines plane and took off promptly at 7:30 AM. Smaller plane with three seats and then three more across. Dan had the window seat. I was afraid I would be squashed in the middle, but the seats were comfortable and seemed to have a little more room than the last couple of flights I have taken.

The flight was 5 1/2 hours - longer than going to Ireland! We landed early - maybe 10:30 AM Seattle time.  There was no wait for the train to go to the baggage area - once there, our bags came right away. I minded the bags while Danno got the car rental paper work set. Then we got to choose the car that we wanted!  Dan picked a Toyota Camry. I'll never be able to go back to my Corolla now!

Dan is at the head of the line.

Since it was too early to check into the hotel, Dan drove to Pike's Place Market for a look around and a bite to eat. I was so surprised at all the hills in Seattle!! I thought I was in San Francisco!

I thought of JB when we passed a church with a sign about fair pay for workers. The Seattle City Council voted unanimously this month to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.  JB and Amy are working for an increase in Massachusetts' minimum wage.

We took a walk through the Market Place. Reminded me of the open air markets in old Dock Square in Boston - only much, much bigger with all kinds of stands with crafts, jewelry, clothing. The prices for fresh fruit were terrific - I told Dan that I would go back and buy some fruit tomorrow for our drive on Thursday. And I may send Johnny Murphy some smoked salmon. The fish markets had all kinds of fish - real fish!! Not like Shaw's or Stop 'n Shop at home. 

 Fresh Alaskan Halibut and fresh Alaskan Copper River Salmon.

The butcher stands had every kind of meat and every part of a cow and a pig! Plus all kinds of other animals!

Ferris Wheel from Pike's Place market.

The market was packed with people. The street through the market district was jammed with tourists and locals walking back and forth - the tourists trying to take pictures or poking along eating foods from the various shops. All the while cars were trying to get through at the same time - through the crowds who paid them no mind.

Dan on the corner of Pike's Place.

We were starving by this time as there was no food on the plane unless you wanted to buy it, and the offerings weren't appealing. 

Dan walked by a couple of places before heading into Maximilian's restaurant right in Pike's Place Market. We opted to sit outside where we had a view of Puget Sound. We watched ferries coming and going. Saw large and small planes passing overhead. It was cloudy and cool but the sun would break out occasionally. It was so relaxing.

View from the restaurant.

We both ordered the halibut with peas and spinach in a little cream sauce - $20. I ordered mine off the three course menu express for $25 because I wanted a salad. I was telling Dan how my mother would buy halibut on a Friday and bake it in milk with Ritz cracker crumbs and butter sprinkled on top. The green salad was good, but this halibut was delicious! I even ate the peas!! And I hate peas!! My creme brûlée was dessert. We both tried it - the sliced strawberry on top was so sweet!

Dan on the way back to the car.

We walked along the street back to the car. I wanted to stop at what must be the original Starbuck's and get an iced coffee. But the line down the street was ridiculous! I was thinking of my daughter Mairead who worked for a long time at Starbuck's back in Watertown. Dan took a picture for her.

We passed some outdoor vendors near a lovely park on the harbor. One woman was selling magnets. I had to borrow money from Dan to buy a couple because I had forgotten to go to an ATM before leaving Boston and had given JB my last bit of cash. The woman told me that she had been selling magnets there for 27 years. She takes the pictures and then puts them together. She said that the vendors are in different locations every day - there is a lottery system although seniority plays some part in it too. I felt happy buying the magnets from her instead of buying some that are massed produced.

I stopped at Tully's for an iced coffee - it was surprisingly good. I'm a Folger's Instant Coffee gal - I don't really like the taste of coffee so Starbuck's and the like are lost on me. I might buy McDonald's ice coffee because the money goes to Paul Newman's charity. Looks like Tully's is a local chain although it lists Japan on its website!

From Pike's Place Market we headed to the Marriott Residence Suites - not too far away except for all the closed roads due to construction. It took Dan no time to check in,  and we are resting in our 7th floor suite. I'm sitting on the balcony as I write this blog. Dan is in the bed watching soccer. 

My room with pullout couch. Balcony overlooks the harbor.

Dan has the bed. We are sharing the patio, bathroom, and kitchen!!

There are sailboats, motor boats, ferries, sea planes - even a rowboat - coming and going. The view from the balcony is great!!

View from balcony.

The traffic is heavy below me. There is a light rail running on the street as well.

The sun is out, the sky is clear except for some puffy clouds, and there is a light breeze. A perfect start to our adventure!!

It is almost 9:30 PM now. We decided to rest up at the motel tonight. 

Light rail that passed me as I walked to I Love Sushi.

I walked up to "I Love Sushi" and brought back supper. I got teriyaki chicken which was very good. I walked back along the harbor. Lots of expensive boats docked there.

You can see the Space Needle in the top center.

Sights on my walk home.

Supper was another good meal. Now we are lazing around waiting for the sun to go down so we can go to bed. It is 12:39 AM Boston time.

View of harbor from balcony about 8 PM.

We are planning to go down to breakfast at 8 AM - the bus tour of Seattle is picking us up at 9:30.  I'd like to get in a walk in the morning before it gets to hot - supposed to be about 80 degrees. Looks to be another great day!!