USA: Seattle

(post by Colin)

Hi Folks,

After a 4.5 hour journey on the Greyhound Cascades train from Vancouver we arrived to Seattle train station. We recommend this journey, which is not very long and you enjoy great views all the way.

Long stretches of beach for most of the journey

A sawmill we saw en route to Seattle

Upon arrival we  hung out in Pioneer Square. It was a beautiful day which was a welcome relief to the weather in Vancouver..

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square dressed Trees etc..

Pioneer Sq - outdoor chess

After whiling  a few hours away and checking online for car rental ....

Colin looking for a Car..

...we eventually got a reasonable deal and headed over to the place to pick up the car which we will have for the next 30 days and which will take us on the slow journey to LA.   So we got the car and headed over to Bellevue where we would be staying for the next few days.

We stayed  with Mike and  his lovely wife Caprice.  Mike is the CEO  of GMI - the company I worked for most recently..

Thank you Mike and Caprice for being such lovely hosts and for being so welcoming and generous!

:-)

Mike & Caprice

They have a beautiful home in Bellevue and we had a lovely room in the basement.  When we arrived Mike and Caprice provided us with a much appreciated glass of wine ( or 3 !) and a lovely meal - chicken on the BBQ - and some great conversation.  We had this on the deck - Sun, good food, good wine and good conversation. We all agreed - we don't need much more - this is bliss..

The next day after a  long lie in ( we were so tired.. !)  Kizzy and I  eventually headed into Seattle..

The first stop was  Pike Place Market . This is Seattle's famous indoor market. It is huge and sells everything you could possibly imagine..

Sign @Pike Place Market

 We saw the first ever Starbucks..

1st Starbucks @Pike Place

We could easily have spent  the whole day  here - but we wanted to pack in as much as we could and so we headed towards the Waterfront..

View of the City from the Waterfront

View from the Waterfront.

We walked all the way along until we reached the Olympic Sculpture Park.  This is a free area sponsored by one of Seattle's most famous entrepreneurs - Mr Bill Gates. It gives a hint as to  the cities heritage as a center of art , music and culture....

?

Perre's Ventaglio III, 1967
Beverly Pepper  
2005.200

Wake, 2004
Richard Serra  
2004.94

Split, 2003
Roxy Paine  
T2004.106 (on loan)

We moved on from here and went towards the Seattle Centre - home of the Seattle  Space Needle and the EMP (Experience Music Project).  The Space Needle is  a tower with a revolving restaurant and observation deck at the top.. We did not go up because the weather was not good and we did not think we would get a view..  You can take a look at the view yourself from here....

Seattle Space Needle

Of course one of Seattle's famous sons is the great Jimmy Hendrix and I was keen to see the exhibit in the EMP - Seattles Music Museum.  This museum is owned and run by another of Seattle's famous sons -  Paul Allen - Microsoft's co-founder and houses his entire collection of music and sci fi related paraphernalia... There was also a Nirvana exhibit and a special exhibit about  the  film - Avatar

EMP Building, Seattle

EMP - Guitar Sculpture

Hendrix exhibit..

Hendrix stage outfit

Woodstock Ticket

Hendrix Lyrics from Straight Ahead..

Smashed Guitar

Kizzy wearing Avatar Navi Boots

Colin wearing NAvi boots

 I could not leave the exhibition without first playing an instrument.. Here is me having a session on the drums !!

Colin in the Studio..

Funky Drummer...

We took a wander through the streets of Seattle....taking a few pics here and there..

and then on Mike's recommendation we had a fantastic meal at McCormick & Schmicks - a Seattle seafood institution...

McCormick & Shmicks

We arrived home after 9pm and pretty much went straight to bed. Kizzy and I were determined that we  needed some exercise the next day and so we got up much earlier and headed out for a hike on Cougar Mountain..  Unfortunately not many views on this hike as it was so heavily forested and Kizzy was not happy because the mozzies were going crazy...

Cougar Mountain

Caterpillars..

Kizzy protecting herself from Mozzies !

Upon arriving home that night - Mike and Caprice prepared a beautiful dinner  -  Salmon, Corn on the Cob  - grilled on the BBQ  and Salad.. and not forgetting some delicious wine.   Mike and Caprice have their own Vineyard in Argentina and so know a thing or two about picking a good wine... :-)

Mike Brochu

Caprice Brochu

Mike, Colin, Kizzy & Caprice on the deck...

 We left the nextt morning and drove to Long Beach, Washington.  We  have checked into a nice hotel - it is kind of shabby chic.. meaning that they have taken old crates and made them into bed side tables and stuff - but actually pretty nice and clean and if I stretch..... i can just make out the sea.... :-)

Click here for Seattle Picasa Pics.

Kizzy will post the next update on Long Beach..

 Until then  - we love you and leave you...

Colin & Kizzy.
xx