Seattle
27/06/10 20:26
Seattle was my next destination and Kelly kindly put me up and showed me around her neighbourhood, Fremont, which is known for it’s quirkiness. First things first we started with a Latte at Pete’s. I never met the guy but his coffee was excellent. I have become somewhat addicted to the brown stuff lately after several trips to the USA.
Kelly then showed me the ‘Fremont Sign’. Fremont is said to be at the centre of the universe and the sign shows the direction to several points of interest around the world, so I wrote down all the names so I could tick them off my world travels.
Our next stop was to Pike Place where we came across an art installation on the sidewalk. I saw it as an opportunity to check what I looked like after several hours on a plane. Apparently, Kelly was telling me, Pike Place is a great place to get fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, flowers and all sorts of fresh goodies. You can also find local art and some great restaurants right on the water. We visited the famous Flying Fish stand where the workers throw their slippery wares back and forth.
It was then time for more coffee and right outside the market is the very first Starbucks. But looking at the queue outside it seemed everyone else had the same idea. These guys seem just as addicted as me!
Kerry Park was next on the itinerary in the Queen Anne neighbourhood where the best view of the city can be had. I needed a little help but eventually was able to reach the telescope to get a good view of the city. In the distance at Seattle’s centre I could see the Space Needle, which was designed (so I discovered after a little cribbing on my return to England) for the 1962 World’s Fair. It is 184 metres tall and was actually a compromise of 2 designs, one a giant balloon tethered to the ground, the second a flying saucer.
My tour finished with a little culture and we rounded off the day with a trip to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). In the lobby was an installation showing a sequence of cars and multi-channel light tubes which depict an explosion.
Kelly then showed me the ‘Fremont Sign’. Fremont is said to be at the centre of the universe and the sign shows the direction to several points of interest around the world, so I wrote down all the names so I could tick them off my world travels.
Our next stop was to Pike Place where we came across an art installation on the sidewalk. I saw it as an opportunity to check what I looked like after several hours on a plane. Apparently, Kelly was telling me, Pike Place is a great place to get fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, flowers and all sorts of fresh goodies. You can also find local art and some great restaurants right on the water. We visited the famous Flying Fish stand where the workers throw their slippery wares back and forth.
It was then time for more coffee and right outside the market is the very first Starbucks. But looking at the queue outside it seemed everyone else had the same idea. These guys seem just as addicted as me!
Kerry Park was next on the itinerary in the Queen Anne neighbourhood where the best view of the city can be had. I needed a little help but eventually was able to reach the telescope to get a good view of the city. In the distance at Seattle’s centre I could see the Space Needle, which was designed (so I discovered after a little cribbing on my return to England) for the 1962 World’s Fair. It is 184 metres tall and was actually a compromise of 2 designs, one a giant balloon tethered to the ground, the second a flying saucer.
My tour finished with a little culture and we rounded off the day with a trip to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). In the lobby was an installation showing a sequence of cars and multi-channel light tubes which depict an explosion.