I've never been so totally taken with a city as I am with Seattle. The city's not the prettiest place - there're bums on the street, and the city buildings are somewhat grubby looking (though of course it looks better and better as you get into the residential areas). But the atmosphere just seems infused with music, arts and culture. It's this air of eccentricity, and the aromas of coffee and multi-national food in the air that drew me to it.
I stayed just across from Pike Place Market, a fantastic complex overlooking the water that's a maze of shops, stalls and eateries selling everything from magic tricks to seafood. One famous fish place in particular always had a crowd around it waiting to watch large fish being tossed over the counter. The sellers would also yell out each order, to be repeated by all the others behind the counter. It was quite entertaining.
Beyond (and sort of below) the market is the waterfront, lined with touristy shops and a sort of mini indoor carnival. I found a great sourdough bakery that had the best clam chowder I ever tasted. And a sweet shop that sold every variety of saltwater taffy you can think of. The lady in the shop gave me a couple for free (probably didn't think the two I'd picked out would be worth weighing since they're sold by grams, heheh).
In my 5 days in Seattle, I....
...watched my first ever live baseball game in Seattle (Mariners versus Toronto Blue Jays. Jays won.)
...enjoyed an evening of music with the Indigo Girls at the zoo.
...caught the world premiere of the theatrical version of 'Catch Me If You Can'.
...ate in the pub that a scene from Sleepless in Seattle was shot in. They've even labelled the spots where Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner sat. Too cool :)
And of course, I...
...visited the location of the original Starbucks, right in Pike Place.
Seattle. I can't think of a better place I could've spent my birthday week.
