Thursday, August 2, 2012

Seattle Washington On Foot

At last I have something to write about in here. I was beginning to think I was never going to get to travel again. It has been a long tough year or so for every one and the traveling we normally do has been limited to day trips to the shore and Atlantic City. Well my traveling luck has taken a turn for the better and I was given the chance to go some where I had never been before. Not only never been but to get there I had to fly.
  I was given the opportunity to go to Seattle Washington.My trip was paid for by Allrecipe.com and it was the best gift I have received so far this year.I had known about the trip since early May and I did no home work didn't even look at a map to see exactly where Seattle WA was. I absolutely didn't believe I would get on the plane and go. I knew I really wanted to try. Even so I cried and whined about how scared I was to fly and travel in a strange city by myself for months. Before I knew it the date was here and my bags weren't even packed.
  Well I packed a bag and got on that plane. I calmly and with more then a little enjoyment flew across the country. I landed in a city I knew nothing about with no plans other then my Allrecipe activities. It is a good thing AR(allrecipe for short) arranged shuttles for us from the air port to the hotel or I may have spent my entire time trying to figure out how to get out of the airport. I am not a dumb person but the airport is larger then most cities.
  A lot of the AR brand ambassadors that were coming to Seattle as well made full vacations of it and extended their time in WA and enjoyed the opportunity to see more of Washington then just Seattle. I was not able to do that so I contented myself with touring Seattle on foot. Believe you me I wasn't alone. The Seattle side walks are filled with tourist and city dwellers alike. The streets are filled with cars and trucks and to hail a cab you need a loud voice and long arm.Believe it or not with all the bustle and activity going on Seattle is a quiet city.
  My hotel was located in what seemed to be the heart of the city 6TH and Union. The hotel it self is an old building that is completely modern on the in side. The kind of place that has doormen, bell hops, and warm soft cushy white robes in the room for you. I didn't open a door or lift a bag the entire time I was there. Pampered that is what I was. 3 days is really not enough time for treatment like that. Washington Athletic Club is an awesome hotel. To bad I didn't take one picture of the place. To be frank after a while I started leaving my camera in the room. I was just enjoying walking and looking and discovering so much I didn't have time to take pictures.
  There was so much to see in the city that every time I turned my head I saw something new. I walked down some of the streets a dozen times at least and saw some thing new every time.If I was asked to go again I wouldn't say no. I would however do my homework and be prepared a little better so I would get to see more. I saw a lot of the city and enjoyed it all but a part me can't help thinking if only....  Oh well hind sight and all that.
 I was lucky that a friend from cooking and the internet lives in the suburbs if Seattle and my first night there she and her husband snagged me up and took my on my most favorite tour. They took me to the Puget Sound and a beach that I could walk along and collect treasures like sand dollars and drift wood as well as some very cool looking rocks.
 It was so odd to walk along a beach on a beautiful summer day and there only be 10 people or less on the beach and only 1 person in the water. That water was so cold I put my hand in and that was enough for me.
 There were a lot of interesting stores and shops around the city. This one by far was the most interesting to me. The clothing was chic and trendy,it was the decor however that interested me. The entire store was filled with old fashion sewing machines. Different sizes,makes and models.Sewing machines on the walls windows and even the floor. I was in that store a good 15 minutes just standing there staring at the walls and snapping pictures. That's how I knew I was not on the east coast. You could never stand for 15 minutes in a store taking pictures without buying anything,you would be asked to leave. I was asked if I was able to get all the pictures I wanted and pointed to other cool looking machines I may not have noticed.
No matter where you walked there was always something going on something to see. It seemed like on every corner there was entertainment of some sort,as well as a lot of beggars.Not every cardboard sign was a plea for money though some where political statements and others where just nonsense that at times was funny.
 Pike Place Market absolutely lives up to its reputation. A beautiful indoor outdoor market. With all kinds of different shops and vendors. There are side walks but most people walk in the brick lined street with the cars. It is less crowded and you get a better view. If you are a serious shopper you are in side walking along the many booths and stalls, but if you are like me a sightseer you are walking along the outside.  That way you get to see it all, the market,the Sound, the mountains off in the distant horizon and the steep steep hill you have to climb to get back to your hotel.
 This is the easy hill I went down to the market this way and at the bottom turned right. The hill at the other end of that street was twice as high and afforded the most beautiful view. A shot I didn't take due to being out of breath,I told my self I would come back and take the picture. I was back to the top of that hill a few times just never with the camera. I did that a lot this trip I would say to myself come back and try that or you want to come back and get that and it never happened.
 There were so many fantastic looking restaurants it was hard to chose where to eat. I picked a winner every time. I tried a Mexican restaurant near the hotel for lunch, pricey but very good, Lillian made reservations for a group of us(my only planned activity ) at the Pink Door. Pricey,with great art work and excellent food. The best meal I had however had me sitting at a table with the deepest blue hydrangea I have ever seen as my view. That was the home cooked meal provided by My friends Laurie and John.
  Here I am in the AR offices enjoying Happy Hour with some of my new found friends. The offices of AR are very cool not many offices have putt putt golf running through the hallways or hopscotch taped out on the hallway floors. It is also not normal to see employees being able to cook them self lunch but you saw that here. 
  The entire trip was an awesome experience. I had the time of my life and came away thinking Seattle Washington is one hell of a city.


     

2 comments:

  1. Joan, you so deserve a fantastic sounding trip like that!!! You also are a very gifted writed with a style that just flows easily.

    You Are A Treat to Follow! Welcome Home Lady:)

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    1. Thank you so much. As much fun as I had I was so happy to get home to Bill. I do how ever miss the 75 and sunny days.

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