I love reading a book where I LIKE the characters, and the story is thrilling enough to keep it interesting but still real. The ending has me on the edge of my figurative seat, and in the denouement, the bad guys get it, and the wounded recover. This description fits Ridley Pearson’s books. I especially like his Seattle PD's Lieutenant Lou Boldt. So when I needed a quick get away on my vacation, I naturally thought of Seattle.
Seattle is difficult to get to on a space available stand-by ticket. Since this is the only way I fly these days, I risked it. I bought the Frommer’s Seattle book. I prefer these guides with include good tips and map. Using the book and Expedia I chose the
Hotel 1000
Guestrooms offer a soothing sanctuary for the weary traveler and feature two-person pedestal tubs with dramatic ceiling mounted water fillers. Floating frosted glass walls surround generous, limestone tiled walk-in showers. Ok I’m sold. Yes it was a splurge for us, but it was centrally located and the staff were very nice. We could have checked in at 10am, but opted for a room on a higher floor, meaning with a view, at 4pm. We left our bags and our phone number, and wandered off.
First stop: Lunch at Ivar’s clam bar. I am not a seafood fanatic but the chowder was superb. Small portions, but delicious. The seagulls squawked while we ate. I held some fries in my fingers and the gulls grabbed.
The drizzle is steady, but not enough to open the umbrella. My Peruvian Llama hat protected me. Walk to Pioneer Place for the 2pm Underground tour. Interesting. You roam the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle. After the fire the city built retaining walls, eight feet or higher, on either side of the old streets, filled in the space between the walls, and paved over the fill to effectively raise the streets, making them one story higher than the old sidewalks that still ran alongside them. This was to prevent the constant tidal flooding. I try to fathom the imagery of walls built over salt flats and rising tides and people clambering over them in ladders while holding their purchases.
Next the Klondike Museum. Story of my life… I spin the wheel and just miss making it rich! Great photos of an era of Americana. Then our room is ready so we regrouped. Nice room, not so much of a view, but then we usually only come back after dark.
Off to Pike Place Market. At this time of the evening most of the stalls are closing down, but the flowers are still beautiful. I wish I could take some home with me. Here is the very first Starbucks, looking worn and weary but still with a steady stream of customers. I was more interested in Piroshky Piroshky, but alas…they were sold out of all the items we wanted for a snack. I suggested we return for breakfast. Then I found the ABC Gum wall. The man said “Ewww gross!” Yes I added my small piece. Specifically it was gum purchased in Korea last summer and still I my travel backpack. How international is that?
We continued wandering along the overlook to watch activity along the waterfront. In darkness we returned to our hotel, noting the bright lights of the Taboo Adult Video like a beacon in the night to guide us home. Between the hotel doors and XXX is the Boka Restaurant. I would def try it, but not tonight. The “lambwich” sounded yummy. Inside, our room was ready for us with a waterfall screensaver on the TV and two chocolates on 
the turned down bed. 
the turned down bed. 
We chose this hotel for its unusual bathtub review. Something different. This was a good choice. It is a very short walk from anything, even if some of this walking is steep hills. The concierge was excellent, the staff helpful and very friendly. When we left our umbrella in the room, there is a rack to borrow. My only complaint is the shampoo and bath gel. It is abundant, but very harsh.
Dinner decisions were upon us. Man had a Food Magazine and I had the tour book and we compared reviews. Sadly several of the places we wanted to try were CLOSED for dinner! As it was after 7PM, we headed to The Pike Brewing Company. Good food and way too many beers to choose from. Slow walk in the drizzle back to our room where the bed called to me.
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| A quiet place. |
Next day we were off to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, built in 1911 and often nicknamed the Ballard Locks, provides a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal, which connects eastward to Lake Union and Lake Washington.
The locks also see an estimated half million salmon and trout make the journey from saltwater to fresh each year with the help of a nearby fish ladder. We are here at the wrong time of year for the fish but there is one single guy swimming for our viewing pleasure. I wondered if he was hired for the job. :-) We wandered a bit through the 7-acre Carl English Jr. Botanic Garden.
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| Paleo People |
Then off to the ferry dock and a 35minute trip to Bainbridge Island. We stood watching the land recede and then moved to watch it get closer. The wind blew and the sun actually shined on us. On shore we wandered around but found not much of interest except the Stone Men at the marina and an old VW Beetle. All this wandering brought out the hunger and once again we tried clam chowder, this time at Doc's Marina Grill. Once again it was good. On the way back to the ferry dock I spotted a handyman working and tried to get him to come work for me. No luck…
The ride back was quiet as we sat inside and I wrote out postcards. The ferry was empty. So WHY did the LOUD family have to sit in the NEXT BENCH BEHIND ME??? Up I got and moved to the other side. Geeeez, they do seem to find me. The man just laughs at me and ignores things like this.
For the second night we regrouped in our room and looked for a place to eat dinner. We finally asked the concierge and decided on pizza. Serious Pie was a short walk away and we grabbed an umbrella and headed out. Personally, it was overpriced for the small pie they served. A bit upscale for these New York pizza lovers.
Plans of sharing that bathtub and a bottle of wine disintegrated as we flopped on the bed, exhausted. We made a quick review of tomorrow’s touring plans and headed off to Z-land.
Next morning I checked our 11pm flight to find that it was already full! Yikes! The best laid plans… We need to pack, find breakfast, and head to the airport. So many things left unseen.
Looks like Seattle is still on my list of Paces to See.
Like a ship on the sea, a book can take you to far away places.
