Day 8: Seattle

I had been looking forward to seeing Seattle, but I was not at all prepared to fall madly in love with it. To hell with Los Angeles, I'm ending my trip here and becoming a fisherman. Just kidding... barely. Where to begin. First, on our way in we met up with my new roommate Brooks, who lives just outside of Seattle in a hilariously named city called Sammamish. He was nice enough to hang out with us, drive us into the city and show us around. My impression of the place is a cross between Burlington and what I imagine San Francisco to be. It has the young, hippy soul of Burlington, the drastic hill landscape of San Francsico, with weather somewhere in between the two and a culinary palette all its own.

Now most of you know that I'm a total foodie. I love to cook and I love to eat good, fresh food, particularly that which comes from the sea. I come from New England - we know really good seafood. Brooks took us to Pike Place Market, which completely blew my mind - even I was flabbergasted by the selection of fresh fish, not to mention produce, flowers, and many local/homemade odds and ends (including the most amazing sugar free organic chocolate sauce that I swear was better than Hershey's).

I knew nothing about Seattle before coming here and so was completely broadsided by the scope of the market. As much as I loved seeing it, I was also slightly tortured since I couldn't buy anything to bring home and cook.

Brooks, being a big dork like me, took me to an instrument shop filled with cool instruments from all time periods and locations.

They let you play all the things in their shop and are happy to engage in conversations about instrument origins and playing techniques. I told you - total dork!

Being in Seattle we of course had to see the original Starbucks. Hard to believe it all started from one little shop. From there we continued along the water to an amaaaaazing spice shop that was stocked with freshly ground spices and the shop's own special blends.

Again I was being a total dork and talking to the shop owner about spices and what he was making, etc. From there, Brooks took us to the pier where Michaela and I took a boat cruise around the sound. It was one hour long and gave us a full view of the city. We opted for this rather than going to the space needle, which costs $19 just to ascend and look. I would rather take pictures of the needle rather than be in it. I originally suggested we have dinner in the rotating restaurant up in the space needle until I realized dinner entrees started at $40. ha! But, Michaela was a good sport and joined me in a bit of an upscale dinner at Elliot's Oyster House, where I had a life changing oyster stew along with plank-cooked wild Alaskan salmon. Soooo gooood.

Seattle is someplace I could definitely see myself living or at least spending a good long while in. I love the vibe, the people, and the food. I'm sorry to be leaving it so soon, but we must keep going! Tomorrow onto Oregon and the Pacific Ocean!!!!

Quotes of the Day

Michaela (agitated): I'm so worried about my flight home - I'm going to go crazy.

Me: It'll be fine, just get drugged up and sleep.

Michaela (yelling): Get drugged up - ON WHAT?!?!

Me (yelling back): I don't know... MIDOL?!?

Me: Woah, did you see that billboard we just passed?

Michaela: No, what did it say?

Me: Michaela's a bitch.