Couple of weeks in Seattle

The view from the deck
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Susan says: I have been challenged, a full year later, to finally write my missing entry. I apologize to the thousands of people who have been breathlessly anticipating this enlightening account of our travels, from the drier side of our reporting team.

I do remember quite clearly that we ambled across the farmlands of Eastern Washington and the vineyards of Central Washington to arrive in Seattle via the I-90 floating bridge. I never get tired of fighting and fearing the traffic that squeezes into the underpass before emerging onto the clear and wide open view of the bridge crossing Lake Washington, seemingly adrift like an old lakehouse dock.

Deck view at sunset
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We found our way to our friend's house in view-centric West Seattle and settled in to enjoy barbeque's on the deck and adventurous ferry-taxi rides to the downtown, as needed. Brilliant. My strongest memories of Seattle are from skulking up the road from Tacoma when I was in university, seeking entertainment. Now, the same things still exist- Bumbershoot, ferries crossing the bay, and bars that have stood the test of time. Now we're just listening to Feist, Nouvelle Vague, and Blondie instead of Bare Naked Ladies, Heart, and well.. Blondie.

Amazing fiery mountains
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That said, I leave with this: if you hear an off-key voice warbling from a karaoke bar in West Seattle, singing an regretful tune by Scotland's Rod Stewart, do walk in. You won't regret it.

Debbie says:

We had about 2 weeks in Seattle and I think it only rained once, which was nice. Staying with Jamelah, Greg and Luke (their son) in their West Seattle house, that has fantastic views of the mountains and water. We spent quite a lot of time on the deck (see pictures) and I spent quite a lot of time making sure I hid my ashtray so that I wouldn’t find little Luke playing with the dirty butts. Our first weekend in Seattle was spent at “Bumbershoot” – it’s a yearly music festival that takes place very close to the Space Needle. Very different to festivals I’ve been too in the past (Glastonbury, Lowlands and others I was a bit too tipsy to remember even being at). For a start, Bumbershoot doesn’t allow alcohol apart from the “beer gardens” they have set up which are more like “pens” so you’re rounded up inside the small spaces surrounded by white fences and not free to roam around with a pint in your hand. Despite this inconvenience we still had a great time. Nouvelle Vague were excellent, Jamie Lidell was definitely on something and he was crap, Blondie rocked, Feist were good but made me feel sleepy. Watching Roller Derby was a lot of fun. Tacky and mildly violent. You wouldn’t want to mess with these girls.

Strange fog coming off the water
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Favorite bit of Seattle (and possibly favorite public art ever) was the Fremont Troll. He lives under the Fremont Bridge and he’s everything a troll should be. If I had to be an 18ft female (straight) concrete troll then I would want him as my boyfriend. He’s so cool.

Warning about Seattle: You can easily get yourself a bit too “merry” in this place (they make excellent martini’s) and then wake up the next morning being told that the previous night you were up on the stage in a Karaoke bar slurring Rod Stewarts classic “Do you think I’m sexy.” Enough said.

Lola and Zac (Jamelah's cats)
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