Seattle Feb 27th-Mar 2nd

Time for another trip! This time it is off to Seattle with Jeff and his wife Linda. We had done this trip once before a bit over a year ago and had a good time, but ended up feeling like we shorted ourselves a bit on time. So this time we added an extra day. We stayed at the Springhill Suites Downtown. They were still finishing a remodel and it was looking really great. I couldn't recommend a better place to stay. Great staff and clean quiet rooms. Fantastic breakfast buffet. A lot better than some of the MUCH higher priced places downtown. Anyway...

We left Friday morning around 9:30am or so. First stop was Cabela's. I had been wanting to check the place out since I had heard about it opening, but for one reason or another it never seemed to work out. First order of business when we got there was to get something to eat. Jeff and I went with the venison brats and chowder, Linda went with the fish and chips. Oh my god those brats were good. I was so thrilled about them that I checked them out that night online. I lost a bit of my enthusiasm when I found out that the only came as part of a wild game pack that was $49, which only gave you 4 of each type of brat. They were no where near THAT good!

After eating we spent a while roaming the store. Lot's of area to roam! Easily a costco sort of store. Walk in for $5 worth of something and come out with $500 worth of stuff. Bad bad bad guy store! I was good and walked out with a $3 worth of fudge and a mountain dew.

Straight to Seattle after that. Made it to the hotel at 3pm and quickly decided to go catch a movie. I thought that the Street Fighter flick would be a lot better than it was. Oh I was SO wrong. It was falling asleep bad. Oh well... live and learn.

Back to the hotel for a drink or three. Those that are in the know, know that I rarely if ever, drink anymore, so I was as shocked as some of you may be. 3 Malibu/pines and I was content. Time for the hot tub! Linda grabbed a book and Jeff and I our trunks and off to the poolroom. After an hour or so I was ready to crash (I had worked graveyard the previous night and hadn't slept yet). We headed to our rooms and it was time to crash.

The next morning I woke up a bit early and went to get a coffee across the street at Starbuck's. yeah... who has ever heard of Starbuck's being closed on Saturday and Sunday?! So back to the room and the drip coffee maker. After fighting with it I managed to get somewhat caffienated and then headed to breakfast with Linda as Jeff was a bit stiff. After chow it was off to see the city. What better way than by foot!

We headed towards Pike Place Market. We stopped briefly to get a different pair of shoes for Jeff. Then off to Pike Place. It feels different than the Saturday market in Portland. More alive maybe? Perhaps it's the view of Puget Sound and the sea port smell. Whatever it is, I enjoy the hell out of it.



The produce has to be the best available anywhere.

I hate brussel sprouts, but the lizard totally rocks em out.

We made the stop for a bag of donut holes, walked through one side, the stopped for hum bow and BBQ pork (which was very disappointing this time), back down the other side with a stop for a monster cookie for me (way too good to pass up). Back up to the shopping center with some roaming and then more food, then back to the hotel for a rest.

We had plans to meet Jeff's friend Chris and his family, and my friends Arlo and Kim, at 6pm at the Crab Pot for dinner.


Kim is totally ready for the feast!

It seemed like they were a bit stingier with the seafood compared to the last time, but it was still a good time. Lot's of talking, joking, drinking, and banter all the way around. I think we pissed off the staff with sitting there for so long talking. Since they hit us with 18% gratuity with lousy service I am not too upset about it.

After eating I asked Kim and Arlo to join us at the hotel lounge for another drink or two. We took a cab down there, but Arlo drove us back. 5 adults in a jeep with Arlo driving... somethings just don't change! Good times! We enjoyed a few drinks and some more banter and such.


Arlo had to work the next day so they had to take off. It was time to head to the hot tub again. I could really get used to having one of those on a steady basis!

Sunday morning we grabbed a bite and then headed back down to Pike Place. Yes again. We hit some off the out of the way shops then back to the main drag.

Found a cool band playing (Slimpickins) and managed to shoot some video before buying their CD (which was really good)...


One of the side alleys led to this shot.... I thought it was pretty cool, but I am odd like that.


You know I will end up with a macro shot of something...


Ok... maybe two.

We worked our way up to the theater again and watched Inkheart. I was skeptical, but shocked that it was actually pretty good.

Now for another highlight of the trip. Off to the arcade. Not just any arcade, but one with a built in pub. Could it get any better? I don't think so!

I think Jeff and Linda were slaying zombies here.


After some gaming we decided to find something to eat and then head back to the hotel. First drizzle of rain all weekend. We had perfect weather!


Something about the textures of the city... I could spend all day shooting buildings, but this one was across the street from where we had pizza. Something cool about all the stuff going on there. high class meets trailer plywood, contemporary glass meets industrial concrete/steel... I guess I am easy to please eh?


back to the hotel after dinner and then a hot tub soak (of course). We left about 5am the next morning to beat the traffic. Rolled into Portland about 8am or so. Really good trip! Can't wait to see where the next one will be!!!