Seattle ~ Part Two

June 9 ~ 14

Seattle is a very high energy town….young, vibrant and a tad bohemian…all makes for good sightseeing and people watching. The only unfortunate thing is that all that makes it attractive has swelled the population so much that the traffic is a nightmare. We learn to weave and bob around town and stay off the highways during peak times.

Had read that Chinatown was a very active area and one of the largest in the country. Did a drive-by and really couldn’t find anything of interest. Then to Pioneer Square, the city’s historic district. Some interesting buildings, but didn’t find any shops or an appealing luncheon destination. Remembered I had read about Elliot’s Oyster House (elliotsoysterhouse.com) on the waterfront. Fortunately we had parked within reasonable walking distance and hiked over there.

On a better weather day, it would be great to eat on the deck overlooking the harbor…not in the cards again. Inside at a window table, looking out though, was just fine. I had an appetizer order of mini crab cakes with a jicama salad. It was great. Unfortunately, Rick didn’t have the same luck…his fried oysters went back twice after which he decided to give up. Stopped at a street clam bar for some fried clams for him.

Back to the car to find our way through an industrial area to another wharf to Wild Salmon Seafood Market (wildsalmonseafood.com) in search of something wonderful to prepare for a beach picnic tomorrow…..(please let there be sun!) Bought a Dungeness crab which they cooked and cleaned and Rick will pick. We will have a feast at Akli Park tomorrow.

Akli Park

It’s gorgeous weather…low 70’s and sun. Haven’t seen that in a long time. Make a pesto mayonnaise dip and a wasabi dip for the crab, add a smoked trout spread, baguette, cheese, crackers, Rainier cherries and Rick’s favorite, deviled eggs, for the picnic.

Akli Park is one happening place…it’s mobbed on this first nice day of the season…cars are trolling the streets for a parking place, cyclists, runners, walkers, kids and their parents and teenagers checking each other out pack the sidewalks and boardwalk. The view is striking…Puget Sound backdropped by the Seattle skyline... framed by ferries, sailboats and jet skiers and the Olympic Mountains. Lovely sight.

Turns out it though, the beach isn’t so fab….most of it is a seawall peering over a rocky beach…there’s one small place where they must bring in sand….it’s a magnet for everyone. We try it for a bit, but it’s not very serene……move to the rocky part…much better.

The Space Needle

We figure we should at least do a drive-by of the Space Needle since we are here. Leave the beach and go to Seattle Center, home of the icon of the 1962 World Expo. The 620 foot Needle is the centerpiece of what is now mostly an amusement park. There is also another Frank Gehry building which houses a Music and a Science Fiction Museum. Again, I don’t get it…this architect’s structures all look alike to me….guess the philistine in me is showing again.

A very pleasant day and on top of it all we get to experience yet another weather record…..never in the history of man has Seattle not had a 75 degree day by June 11. Aren’t we lucky to be a witness to that!!!!! Leaving for Vancouver in the morning….crossing our fingers for catching a break with the weather.