We loved Seattle, approaching it along the Puget Sound on the Victoria Clipper. It has an attractive waterfront setting, with views of the mountains and the Mount Rainer volcano. There are plenty of places to go and sights to see and a good choice of restaurants and cafes. It's a relaxed kind of place, not too touristy but full of people going about their daily business. New buildings seem to have been designed to align with the really attractive old ones, like Chicago, but unlike Victoria, where many ugly condos crowd out the older buildings.
We visited the Seattle Public Library, an amazing piece of architecture, unlike any library we've ever seen. Lake Union was beautiful with the Centre for Wooden Boats housing many vintage small boats on the waterside. We rode the buses, the monorail and the trolley bus, all very cheap. Our trip to the Museum of Flight cost us 75 cents each way as seniors, for quite a long journey south of Seattle. Ralph really enjoyed seeing so many planes and it was quite something to step inside Air Force One and see Johnson's hat.
We stayed in Belltown, just to the west of downtown and described amusingly as a 'cool' and 'uber-hip' neighbourhood. One night we ate at an Italian called La Vita e Bella, apparently featured in Frasier. We watched them throwing fish at Pike St Market and visited the Seattle Art Museum. Cheesily we even visited the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Centre, and can't say we disagreed with any of the ideas and activities featured there to promote health and reduce world poverty.
Following a short journey on the Amtrak Cascades train we're now in Portland, Oregon, which is different again, a bit more funky with lots of music and art, especially in the Pearl District. The city streets are narrower and the buildings are not as tall, but the public transport system is just as good, with light rail, trolley buses and buses, although the downtown area is compact enough for walking. Today it was windy and we were attacked by a sudden fall of horse chestnuts which made a loud noise as they hit the roofs of parked cars. We had a meal last night in a farmers' choice market, listening to a blues trio playing live. It was raining today so at tea time we took in a film (The Way Way Back, which was very good) before we went out for a meal. We've just been checking up on the Di Canio saga.
In every city we've visited the public library and certainly in the US they have impressive Friends organisations selling used books in the foyer. In Portland they also had armed Sheriff's Officers. We visited Powells Books, apparently the largest independent bookshop in the world, with a frightening amount of choice.
On Tuesday we fly out to San Francisco, for the last stage of our American journey.
We visited the Seattle Public Library, an amazing piece of architecture, unlike any library we've ever seen. Lake Union was beautiful with the Centre for Wooden Boats housing many vintage small boats on the waterside. We rode the buses, the monorail and the trolley bus, all very cheap. Our trip to the Museum of Flight cost us 75 cents each way as seniors, for quite a long journey south of Seattle. Ralph really enjoyed seeing so many planes and it was quite something to step inside Air Force One and see Johnson's hat.
We stayed in Belltown, just to the west of downtown and described amusingly as a 'cool' and 'uber-hip' neighbourhood. One night we ate at an Italian called La Vita e Bella, apparently featured in Frasier. We watched them throwing fish at Pike St Market and visited the Seattle Art Museum. Cheesily we even visited the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Centre, and can't say we disagreed with any of the ideas and activities featured there to promote health and reduce world poverty.
Following a short journey on the Amtrak Cascades train we're now in Portland, Oregon, which is different again, a bit more funky with lots of music and art, especially in the Pearl District. The city streets are narrower and the buildings are not as tall, but the public transport system is just as good, with light rail, trolley buses and buses, although the downtown area is compact enough for walking. Today it was windy and we were attacked by a sudden fall of horse chestnuts which made a loud noise as they hit the roofs of parked cars. We had a meal last night in a farmers' choice market, listening to a blues trio playing live. It was raining today so at tea time we took in a film (The Way Way Back, which was very good) before we went out for a meal. We've just been checking up on the Di Canio saga.
In every city we've visited the public library and certainly in the US they have impressive Friends organisations selling used books in the foyer. In Portland they also had armed Sheriff's Officers. We visited Powells Books, apparently the largest independent bookshop in the world, with a frightening amount of choice.
On Tuesday we fly out to San Francisco, for the last stage of our American journey.
I see Sir Ben got the last race for the USA then. All very exciting. Did you catch any of it? Di xx
ReplyDeleteYes, we were there watching it, although it was more difficult to follow progress without the helpful graphics you get on TV. Photos are on the link - can you see those? x
ReplyDeleteThe only one I have seen was a group of photographers sitting waiting for the race to commence. What link are you talking about? Di Di xx
ReplyDeleteWe usually add new photos every day under the US 2013 link and there were around 5 from the race event, not very good as my camera ran out of juice that day so I had to use Ralph's.
ReplyDelete