Downtown Seattle

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Today we took the bus and left the driving to them.  We arrived at the Transit Center here in Issaquah about 9:30 thinking we would find a place to park in the multi story parking garage.  Wrong.  It was completely full but fortunately across the street is an overflow lot where we were able to find a place.  Our bus arrived just after we walked across the street to the location.  This is the second stop for this bus and we made about 4 others before we got off.  Buses are able to use the HOV lanes into the city and boy, do they travel.  I would have had to close my eyes if I had been looking out the front window.   Ron thought it would be cool to use the HOV lane for the RV but not sure if it is legal. Ha! Ha!

Arriving in town without a mishap, we alit at the Kings Street Station where the Amtrak train leaves and the in town light rail departs.  We walked a couple of blocks west toward the waterfront (this direction is all downhill) to pick up the Emerald City Trolley which we will use to get to different attractions.  It is a hop on/hop off trolley with a commentator giving information about the city, buildings and history of Seattle along the way.  One interesting fact he imparted was that Seattle  no longer has the most coffee consumed.  Anchorage, Alaska now has the honor.  Here in Seattle it seems there is a Starbucks or other coffee shop on nearly every corner.  You can certainly get your caffeine fix here. 

Our first stop was at Pike Market where we watched the men throw the fish which everyone has heard so much about. 

 One fish kept falling out of the ice scaring some young children as it popped out.  (It is on a string and they keep moving in back.) After watching this for several minutes we wandered on to see what else there was to see.  The produce vendors had some beautiful displays as did the florists.  I would have bought some of both if I hadn't had to carry them all day. 

 Lots of vendors with all kinds of wares and restaurants of every description.  It is an interesting and fun place filled with lots of people.  

Leaving Pike Market we walked a couple of blocks to catch the Trolley to continue along the route

Chief Seattle Statue for whom city is named

 to the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.  It was a slow process as traffic was beginning to snarl a bit.  The Space Needle was built for the 1962 Expo and was supposed to be temporary.  The Needle sits in the Seattle Center which is a large complex of buildings which includes a large park area where there is a playground, Museum with changing exhibits, Children’s Museum,  the Chihuly Garden and Museum, street vendors and musicians and much more.  We walked near the Space Needle but decided we would not take the trip to the top due to the wait time (well over an hour).  We have been in a similar structure in San Antonio.  It is impressive, however, and really does stand out in the skyline of Seattle. 

We stopped for lunch at the Collections Café which is attached to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.  A number of Mr. Chihuly’s collections are housed in this Café including a display of accordions on the ceiling, bottle openers, and much more.   Our hostess showed us to a table in a glass room with open doors and windows where we enjoyed the outdoor breezes.  Very pleasant.  The menu was fairly limited and expensive (as we were finding everywhere in this area).  We opted for salads which were nicely presented and very tasty.

Our tummies full, we ventured around the other side of the building to enter the Museum. 

 The Museum showcases the glass creations of Dale Chihuly and is hard to describe so I will just attach pictures here for you to see.  It is worth the cost of entrance and should not be missed if you are ever in Seattle.  

 Among the exhibits are his artwork designs for some of the pieces.  This Museum was the highlight of our day.

Several years ago, Ron and I with our Good Sam chapter toured the Spencer Theater in Ruidoso while there for the weekend and saw this incredible glass work on display in the building.  When I saw this man’s work today, I knew that it was the work of the same person we had seen in Ruidoso.  His work stands out.  The man is a genius and has such vision. 

We are not as young as we used to be and by 2:30 had decided we had had enough of playing tourist for the day so returned to our Trolley for more tour of the city while enjoying the sites sitting down.  We alit from the Trolley near our bus stop and walked up hill a block and over two to catch the bus back to Issaquah.  Another hair raising return on I-90 but we made it back safely.  

Taking the Trolley makes it easy to get around and saves on finding parking lots; however, there is a great deal of walking to and from the Trolley to see the various attractions.  Seattle does have other mass transit systems (buses, light rail, monorail) besides the Trolley so getting from place to place can be done once you figure out the system and where you want to go: however, there is lots of walking as well.   


We'll see what tomorrow brings.