Seattle

Pippa and I went to downtown Seattle today, and we had a blast. Because there were just the two of us, we got to do a lot of stuff and just enjoy Seattle. We did the tourist thing, but we got to enjoy the fun not as touristy bits as well. We walked a lot, even though the bus is free in downtown. I think we got to see more of Seattle that way and enjoy it as well.

We started off in Pike's Place Market and Pippa really liked that. It reminded her of the markets in England and both of us are very fond of the artisan-type shops there. We bought some hairclips outside of the market itself, and we also purchased coffee at the ORIGINAL Starbucks. Sweet deal. That's bragging rights, I tell ya. ;)

We wandered through the market, then stumbled upon a tea shop run by a Chinese couple by the names of Vin and Winny Huang. They gave out a lot of free samples and talked about the different properties of each tea. I didn't realize there were so many different ways to make tea. It was great. They were a lot of fun to talk with, and it was good to hear some of their experiences and where they came from. We bought tea, and Pippa bought some of the specialized cups, pots, and strainers that are used to produce tea as they showed us. I plan on going back--every weekend, if need be--just to keep them in business because they're awesome. The name of the store is Vital T Leaf and it's at the far south end of the market.

We looped back into the market through the back alleyway, so Pippa got to see the gum wall. :) Then we wandered back upstairs and out to Pan Africa for lunch. I love that place. Great food, lousy location--kitty corner to an adult theatre. Yoiks. Awkward flashing billboards. After lunch, we were going to try a henna place, but the store was closed, so we decided to head towards Pioneer Square and the Amtrak Station so Pippa could buy her tickets for tomorrow and the next day. On the way, we passed a guy who supposedly worked for wildlife recovery something or other. He had two ferrets, so we got to hold them, and we gave him some change--even though he was probably a fraud.

Also on the way to Pioneer Square, we passed the Bread of Life Mission and I decided that it would be a good idea to stop in. So we did, and I asked them what they were about and what sort of program they had. It was a rehabilitation center to help the homeless get back on their feet, as well as to help alcoholics or drug addicts. It sounded very good, and, as the man at the reception desk put it, they can only help people who want to change. I thought it was a great philosophy to have for something like that, and a good philosophy for Christians in general. As much as I want someone to see things the way I do, I know that unless he/she is willing to see it, most of my efforts go unrecognized. It was interesting.

Anyhow, got the tickets, tried to take the waterfront trolley only to find it was closed--we later tried to take the Monorail but it's also closed for awhile. Ended up at the opposite end of Seattle at the Space Needle and Seattle Center. Walked around there for awhile, took in the fountain w/ synchronized music, climbed on a sculpture we probably weren't supposed to clamber on, and ended up walked back to the waterfront--via Belltown--and ended up at Ivar's for dinner. As usual, feeding the seagulls was fun. And, since we were close to the ferry terminal, I thought we might be able to find bus schedules--which would've been really handy earlier in the day.

The notion proved true, and after relieving our bladders in the public restroom--there are quite a few good ones scattered throughout Seattle--we found a whole slough of bus schedules and routes. This enabled us to find a bus to take us across the Aurora Avenue bridge. So we got to see the Fremont troll. YES! First time to see it for both of us. And we got pictures as well. I'll have to cop them from Pippa so that I can post them.

Then we headed back to downtown, stopped in at a Starbucks--we counted about twenty throughout the day in downtown--and while there, I purchased Matisyahu's new album. The dude's got talent, man. If you haven't heard him yet, DO SO! That's an order. And then we waited in the cold for the bus and came back to NU. All in all, it was a phenomenal day, and I'm really glad I had an old friend with a similar background to me to enjoy it. We chatted in French part of the time and reminisced about RVA and Africa and Europe and the way things are outside of America. It was just really good overall. Oh, and Pippa wants to move here. Maybe. :) I think it'd be grand if she did.

She's leaving tomorrow, and it's really sad. I know that I'll see her again, maybe even at Christmastime when I go home to Africa. She'll be living in Germany by then for her year abroad, but I could probably swing through on the way back. I'd love that, and I think she'd like it too.