Seattle Vacation: The Emerald City (Part 3)

The Emerald City: Flying Fish, Gargoyles & Trolls, Oh My!

I got an early start Wednesday and headed out into the city to see as much as I could. The hotel I picked, the Executive Plaza Pacific Hotel, was located roughly equidistant from Pike Place and Pioneer Square. The sun had not yet burned off the light fog hugging the ground when I marched out of my hotel, map in hand. The morning air was cool and inviting and I hoped some walking might help loosen up my back. After taking some photos around the University of Washington (cool gargoyles!), I headed to Pike Place Market for some much-needed coffee at the original Starbucks. This Starbucks is the only location that still has merchandise with the original, brown mermaid logo, complete with bare breasts and split tail. When the company started franchising, they changed the logo to the more politically-correct green logo familiar now. While sipping my grande skim vanilla latte, I made a mental note to come back before I left the market and pick up some mugs as souvenirs and gifts.

I wandered around the market for a couple of hours, watching the obligatory fish-throwing and looking around in some of the other shops and stalls. Sadly, I didn't see any of the guys I remembered from the "Fish!" motivational videos my company purchased a few years back. I was surprised how many antique shops and craft stores there were in this "Farmer's Market." I ended up having an early lunch at the Market Grill: fantastic clam chowder and an incredibly fresh (as one might expect) fish sandwich.

I ended up buying a few more souvenirs than originally intended; I had to stop by my hotel and drop off my goodies before heading back out to Pioneer Square for the Underground Tour. I'm not sure anything I blog here can adequately describe the alternating feelings of wonder, claustrophobia and curiosity, coupled with the almost overpowering sensation that we weren't alone. I kept waiting for the Haley Osment to pop around a corner telling us he saw dead people. Our guide was lively and interesting. I managed to restrict my post-tour purchases to a cute Seattle shot glass with a bear at the gift shop at the end of the tour.

After the Underground, I took a cab to the Space Needle, originally constructed for the 1962 World's Fair. It has an observation deck (having done the Sears Tower and the Empire State building, this was a piece of cake) and a restaurant, among other things. The restaurant still has a lot of its 1960's "feel" to it, without being kitschy. I liked that it was less formal (and thus, less imposing) than the restaurant I most closely associate with tall buildings, the Signature Room at the John Hancock building in Chicago.

The day was rapidly getting away from me and there was at least one more thing I wanted to see: the troll under the Fremont bridge. The cab driver I hailed knew exactly where to go and after a brief ride across Lake Union (I think that's what the cabbie said we were crossing) and there He was, in all His magnificence. The cab driver told me I should come back for the big Halloween celebration that involves the troll. I took a few photos, and had the waiting cabbie take me back to my hotel.

I was tired and my back was still pretty sore, but I wanted to check out a couple of the sponsors I jotted down from my Seattle Quake calendar back home. I decided to check out the R Place Bar & Grill for dinner, followed by visit to the Manray Video Bar down the street. The R Place is H-U-G-E and offers a little something for everyone - sports bar, video games, food, drink, you name it. After dinner my back was starting to ache, so I decided to put the Manray on the itinerary for my next visit. Another quick cab ride and I was "home" at the hotel.

I had to get up early the next day, to pack, check out of the hotel and get back to the train station for my 10:00 AM departure on the Coast Starlight and the next leg of my journey.

Overall, my brief glimpse of Seattle left me wanting more. I encountered nothing but kind, helpful people during my stay. Despite Seattle's notoriously wet climate, it was bright, sunny and comfortable for all of my 2.5 days. I would have to rank The Emerald City as #3 on my Favorite Cities list, behind Auckland, New Zealand and Chicago. Fabulous place.

Next: California Coast and Home