The end of Seattle

Just a few more images and thoughts of our time in Seattle for computer camp and touristy things...

One morning, we spent some time at the Market.  Pike Place Market is known around the world for its open-air market with fresh seafood, flowers, produce, baked goods, and handmade items.  It's an interesting place- the top level looking like a regular farmer's market, but the lower levels seemingly sprouting up and out from the hillside in a rabbit warren of shops, ramps, stairs and restrooms.  If you don't go there often enough, you can get disoriented quickly.  Keep exploring- eventually you will emerge- either up on top or at the top of the outdoor staircase that descends into the harbor area.

The most photographed sign in Seattle.

The fish throwing guys.

One of many street performers/panhandlers/homeless that we encountered in Seattle.  They tend to gather where the tourists will be- we saw the same ones in the same places day after day.  I don't usually give money, but if they are playing and singing... I can't resist.

After Pike Place Market, I took her to class and then drove over to the Fremont area.  This is just a bit north of Seattle and has a nice small town hipster vibe to it.  The main reason I went is to see the Troll, but I also got to see a colorful bridge, look at street art, go to a cool music store and eat at a wonderful restaurant.

The Fremont Bridge is the most frequently opened drawbridge in the world- it opens about 35 times a day! 

I think it is cool because it is so colorful.

So much prettier than our boring green bridge at home.

Street art.

This street art pays homage to J.P. Patches, a Seattle TV legend.   I grew up watching him.

Some of the ukuleles at Dusty Strings Music Shop in Fremont.

More ukuleles.  They also sell guitars, harps, and other stringed instruments.  So much fun to prowl around and they let me try a variety of ukes...  awesome.

The George Washington Memorial Bridge- looking south.

The George Washington Memorial Bridge- looking north to the home of the troll.

There he is!

I hope he doesn't eat me.

What has he captured in his left hand?  A VW bug.

After I strolled away from the troll, I headed back to the main area of Fremont to eat at a place that I had first tried a few years ago- Pie.  They had been located at the Seattle Center Armory, but had since moved and I tracked them down- that's how good they are!

I had an English meat pie (steaming hot) for lunch, and then a strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert.  Both were perfect- the right size, the right consistency, the right seasonings, the right crust...
I just wish they would open another store- closer to me!

After Pie, I went back to Seattle Center and stretched out on the lawn for a nap in the shade.  Abby was done with her class at 4:30 and when I went up to get her, I got a picture of her in action- transforming a red "blob" into a new creature using all the tools and techniques she had learned during the week.

My little computer nerd.  I know she enjoyed her week and I hope she learned something to put toward her artsy future!

Duck, duck, troll.

Across the street from the Seattle Center is a kitschy tourist tour called the Duck Boats. Seriously, you ride around the city in what looks like a tub on wheels and then it gets driven into the lake and out again. The drivers keep up a constant patter that alternates between actual history and local legend- all accompanied by a specially chosen pop music soundtrack (straight from the 70s and 80s) while the riders occasionally wave to the people on the streets.  Along with their ticket to ride, tourists can also purchase a lanyard with a yellow plastic duck call that is shaped like a duck's bill .  I declined this particular accessory, but I was tempted to get one just to use it in my classroom next year.

It really was a lot of fun. I have been to other cities that have Duck Boat tours and now I wish I had gone on every single one of them. I wish our town had Duck Boats. I am not even kidding about this.  We have a lake.  We could do this.

Our driver had a variety of hats and hairpieces that fit with the stories and music.  Those life vests you see on the upper racks?   Yup, we had a safety lesson.  It is a boat, after all.

On the waterfront.  Miners Landing marks the location of the start of the Klondike Gold Rush.  The gold rush made entrepreneurial Seattle-ites rich- not because they went to get gold, but because they stayed home and sold expensive "must have" items to the miners.  Our driver told us that of the thousands that went to Alaska, only 4 came back with any measure of gold.  One of those was John W. Nordstrom, who took his money and opened up a ladies shoe store.

CenturyLink Field.  Go Seahawks!

Building in Pioneer Place.

Seattle Art Museum, or SAM.

Hard Rock Cafe.  Apparently, this is the only Hard Rock Cafe that has the
guitar (that you can't quite see) installed upside down.
It's in remembrance of Kurt Cobain. 

Cool waterfall- it's double-sided and you can walk between the walls of water.  Nice for a hot summer day.
You don't get drenched, just pleasantly cooled.

Speaking of cool...

Apparently, the second-most photographed sign in Seattle.

Looking at Lake Union from the Fremont Bridge.

Driving in to Lake Union.

The Space Needle from Lake Union- it's the side we don't see from Elliott Bay. 

I want one of these.

The Fremont Bridge from Lake Union.

Recognize this floating house?
A prize goes to the first person who comments and tells me why I took 10 pictures of it...

Museum of History and Industry.

One of many cute houseboats on Lake Union.

So, that's what you get when you ride the Ducks!

But what about the troll?

He's under the bridge.