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Published: December 27th 2005
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Seattle1
In the pub shooting some pool. Getting to know the family was complete so it was time to get to know the local area. We started with a walk to the local pub. It seems that there is a fear of alcohol in this state. Supermarkets can only sell wines and beer; spirits must be bought from a liquor store, which it seems only open Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm. This is typical of the attitude to alcohol here.
We got into the pub at around 1.00pm - there were only six people in. It was everything we thought it would be. Bright neon signs advertising ‘Lite Beers’, men on big stools at the bar with lumberjack shirts on and a back room with pinball machines and pool tables. Think of ‘The Accused’. I ordered the beers, Tas got ID’d (she always gets ID’d when we buy alcohol over here).
We shot some pool while munching on some nachos and listening to the jukebox.
After, we decided it was time to prop up the bar and do some people watching. The guys on the high stools were talking about the Seattle Seahawks who are doing very well this season. In the corner was a couple in their late twenties who
Seattle2
The first ever Starbucks - note the slightly different logo to the standard. were getting really lairy, they seemed like they were high on something as well as drunk. I thought this was quite funny until Tas pointed out to me that they have guns in this country, so we decided to keep a low profile.
As the day went on people came but never went, the bar just got busier and busier and we got more and more drunk. We had a long walk home on streets without pavements (the car is King here, no-body walks) so we headed off before we got too drunk. It was not the same as our local and we have not been back since.
We are staying in Bothwell which is about 15 miles from Seattle. We
could have hired a car for our visit but I think you can get a better feel for a place if you use public transport or walk. Rather than walk the 15 miles to Seattle we got the bus. We got on the net and checked out the bus service to the city. The good news was the buses were every 30 minutes, the bad news was that the nearest bus stop is 8 miles away.
Seattle
Seattle3
Seattle underground. is a small city with a new half of skyscrapers and shiny buildings and an old town with more traditional red brick buildings. I read that Seattle is the cleverest city in the world as far as IQ is concerned - the reason for this probably being that it is the base for Microsoft, Boeing, Expedia and many other high-tech and bio-tech companies.
First we visited the first ever Starbucks where I had a latte and Tas had Tea (she doesn’t like coffee!) We passed an army and navy surplus store so we popped in. It was a scary place - no guns but hundreds of knives for skinning everything from rabbits to whales, it appeared. We went into North Face, Patagonia and Quicksilver shops which were a lot more friendly. All of these are very expensive outdoor stores which cater for the 18-35 year old outdoors skiing type. (Think high-tech and Microsoft employees) rather than the army and navy store which catered for the 35+ gun toting type (think Rambo)
We then made our way down the hill to the old town where we discovered the Seattle underground tour. It turns out that when Seattle was built by the forefathers 200 years ago it was built on a beach at the base of some cliffs. The forefathers chopped down all the surrounding trees and built houses and business out of them on the beach. Unfortunately in a particularly high spring tide, the whole town washed into the sea. Not learning from the lesson the town was rebuilt in exactly the same way in exactly the same place. Soon afterwards, in a particularly high spring tide the town was washed out to sea again. The local mill owner persuaded the authorities that the foundations to the buildings were not firm enough and successfully sold them the idea that a solid base could be made from sawdust (?!), and which of course he sold to them. The authorities did this, the town was once again built up, but unfortunately burned down shortly afterwards. After this tragedy the local authorities declared that no more buildings could be built with wood, only bricks and mortar would do. And while they were at it the local authorities decided they were going to destroy the cliffs and use the rock to raise the level of the land so the seas would not swallow up the town again. Unfortunately the local traders had already started rebuilding their businesses exactly where they were, while the local authority proceeded to demolish the cliffs and use the mud to build the roads some twenty feet higher. Eventually due to people dying by falling off roads onto the pavement below the local authority put their foot down and insisted that something was done. All the store owners built a ‘first floor’ on their buildings which was level with the roads and the pavements were lifted. Sorted.
A really fascinating story of stupidity and determination. We stood in a saloon and walked pavements some 20 feet below ground level and it was crackers. It was like a ghost town, exactly how you would imagine the turn of the century to be but with a lid on. Stores still had their signs, doors were intact but buckled as the ground is still sinking into the beach and sawdust foundations. I am still convinced the whole city will sink into the sea in years to come.
By now we were getting hungry so we headed down to the old town where all the bars and restaurants are. The first bar we went into was the ‘Cowgirl’ bar. As we walked in Kenny Rogers ‘The Gambler’ was playing on the jukebox. (Stewart and Melissa - we thought of you!) I ordered two beers and got asked for ID! I know I don’t look 33 but I certainly look older than 21! Tas got ID’d as usual too. The place was awful (complete with bucking broncos and barmaids dressed as cowgirls), we had one beer and left. We headed off to the New Orleans bar where was a band playing Jazz, it was very nice. We had a few Tanquerays and had some Cajun food. All was going well until police sirens filled our ears and police lights filled our eyes. I was facing a window through which I saw a police car screech to a holt outside, a policeman got out, drew his gun and stood behind his vehicle. The gun was pointed at something just outside my view. It seems that lots of other folks couldn’t see what the gun was being pointed at either so they rushed to the window. Being British, not wanting to cause a scene and being scared of guns and bullets I kept my butt firmly in my seat. The way I saw it any stray bullets would have to pass the spectators at the window before hitting Tas and me. There was no gunshots and the drama ended as quickly as it started. We were getting very merry so we decided enough was enough and headed home.
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