Blogs from Seattle, Washington, United States, North America

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North America » United States » Washington » Seattle » Bell Town September 20th 2023

Final count down. Resan går mot sitt slut även om fortfarande väldigt långt hemifrån. Men några huvudpunkter är kvar. Med gröna (jag har kanske skrivit blåa förut men referenscheck gav vid handen att det rör sig om gröna kapslar) och röda Wahlgrenspiller i kroppen vaknade jag upp ok men inte hundra på mitt motell med partiell sjöutsikt på en ö sydväst om Seattle. Lite febrig och hostig men absolut i skick att uppbåda energi nog för att springa runt ett antal timmar på ett museum med 150 flygplan. En väldigt omfattande frukost levererades till mitt rum i lådor med både varmt och kallt. Kanske ett halvt kilo plastavfall återstod när jag ätit klart. Rent vansinne. Malibun tog mig till Museum of Flights och det var en överväldigande syn. Flygplan från alla tidsåldrar och både militärt och ... read more

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle August 16th 2023

The Coast Starlight run by Amtrak is the name given to the train which runs between L.A. and Seattle, covering much of California, Oregon and Washington state. It leaves Emeryville, near Oakland at ten o'clock at night, and all being well with no delays from the many freight trains which share the line, you should arrive in about 7.30 the following evening. The choice between a standard seat at 145 dollars and a sleeper at 600 was easy to make. The compartment was fairly modern, and as we boarded late, sleep was the main occupation for most of us. I managed to get a decent few hours, and awoke to the wonder of Northern California. Incredible forests and lakes, with The Cascade range of Mountains dominated by the spectacular volcanic Mount Ranier which was still snow-topped ... read more
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North America » United States » Washington » Seattle August 15th 2023

Now our Alaska cruise was ready to get underway! Port transportation from the hotel delivered Susan and me to Seattle's Smith Cove cruise terminal at 11:30 a.m. Boarding the ship was easy and quick. Susan and I enjoyed lunch on the Lido Deck Buffet by 12:30. Cabins were ready for occupancy at 1:30. The Muster Drill was very different than in times past. Passengers merely checked in at their muster station, watched a life jacket demonstration, and had their ship cards scanned. Carnival Spirit sailed from Seattle at 3:30 p.m. And so, we were now headed “Way up North, North to Alaska, the rush is on…” as the catchy theme song from the 1960 movie goes. Susan and I had great views from our starboard side balcony of the Seattle skyline, West Point Lighthouse, Whidbey Island, ... read more
Smith Cover Cruise Terminal
West Point Light
Edmonds, Washington

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle August 14th 2023

Breakfast Monday morning was at the hotel's Andalucia Restaurant. The decor and ambiance here reminded me very much of the restaurant at the Hotel Tivoli in Lisbon. We set out in mid-morning for the Seattle Center Park, the location of the Space Needle. The park had been developed as the grounds for the 1962 World's Fair. (I was at that fair, see my 1962 Seattle blog.) Naturally, we took the Seattle Monorail to Seattle Center. The park's grounds are still reminiscent of a World's Fair or Disney's Epcot. Several pavilions built for the World's Fair have been repurposed into museums or other spaces. We secured timed tickets to go up the Space Needle. Tickets go fast, so arriving at Seattle Center early in the morning is advisable. Our tickets would not be valid until Noon, so ... read more
Glasshouse
Winter Brilliance
Sealife Tower

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle August 13th 2023

Our summer cruise to Alaska began with a prelude in Seattle. The United Airlines morning flight from Washington Dulles faced an hour's delay. Nevertheless, we arrived at 11:30 a.m. on a bright sunny Seattle day. Susan and I collected our bags and made contact with Premier Shuttle we had booked for transportation to our downtown hotel. Nearly everyone we encountered asked if we were embarking on a cruise as if we wore some sort of a sign! One woman at the airport shuttle waiting area asked me if I had ridden the Seattle Light Rail. I replied I had not, for this was my first time in Seattle since 1962. The Mayflower Park Hotel was to be our base until Tuesday. It is a classic hotel, opened in 1927, with a European ambiance about it. The ... read more
Pike Place Fish Market
Pike Place Market
Athenian Seafood


On a stay a few years back, to attend a special anniversary party, we stayed at the old Mayflower Park Hotel. It is situated almost perfectly, between the Nordstrom flagship store, and the old Bon Marche', then a Macy's, and now Uniqlo and office space. Here is some information about it: Still locally owned, the Mayflower Park url=http://i.viglink.com/?key=1779361d4a956134e030a7c269533d19&insertId=661d0c4bc044c18a&type=CD&exp=-100%3ACILITE%3A3&libId=jkvwyg8s01016ga7000DAjweaon1t&cuid=BBBxxQg%7Cus%7Ctra%7Css%7Ctraveltripidea&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-us%2Ftravel%2Ftripideas%2F20-american-hotels-hiding-historic-secrets%2Fss-BBLZ33A%3Fli%3DBBnbklE%23image%3D32&v=1&iid=661d0c4bc044c18a&out=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tripadvisor.com%2F&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-us%3Finst%3D7&title=20%20American%20hotels%20hiding%20historic%20secrets&txt=%3Cspan%3EHotel%3C%2Fspan%3E... read more
Serious Pie logo
The night market

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle » Ballard June 11th 2023

Though we have been to Seattle many times, actually over fifty, it remains one of our favorite cities in the entire world. We have been visiting this fine city since our honeymoon in 1995. We now visit just once a year, at our Anniversary, though for many years, we visited three times a year, adding our birthdays in October and February. So, we are always on the search for places, events, people, and things to explore or visit. Most of the time, we find some a concert, museum exhibit, farm dinner, or party to attend. Other times, we get together with old friends or relatives for a meal or party. In the past, we have seen performers like Paul Simon, Sting. the Seattle Symphony, Chicago, Average White Band, Tower of Power, the Kingsmen (Louie, Louie), Janis ... read more
Pike Market music
Fresh grilled veggies

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle » Bell Town June 10th 2023

Originally written in 2017. We are here in beautiful and sunny Seattle. Locals have complained about an extremely long, dreary and wet winter and spring. It is gorgeous here this weekend, in fact, on Sunday morning at 8am, the sun was already out! We got very lucky with the weather, as I had to buy a pair of Bermuda shorts yesterday, to wear today. What is the most obvious thing about Seattle this weekend besides the sunny weather? It has turned blue, completely blue, and it is not even Seahawks season. The blue belongs to the Toronto Blue Jays MLB team, in town for a three games series with the hometown Mariners. Why so many Toronto fans? Blue Jays fans outnumbeed the Mariner fans last night by at east 2 to 1!!!! Why? It turns out ... read more
Love the fresh flowers
And the Serious Pie

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle » Bell Town March 14th 2023

It is March 14, or National Pi Day, Happy 3.14!!! Mathematicians' favorite holiday is coming up! Pi Day 2023, which falls on Tuesday, March 14, is an annual holiday devoted to celebrating the one and only true magic number: π. Sure, pi is 3.14, a mathematical constant, never-ending, the circumference-to-diameter ratio of a circle — you know the drill. But it is also the perfect excuse to indulge in pies of all sorts, thanks to the restaurants and bakeries who celebrate the fun holiday by offering deals, discounts and freebies. Whether you're a fan of pizza pies or traditional dessert pies (or both, of course!), it's likely you'll be to find a deal that will satisfy your craving and save you some cash. This year, we're seeing fun deals from our favorite pizza joint... read more
Apple Pie
Greek cheese pie

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle » Bell Town December 18th 2022

Does having the most coffee shops per square mile mean that you have the best coffee? Yes, there is a Starbucks, and usually one other competitor on every block. There are a few Peet's (our favorite), so there is hope for this city. But do they have really good coffee? Here is an "expert" at the Stranger: Coffee shops in Seattle function as social clubs, community forums, shared office space, and study centers. Even the most utilitarian place offers mind-boggling overheard conversation and fascinating people watching. In my opinion, Starbucks's coffee tastes burned and people look dumb walking around drinking coffee out of giant paper cups like they're constantly at a high-school kegger. Espresso is best sipped scalding hot from a ceramic cup without a weird plastic sippy-cup lid filtering it through a petroleum product. Try ... read more
More coffee types
My cycle coffee




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