I'm Only Here for the Food!

Despite Seattle is just a couple hundred of clicks from Vancouver, I have only been there once. Reality is, all this time, I have been too lazy to go there. Well, considering the cost of gasoline in the last couple of months, I guess I had a good excuse. Well, not really, since gas is cheaper on the other side of the border, I could fill up the tank on my way back… OK, Just call me lazy!!! ^_^;;;

My first time in Seattle wasn’t really in Seattle but Tukwila (about 20Km south of Seattle) for work reasons. However, on one of the days after work, I chose to drive there. I wanted to visit a couple of places, namely, Pike Market but since it was already past their closing time, I went to another nearby attraction, the Space Needle.

View of Seattle Downtown, just after sunset.

I had my set of issues while driving there but judging a city based on a single night is anything but fair. So, when I arrived a bit too early to meet my friend, I decided to go around with open mind and enjoy myself. Well, not necessarily when I got lost (somehow, I ended up back to I-5, the highway that crosses Seattle). After a couple of turns, I managed to get close to the waterfront and not far from the hotel my friend was staying. Next step? Get a parking spot. Now, I knew there was a football game but considering Pike Place Market is a bit over a Km away from Safeco, I thought people won’t be parking that far, right? Well, no. I think I easily spent over 15 minutes driving around to find a parking spot. Now, not a parking spot but at least a cheap one! After a couple of rounds, I decided to stop here…

Just look at the rates!!! ;_;

By then my friend gave me a call and told me she should be checking at the hotel in about an hour or so, which gave me some time to walk around.

The Crab Pot, a place Ben from Chow Times has reviewed before but did not have a chance to visit.

I love to take pictures of fountains and small cascades. It is, in a way, a challenge, as depending on the camera setting, it can be captured in different ways.

As seen in one of the shops… A voodoo doll toothpick holder!

I was thinking on taking the boat but I would rather stay here as my friend could call me anytime, not to mention I did not have any Gravol.

I also love to take pictures of flowers…

Downtown Seattle

And I thought only Hamilton was loaded with one way streets!

At this point, I was walking to the hotel my friend was staying at and had a coffee in the meantime. We walked to afterwards to Pike Market Place and, while I snapped a couple of pictures, it was more of a quality time with my friend.

From the waterfront to Pike Market Place

Those are really tasty looking peppers!

Did I mention I love to take pictures of flowers?

After I walked my friend back to the hotel, I walked back again to the waterfront and had dinner. I couldn’t let go this chance to take a picture of the sun reflecting on the water.

From here, it was a drive back to Vancouver. However, just as I was getting to I-5, this…

Sigh… no matter where you go, there will be traffic…

Because I lived in Downtown Vancouver, to a certain extent, I can compare both Downtowns. Reality is, Downtown Seattle beats Downtown Vancouver in more than a way. Waterfront plus Pike Market Place plus some hotels, restaurant and shops plus two stadiums. There is plainly more activity and it was more interesting. BUT! We have Stanley Park!

Overall, I think I like the area. Sure, it is possible I only visited the “good” place but, when you are visiting another town, won’t you do the same? But the important thing to me was that I enjoyed this part of the trip and gave me reason to drive down again.