Austin, TX

When Austinites ask me about Seattle, I often tell them that Austin is sort of like a sunny Seattle. However, as one of my friends says, “when it comes to recycling, Seattle makes Austin look like eco-terrorists.” Or something like that!

We have finally made it to Seattle! We’re staying at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle. We have a great view of Puget Sound and Gas Works Park.

We are so happy to be in Seattle. The first thing we did last night was to walk down to Steamer’s Seafood Cafe on Pier 56 and order a pound of steamers and some crab cakes. We sat outside and stared out at the Sound. The view was just magnificent. We walked off the food while heading back to the hotel. It’s a pretty steep walk and Chip helped me out by pressing his hand into the small of my back. You certainly work out a whole different set of leg muscles walking around Seattle. Last time we were here we’d been walking a lot in preparation for the Komen. This year we’re a bit more out of shape. It’s nice and cool in Seattle today but the early morning fog has lifted and we’re having a “sun break”, though it m ay just be sunny for the rest of the day. Chip says people who live elsewhere may not be familiar with the term, “sun break”. Sun breaks are pretty much just what they sound like, brief periods of sunshine in an otherwise overcast day. On a clear day you can catch amazing views of our beloved Mt. Rainier, a mountain so big that I can see it here in Seattle and I can see it from Chip’s folks house in eastern Washington, a good 3 hours away. Hardly any wonder since it stands at 14,410′. Of course, Mt. Rainier is actually a Cascade volcano. An active one, at that.

We got up this morning and got around slowly, allowing ourselves the luxury of sleeping in late. We headed out around 11 to have an early lunch at the Serious Pie, a new pizzeria we’d passed on our way back to the hotel last night. We shared their specials for the day, an excellent salad made up of salad greens, fennel, pecorino and spicy ham tossed in a wine vinaigrette. The pizza of the day was a tomato based thin crust with ricotta, house pancetta, shallots and dried oregano. The flavours were wonderful though it was a bit pricey.

Today I’m writing from Seattle Center. Seattle Center is always on our list of “things to do”. In part because the Space Needle is located here and also, I must admit, because Seattle Fudge is located inside. I’m a huge sucker for Seattle Fudge. I never, ever, EVAH, come to Seattle and fail to get Seattle Fudge! I’ve already been over to check it out and I’m salivating at the thought of getting several slices. I’ll have to take it very easy so as not to make myself sick. That’s going to be a challenge! Seattle Center also has Free wi-fi!

Well, kids, I’m off to explore one of my very favourite cities. Peace out!

Serious Pie, Seattle, Seattle Fudge, Seattle Center, Space Needle, Westin, Steamer’s, seafood, sun breaks, free wi-fi, downtown