The Big TripSeattle, Powers of AttractionSeattle Zoo Conveniently mere minutes from Sara's apartment, we visit the zoo on
Saturday afternoon. Early. I carry the camera and Sara monitors the map,
guiding our travel to the various climate-themed attractions. From the
African plain to the American northwest, we trudge along in the sun and
find ourselves growing increasingly lethargic. We're also under-excited
about the attractions. Sure, the park is pristine and the cages are
well-maintained. The problem is that there just ain't enough of each
animal. They need, we decide, twice as many of each. Still, there are
show-stoppers: a quartet of skinny-dipping Dumbos, a pair of fish-finding
(and, for a few exciting seconds, fighting) brown bears, and an odd, pig
slash anteater creature called a tapir. ("Look mommy," said any
of the thousand kiddies in the park that day.) We even learned a few
things, like the fact that elephant poop floats! Or that penguins populate
Chile! Or that the komodo dragon gift stand does not sell (to the best of
their knowledge) "komodo commodes." (I also amaze Sara with a
cougar call that causes an otherwise relaxed cat to snap his head around
and hiss.) Three hours and one ineffectual frozen-dessert stop, we leave.
Dragging our hindquarters. | ||||||||||
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| Snoqualmie Falls | ||||||||||
| East of Seattle, about 15 minutes on Interstate 90, and 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls, or says my National Geographic cross-country tour book. (Is that 100 feet in height-height? Or elevation?) Overlooking this splashy sight is an easily accessed viewing platform. Viewing from below, however, requires a half-mile of hiking down a steep-but-not-unbearably-so incline. As the lower platform is positioned a few thousand feet back, we climb down the hill (cliff?) to the rocks below and patiently boulder-hop to the base of the falls. Glorious, as expected. Tempting, too, to strip and swim. More on that later. As for the return climb, rocks and steep damn hill, that's another heart-racing, dehydration-inducing story for another day. |  snoqualmie_ falls.jpg
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| Broadway Market | ||||||||||
| Newer, smaller, indoor mall with a four-screen, "art house" movie theater. On Saturday evening, we watch the 7:30 showing of Blood Simple, the newly released director's cut of the first film from Fargo filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen. (It's great; Sara, however, had never seen same and was less-impressed. She sucks.) They also show a preview for September's special release of The Exorcist. With never-before-seen footage. Cool. Alas, I cannot report on the mall's stores, as most were closed by the time the movie ended. Ridiculous parking, though. We paid $3.00 even with a validated ticket. Good God. |  on_ broadway.jpg | |||||||||
| Seattle Center And The Space Needle | ||||||||||
| Sunday is overcast both in the morning and
early-afternoon, so the Space Needle's out. We visit the Pacific Science
Center, instead, attending an Imax film first. The 12:15 showing of Dolphins.
I'm tired, hungry, and grumpy-- having foolishly skipped breakfast-- so I
promptly fall asleep. Forty long-assed minutes later, we're rejecting the
Science Center's so-called cafe and walking over to the food court. Me:
gyro meat, Diet Pepsi, and a deep fried-to-order elephant ear; Sara: gyro,
full loaded, 'cept for tomato and "sauce." Plus one sorely
needed Starbucks' coffee (actually mocha latte), because she's freezing in
her shorts and tee-shirt. (Slight pause while heroes go home, get sweats,
visit cousin Chris, visit the lab, and breeze through the waterfront. See
below.) Ascend yonder Needle after 6:00. The elevator ride is swift and
unspectacular. The view from the viewing platform, however, is awesome. I
shoot an entire roll, notably making a complete circle using the wide
lens. Can't wait for the developing. Return to the Science Center, see a
couple exhibits, play with outdoor "water toys," and discover
the gift shop is closed. Too bad. Then we leave, both of us hungry, me
again grumpy, and working our way to Alki Beach in West Seattle. Night has
fallen and the skyline is even more spectacular after eating at a nearby
pasta place. Sara has a salad and cheese-bread. I order spaghetti and
meatballs. We're both full.
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| Waterfront
Breezed through on Sunday afternoon, late. People everywhere and
parking that's next to impossible. Fish 'n' chips and ferry terminals and
trolley cars and seagulls hovering and an aquarium and some Navy ships and
about a hundred bars, restaurants, and gift shops. We're (meaning I'm)
there for Pier 53, the site of Fire Station #5 and the department's two
active fireboats. Alas, only the Alki, the reserve boat, is present. The
newer Chief Seattle, I learn later, is protecting the Sea Fair festivities
on Lake Washington. A friendly firefighter slips me a couple fireboat
postcards, though, after I purchase a Seattle Fire Department shirt for
Sara. |  ladder_4.jpg | |||||||||
| Pike Place
Skipped. Not enough time. Home
Copyright 2023 by Michael J. Legeros | ||||||||||
