Seattle

Disembarkation was smooth and we were off the ship just after 7.30am. Seattle had decided to put on wet arrival weather – well this is Seattle!! We managed to stay reasonably dry between the dock, the shuttle and Jim and Anita’s car which waited safely at the cruise parking lot.

We said goodbye to Tracy and Mel and headed off to our hotel, back near the airport. We were able to check in straight away, which was fortunate as they apparently do not hold luggage – memo to self, always check if a hotel will hold luggage if you are too early for check in!!!! It was still pouring when Jim and Anita dropped us off at the Link Light Rail station which would take us into town. They were heading back over the ranges to Sunland, where it would be sunny and dry!!!! We said goodbye, it had been a couple of lovely weeks.

The Link Light Rail goes straight into downtown Seattle. The weather was awful, but we managed to duck in and out of some shopping centres. I found a place where I could buy a cover for my Galaxy Note and we also managed to grab a reasonable cup of coffee. Seattle is known for its coffee shops, we found one which was not a Starbucks. There were in fact so many Starbucks I decided to take pics of all the places we passed on our day in Seattle which were coffee outlets. This should make a fun collage in my photobook.

The rain eased and we headed down towards the waterfront and Pike Place Markets. The Space Needle had been part of the plans for the day, but due to the weather we abandoned that idea. The markets were fun – just like lots of other such markets throughout the world, but with a flavour of its own.

Pike Place Markets

Anita had suggested a place for us to have lunch, so after leaving the markets, we headed for Pier 54. The waterfront in Seattle seems to be going through a revitalisation process. Some areas were very well presented and others were a little tawdry. It has a lot going for it, just some more work is needed.

Restored waterfront piers

Pier 54 the home of Ivar's Seafood

Statue of Ivar feeding the gulls

After a fun fish and chip lunch we walked to the area known as Pioneer Square. It took us a little while to find ‘the’ area we should be walking through, but when we got there it was interesting. Again, however, I think there’s work to be done and some things that could be done better- like saying exactly where visitors should go!!

Pioneer Square

Tomorrow, off to Hawaii.