After a month in Montreal and 6 weeks away from Casey I decided to fly out to the west coast for a week before pesky things like, yknow, jobs got in the way of good timing. It was amazing to see Casey at the airport in Vancouver on Wednesday night. "Me and Casey was like peas and carrots again" (forest gump). We had a wonderful time with Dominique and Derrick in their incredible apartment, took a walk along the seawall, went for a delicious lunch in the daytime and had a lot of drinks in the nighttime. Also got to have breakfast with Sarah the following morning (Vancouver photos to come).
I love Vancouver even more than I remember. The weather is too good, the streets are pristine and manicured and the smell of the ocean is just exquisite. There are luscious plants everywhere, everything is shiny new and sparkly colorful and the salmon is to die for.
What could be better? Actually, Seattle.
Seattle is better. Vancouver is beautiful, fancy, high-tech and Canadian (sortof) but Seattle has grit, character and rich culture. Like this man we saw singing in one of Seattle's hidden back alleys. This man encapsulates Seattle's "Diamond in the Rough" feel. I love this.
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| Click on the photo to see the video of this singing angel. |
Its very "pacific northwest". It has a more genuine feel. It's a fisherman's town and an artistic mecca all at once. Its a lot of beards, Birkenstocks and alternative hats and not so much tiny dogs in Louis Vuitton bags (well,
some Louis Vuitton bags here). The salty smell of the ocean is blended with the smell of Seattle's famously fresh coffee and there are flowers everywhere. It's definitely high-tech what with all the Microsoft billionaires who live here but still, the feel of old time logging and fishing industry still hangs thick in the air.
I have never known of two cities so geographically close and so characteristically far apart. Both are great. I think I just happen to personally love Seattle more.
Which is why we drove down on Friday morning to spend the weekend. It's about a 2.5 hour drive but with traffic it took us 4.
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| The view upon walking out the door...what a beautiful day! Notice the westcoast sunlight! (it happens) |
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| Very excited for a beautiful Saturday in Seattle. |
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| Pioneer Square, one of the oldest areas of Seattle |
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| Walking up from the water to the market |
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| My favorite piano man. |
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| Just back there-the first ever Starbucks |
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| Statue man busker. |
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| WINDOW shopping...gorgeous boutique on 1st ave |
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| The Smith Tower, at one point the tallest building in the western US |
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| Chief Seattle |
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In 1938 Tlingit People gifted this totem pole to the people of Seattle.
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Great pictures Janelle! I've always wondered what Frasier liked about Seattle. And I've wondered how your boy toy is looking, and if I can say, mighty fine. Did he, mention me at all?
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