Unhappy in Seattle

KOA, Seattle, WA:  Decided to take the rapid rail into Seattle this morning.  Drove to the Tukwila Station but could not find a place to park.  Drove around and around and around waiting for someone to leave.  But no luck.  So, we drove back to the KOA and took the bus from the KOA to the SEATAC Station at the airport.  Finally got on the train and took it to the end of the line at Westport Station and went to the Public Market.  Walked around there for a while and then got a hot dog and a bockwurst at a little vendor and sat in a park on the water to eat.  Then walked all the way down to Pioneer Square, thinking that’s where we could get the Monorail out to the Space Needle.  But the Monorail was way back at Westport where we got off the train.  So, walked all the way back.  Walking in this city is a challenge since it’s so hilly—I’m talking San Francisco hilly.  The sidewalks are actually grooved on the hills to avoid slipping on wet pavement.  Took the Monorail out to the Space Needle.  Wanted to have dinner up there, but the only time available was 7:00—a four-hour wait.  So we nixed that idea and walked around the area.  A Chihuly exhibit was right next door to the Space Needle, so we walked around that for a while.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation offices are also in this area.  Took the Monorail back to the Westport area and had dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant and then took the train back to SEATAC.  Then we schlepped to the bus stop and had to wait about 45 minutes for the bus back to the KOA.  We were not happy.  I am not crazy about Seattle at all.  The rapid rail is very limited, and the only station with parking is Tukwila, which has parking for about 200 vehicles.  That’s it.  Not very convenient at all.  And if you buy a day pass for the train, you can’t use it for buses.  They’re separate.  And the Monorail is separate.  Portland was a much more livable city.  The rapid rail was efficient, clean, convenient, and it went everywhere.  Mike wants to go back and take a ferry to Bainbridge.  I don’t care if we ever go back, except to board the boat for our cruise.  Was a beautiful day today though—81, clear and sunny.  We could even see Mt. Rainier off in the distance.  Doesn’t happen too often.  

Public Market

You can buy a huge bouquet of flowers for $10. 

There are so many flowers at this market--it smells wonderful!

The produce is displayed so prettily.

Lots of fresh fish.

Huge shrimp.

Downtown skyscrapers.

Chihuly exhibit.

Chihuly does all this art work in glass.

Mt. Rainier off in the distance.

One of the Seattle ferries.

Our ride.

The Space Needle