Friday
As we drove our final stretch to Seattle, Balu got a call that he had to go to Phoenix for his orientation at Amazon. A very last moment information. If we knew earlier, we could have planned differently.
Night we reached the hotel, then walked down to find dinner. The first thing I noticed was a big pink elephant board rotating saying Super Car Wash. I recollect seeing it in a TV show on travel. While Balu wondered why would a car wash be required in a place where it rains all the time?! :D
The second thing I noticed was the Seattle Space Needle- Sparkling with lights in the night sky!
Then we headed into a Thai cuisine restaurant- Golden Shanghai.
Saturday
We started looking out for apartments around downtown's of Seattle and Bellevue. It literally rained the whole day. The traffic was so much on a freaking weekend. And as always parking was difficult. All the apartments had monthly charges for parking cars. That was when I felt having a car in downtown was like a sin! :/
Sunday
Afternoon Balu left to the airport to fly to Phoenix. Then I walked down the hotel. I walked towards the Space Needle. At the Seattle center was a park, a museum, a cafe, a gift store and much more. I randomly walked into a building- there was a food court and also Surprise- DIWALI celebrations!
Beside that building was the Monorail station. Took the ticket and then the train. Its a point to point rail. No stops in between. Last stop- West Lake Mall. From there, walked around and then to Pike Market. The most crowded place. A lot of small shops and cafes. Queues for many shops. All over the platforms. A farmers market of food, flowers and gifts. The beautiful lake view.
When I entered the pike street, the first interesting thing I saw was a cheese shop making their own cheese right there. The shop was fully crowded in and out. People watching the making of cheese through the glass of the shop. And free samples were given in and outside, despite the crowd and queue through the shop.
As I walked back to the West Lake mall, where the monorail station is, I thought about the number of Starbucks around Seattle. There is freaking so many Starbucks here. Not kidding at all. Almost every street has one. Walk a couple of blocks, look around and you can spot one.
Monday
I walked to the South Lake Union Park. There was so many boats and ships in the lake. Many on sale too. As a walked towards the park, I noticed rail tracks. Then after a while of roaming around, I noticed a bus stop. I walked over- looked at the map and was figuring out how to take a ticket. Right then a train came over. A sign board at the stop said the next train would be 18 mins. I didn't wanna wait. So hopped in. The last stop was at the West lake. Got down and then took the ticket! LOL! I traveled without a ticket! :P
The previous day, I saw there were tunnel trains and buses below the monorail. So this day, I headed to discover the routes of them. Checked the map over there and bought my tickets. Caught the Link train and hop on and off at different stations- International District/ Chinatown, Pioneer Square Park, University Street, Safeco field. Safeco field stadium- I caught the train in the other direction and ended up there. Ha ha.
Tuesday
Seattle was all done. Of course I didn't visit the main places to see like Space Needle- its an observatory tower, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Art museum, and anything that requires a ticket. Basically waiting for Balu to join me. Also kept reminding myself that I am not a tourist and have time to see places- may be would even wait for friends and family to stop by.
All I had left was bus to explore, So switched two buses to reach Bellevue. Went to the downtown park and Bellevue square mall. On the return got confused with the directions and battery running low. But finally figured them out and got back quiet late.
Wednesday
Again to West Lake Mall by the Monorail. Then walked around the downtown- entered Barnes & Noble store. Shopped a while. After the bill counter, realized it was a part of another mall- Pacific Mall. Big and Beautiful. Spent the day and got back earlier than usual.
Thursday
Stayed back in the hotel. A day off from wandering Seattle. Balu was back by evening. And then here I am recollecting my thoughts as I write this blog. :)
