Ever had that one friend who it doesn't matter how often you see each other or talk on the phone? I have one...Rachel Breiwick (aka Spence). For the past three years we have seen each other for a weekend. Everytime she has flown down to see me. But this year things happened a little differently.
The heat was overwhelming as the plane's wheels floated up off the ground and into the air. The plane cabin was large and yet contricting. The roar of the engine was almost deafening as the plane continued to climb higher and higher into the clouds. I looked out the window watching the landscape pass quickly before my eyes. All the glory of God's green earth past me by. The squares and circles, the mountains and rivers, the planes and valleys all perfectly placed for our enjoyment. How could I deny the Creator the glory and praise of something so intricately designed.
The mountains rose in the distance as the plane drew ever closer to Los Angeles CA. In all my twenty-five years, I have never traveled further west than Oklahoma, if you can even say that is part of the west. So having never seen mountains before (other than the Smoky Mountains - glorified hills in comparison), my heart immediately was in my throat as I gazed in awe of the mountains' beauty and splendor.
I reached Seattle in the dead of night. We awoke the next morning to overcast skies and cool temperatures. Off we were on our great adventure down the rabbit hole. First things first we stopped for much need coffee and then headed to the fish market.
The smell of fish, baked goods, fresh flowers, fresh vegetables was wonderful. Pikes Place is a farmers market almost with fresh fish. I tried smoked salmon, it was heavenly.
Oh the little fishermen...the shouting was wonderfully hilarious. Everything was shouted at the top of their lungs...everything.
Elephant Garlic...so HUGE!
The wall of gum..
We sailed the Puget Sound in a tour boat through the loches (where fresh and salt water meet)...to see the salmon jumping into the air.
Waiting to board the tour boat.
and yes...I sailed the tour boat.
the loches...this was such a cool experience.
After our two and half hour tour we wandered back to the hobbit hole and dressed for an evening of concerts and dining out. Along the way we stopped to see the site of Hemp Fest, found a hilarious sign, and possibly bleeding hearts and some pirates.
I thought these might be bleeding hearts...I love this flower.
At Mural Park attending a concert on the lawn beneath the Seattle Space Needle.
Head Like A Kite
The pirates we found on the way to dinner.
As the sun set on the city of Seattle, we dined on the waterfront looking out into Puget Sound. A beer in hand and a Salmon BLT, I could not have spent a better day.
Saturday morning dawned dreary and gray, but as afternoon closed in it was sunny. We left the hobbit hole late morning and walked to a small coffee shop and then to Noah's Bagels. Their bagels were fantastic. Once devouring our breakfast and drinking our coffee, we headed home to get ready for more mad adventures.
And mad adventure we had.
Spence and I were trapped by jellyfish at the aquarium...There was no escaping there squishy tentacles.
After escaping from the tentacles of the jellyfish, we found a tree like object in the wall. It made for pretty pictures.
I have never really observed an octopus move before...and I was in for a treat. My lovely little friend in the picture tried to escape from his cage.
Sadly, we explored every nook and cranny of the aquarium and our small adventure came to an end. So we took to the streets of Seattle down by the waterfront. Off we were to stand in line for Hemp Fest.
The line had somewhere in the ballpark of 13,000 people in it. We waited for and hour just to get to the entrance of the festival. Upon arriving at the gate we marched up a flight of stairs and down a hill and there it was.
This is only a fraction of the amount of people that were at Hemp Fest.
I really do love blown glass. This isn't even a great example of how colorful and intricate pieces of blown glass can be. I just really like how the picture turned out!!
I'm not really sure what this old man's job was at the festival, but he just made the best picture.
Hello Statue of Liberty for potheads...hahaha!!!
Along the way out of the festival we looked out into the sound and laid eyes upon one of the tour boats that my friend Spence works on.
A gladiator...so random.
I really liked these paintings and so I took a picture. As soon as the camera was lowered from my eye, the man running the stand looked at me and said, "You have to pay for that! Or you can just do me a small favor and let me take you to dinner."
Really??? I laughed at him and kept walking.
At the end of the festival we were exhausted.
We strolled to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory and sat in a trolley. We hailed a cab and headed back to the hobbit hole for an early night where we watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Sunday dawned and off the worship our Lord and Savior we went. Followed by a small lunch on the water.
Some of my best friends drove up from Portland to see me...It was wonderful!! We all hopped onto a tour boat and sailed around the sound.
This tugboat is the only one in the world with the well house in the shape of a octagon. This enables the captain to see where he is going in whatever direction he is headed.
All these little houses are fishing huts for when the wind is to cold or the weather is bad. So cute.
She is so beautiful. I adore her.
Jac attack with a super yummy drink. How I wish I remembered the name of it.
I love the way he looks at his wife.
And then there was a crazy boot dance in the middle of the sidewalk. Who knew you could be so crazy about boots!! hahaha
My time with my Portland friends drew to a close for it was time to dine with Spence's parents. Dinner was amazingly fabulous with fresh salmon, wonderful salad, and a veggie pasta with fresh arugala in it. Oh how delighted my tastebuds were.
And thus my tale has come to an end.
