SEATTLE AND THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA OCTOBER 15 - 18

     SEATTLE

AFTER A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DRIVE DOWN THE COAST FROM VANCOUVER WITH A STOP IN BELLINGHAM TO SAY HI TO LINDA KENNEDY AND ANOTHER AT A TINY FAVORITE RESTAURANT PERCHED ON A RAVINE ALONG CHUCKANUT DRIVE TO SAVOR SOME OYSTERS, WE ARRIVED AT ALEX AND EVA'S THROUGH THE STOP AND GO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN BUSTLING SEATTLE.

I MET ALEX, EVA AND ZOE IN MEXICO THREE YEARS AGO  WHEN THEY WERE LIVING IN COLIMA AND HAVE ENJOYED CATCHING UP WITH THEM AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE  IN MEXICO AND AT THEIR HOME IN SEATTLE.  













EARLY SATURDAY MORNING WE WENT TO WATCH ZOE'S SOCCER TEAM "THE PURPLE SWIRLS" CLOBBER THEIR OPPOSITION WITH ZOE PLAYING WICKED DEFENSE.

AFTER THE GAME WE STROLLED A SMALL STREET MARKET IN A COOL AREA OF OLD COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS BEING RENOVATED FOR SHOPS AND LOFTS.
ALEX AND EVA HAVE A NICE OLDER, TYPICAL NORTHWEST HOME OVERLOOKING LAKE WASHINGTON WITH A WONDERFUL NETWORK OF PARKS AROUND THE LAKE FOR HIKING, BIKING AND WALKING THE DOGS.

    BUNGEE, DOLLY (ALEX & EVA'S), AND GOMEZ (ALEX'S MOM'S DOG) at the lake

ZOE & FRIENDS PLUS ME AND THE DOGS AT THE MARKET

ALEX AND EVA

ON OUR WAY TO PICK UP THE FERRY TO THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA SUNDAY BUNGEE AND I EXPLORED A BIT OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.

    THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNTAIN IS STILL FUNCTIONING IN THE SEATTLE CENTER,          THE SITE OF THE 1962 WORLD'S FAIR AND RECENTLY ADDED SPORTS AND
    PERFORMING ARTS VENUES.
    

  







THE 1962 MONORAIL ZOOMS THROUGH THE NEWER FRANK GEHRY "EXPERIENCE MUSIC " BUILDING AT THE SEATTLE CENTER.




THE PIKE ST MARKET IS AN INSTITUTION OVERLOOKING THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE WATERFRONT AND I ALWAYS ENJOY CHECKING IT OUT WHEN IN TOWN.... ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER TOURIST IN SEATTLE!

  

THE FAMOUS FLYING FISH VENDOR WHERE TOURISTS DUCK AS THE  OUT FRONT SALES GUYS FORWARD PASS THE JUST BOUGHT SEAFOOD TO THE CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER FOR WRAPPING.

A NEW QUITE AMBITIOUS AND ATTRACTIVE SCULPTURE PARK COVERS SEVERAL CITY BLOCKS OVERLOOKING THE SOUND JUST WEST OF THE SEATTLE CENTER.

BRIDGE OVER RR TO SCULPTURE PARK

 










THE STATE FERRIES FROM SEATTLE TO THE WEST SIDE OF PUGET SOUND AND THE ISLANDS ARE CLEAN, WELL RUN, FAST AND COMFORTABLE.... PLUS QUITE AFFORDABLE.

THE FERRIES RUN AT A GOOD CLIP AND IT'S FACINATING TO WATCH THE SEATTLE      SKYLINE QUICKLY SHRINK AS GULLS GENTLY SNAG HANDOUTS FROM THE BOAT.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, ONLY 35 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN SEATTLE IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT WITH FORESTED HILLS, SCATTERED LIGHT DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASINGLY SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS AS YOU HEAD WEST.

    THE HOOD CANAL AND OLYMPIC PENINSULA WITH CHRIS AND KIMBERLY'S TURF
    IN THE FOREGROUND, WHERE WE'LL STAY FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AS THEY
    PACK UP TO DRIVE DOWN TO MEXICO ON WEDNESDAY  FOR THE WINTER.
 

KIMBERLY IN HER LIVING ROOM

 KIMBERLY AND I TOOK ROSIE AND BUNGEE ON A GREAT LONG WALK AROUND THE TIP OF THE PENINSULA.

KIMBERLY POINTED OUT A TREE THAT A BEAR HAD CLAWED TO GET AT THE NEW GROWTH FOR FOOD, WHICH SOMETIMES CAN KILL THE TREE.

 LAST NIGHT WE WENT OVER TO NEIGHBORS OF CHRIS AND KIMBERLY'S FOR DINNER AT AT BEAUTIFUL HOUSE LOOKING OVER THE BAY TO THE HIGH OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS. STARTED OFF A SUPER SUPPER WITH FRIED OYSTERS FRESH FROM THE BAY.
 
TODAY BUNGEEE AND I LEAVE FOR A FEW DAYS IN THE RAIN FOREST ALONG THE PACIFIC SHORE AFTER A TRULY RELAXING FEW DAYS WITH GOOD FRIENDS WHO I'LL CATCH UP WITH IN MEXICO AFTER NEW YEARS.

VIEW FROM CHRIS AND KIMBERLY'S FRONT DECK