Day Ten

Up relatively early this morning and headed to the executive lounge for breakfast. It was quite busy but decent enough.

We then headed out on foot down towards the bay. Eventually found what we were looking for although the area was not the greatest. Unfortunately like many cities Seattle has a lot of homeless people and a lot seemed to being 'living' under the elevated road in the Pioneer District. Apparently there are around 3000 people living on the streets in the city (Population 700,000) and it shows. Most of the places we visited seemed to have a lot of homeless people, maybe this was because they were tourist spots or maybe there is no where else to go. Seattle set up a ten year plan to combat homelessness in 2005. It hasn't worked. (By contrast London has about 7.5-8.5million inhabitants and roughly 2,500 people a night sleeping rough.)

Anyway, back to Pioneer Square. We found the building and went in. We signed the legal documentation and waited. There were meant to be another four people joining us, but it was discovered that they had booked the wrong day. That meant we had a Segway tour all to ourselves. Saddled up and then hit the city.

Our guide led us along the waterfront and gave us a personalised tour of the city. We covered much more than we would have done as he only had two of us and we were sensible, so he could take us to crowded places.

Goons

We ended up at the space needle for the obligatory photo.

Dancing Fountain

We then made our way down to Pike Place Market. He took us past the 'Gum Wall' which was awful yet people were posing in front of it. People are so weird. The Market Theatre has a no gum policy so people started sticking it to the wall outside. Gradually it became a thing. Christ knows why. Needless to say we didn't take a photo.

We ended up spending two hours out and about before returning to base. We then walked back to the hotel stopping off at a Starbucks for elevenses. Told Ann we were going to set up London Segway Tours when we got home. It would be an amazing job to spend all day on one as they are so much fun.

Headed back to the hotel to change footwear and make our plans for the rest of the day. Whilst resting found out Segways are banned from both roads and pavements in the UK due to some law from 1835. Good to see we move with the times. Might start a rogue Pro Segway movement just so I can set up the company.

Made plans and then headed out. Walked back down to the place Ann has banged on about non stop for ages, Pike Place Market. Had slices of pizza for lunch at one of the many outlets. Did some people watching out the window. Mainly watched one poor chap who had nothing but a pillow. As he laid asleep on the pavement opposite the market, hundreds of people just wandered by, not even noticing (or choosing not to notice) he was there. One lady stopped and left him a soft drink. At least one person noticed.

Had a look about the market it after lunch. Ann was very surprised that it was a market and it was busy. I was very surprised that she thought it would be anything else. To be honest I don't even know why it is such a tourist trap. It is literally just a working market, no different from any other I have ever been in. None of the tourists really bought anything, maybe food in the restaurants, but other than that they just walked really slowly getting in my way. We also saw the 'first' ever Starbucks which is situated at the market. There was a long queue of people waiting to go in to have a coffee. By long, I mean there was a 45min wait just to get in the shop. The things tourists do. The reason I put 'first' in quotes is that it actually isn't the first Starbucks. It was in the market but not at that location, it is just marketed as such.

We sat around for a while and smelt marijuana. It is legal in the state of Washington although not to be smoked in public! Thought maybe that explains the apparent problems the city has. Slippery slope and all that.

We ended up leaving the market and heading back to the waterfront. Decided to go into the aquarium. There were fish inside. And some other things.

Seal - not the singer

Ahh - a sleeping otter

I tried to communicate with the seals but it didn't work. Ann was bemused. The aquarium was actually a good afternoon activity. Lots of opportunities to sit and watch the various creatures - octopi, seals, otters, birds, fish. It was also much cooler by the water despite only being a few hundred feet from the market. Bought some crap from the shop.

When we left at around 6pm we still has some time to kill before our next activity at 8pm, so we headed to the Waterfront Park and the Seattle Wheel. We didn't go on the wheel but did have a look about and get an ice cream. I had a chocolate and peanut butter one. It was chocolate with just a lump of peanut butter stuck in it rather than peanut butter ice cream. It was still very nice.

We then ordered some fries to eat as we still had a bit of time. Unfortunately got given a number and had to sit and wait for them. They never came. Ann had to go and accost a waiter and amazingly they turned up.

As soon as we finished them we then headed to our last Seattle activity, a evening cruise around the bay. Got on a boat. Went around bay. Came back to the pier. Learnt some stuff about Seattle although some of it we had heard during the Segway tour and in much more detail. Also disagreed with some of the geography notes the guy gave. Told Ann he was talking bollocks. She believed me.

Needle from the Bay

Skyline

Wandered back to the hotel discussing our thoughts of the city. To be honest one day here is enough. Can't see what we would do if we stayed another. City has some nice areas - parts of the waterfront and the area around the Space Needle - but a lot of it is just grubby and a little shabby. It is probably my least favourite of the many cities we have been to in the USA despite the fact that we did some good things today.

Leaving Seattle tomorrow, but heading only about 20 miles north to Everett.

In an unusual twist, Ann is asleep.

States visited - 6

Seal watch - High