Seattle, Washington

I started the day at Tully's coffee on 1st (just outside of Pike's Place market) to get a few hours of work done until the weather improved. By the time I left Tully's it was 75 degrees and sunny, certainly not something I expected in stereotypically-gloomy Seattle.

I first ventured around the waterfront in search of some photo opportunities and more importantly: Ivar's, a classic seafood joint right on the water. I got an order of Salmon & Chips with Smoked Salmon Chowder as a side, a platter the nearby seagulls stared down on like vultures.

Pike's Place Market, overlooking the waterfront, is a great place for people watching and enjoying the enormous selection of products available. Pike's Place is the oldest continually-operated farmer's market in the United States, and also home to the very first Starbucks (a rather nonchalant storefront amidst other food stalls). There's always a healthy crowd inside (and, understandably, no place to sit down), but it's interesting seeing how the Starbucks Empire had such humble beginnings.

Belltown, one of Seattle's hippest neighborhoods, was a pleasure to walk through and reminded me somewhat of Little Italy in San Diego - lots of modern lofts but fairly quiet by city standards. I walked through Belltown to get to the Space Needle, something I neglected to do last year because it was so expensive and out of the way. The views from the Space Needle are about as best as you could ask for in Seattle, with great views of the bay on one side and of the city skyscrapers on the other.

After leaving the Space Needle I took a bus to ascend Capitol Hill (another one of Seattle's trendiest neighborhoods) in search of Cupcake Royale, an amazing cupcake shop I had been to last year with a friend. Cupcake Royale sells cupcakes in almost any flavor you can imagine - I chose "lavender" and "red velvet", with an espresso.

Cupcake Royale is located right on Pike Street (the same street as Pike Place Market, though much further inland). The walk down Pike is very pleasant and shows the transition from Capitol Hill to downtown (and the convention center) quite nicely.

As it was getting dark I decided to explore Belltown a bit more in the dark, and ended up eating dinner at a nice Japanese restaurant where I had sushi, miso soup, and sake.

For such a short time I felt like I saw quite a bit of Seattle. Tomorrow afternoon I'll explore Pioneer Square and then take the train down to Portland, OR.