SEATTLE || A Trip Down Memory Lane
Seattle, we finally met.
Almost everyone I know of who resides in Vancouver, short-term or long-term, has taken a trip down to Seattle at some point in their lives due to the close proximity of the two cities. As for myself who has spent a good chunk of my life in Vancouver, it seemed almost ludicrous to say that this would have been my very first time embarking on a road trip to Seattle.
The day was overcast. My friend and I had decided to rent a car for this little adventure south of the Canadian border. The drive was fairly smooth and the wait time at the border was surprisingly shorter than what we had expected. Perhaps it was because we were visiting during the off-season. We caught sight of the Peace Arch while crossing the order and continued on our journey. The rain started to come down hard, and after a good three-hour drive, we entered the city of Seattle.
We steered our way towards Pioneer Square and came to a halt at our first stop, General Porpoise, where we enjoyed a much-needed coffee and doughnut break to jump-start our energy required for the day.
General Porpoise’s doughnuts on display.
The interior of General Porpoise.
From there on, we ventured to a few of the city’s iconic spots like Pike Place Market, the Amazon Spheres, Post Alley and the Seattle Great Wheel. We also did not miss going up the Space Needle, but due to deteriorating weather conditions, we weren’t able to capture quality photos of the view from the top.
Seattle, very much like Vancouver, is a destination where cultures converge. We witnessed vendors of diverse ethnic descents selling handcrafted merchandise at Pike Place Market and it was truly fascinating to immerse ourselves in the hustle and bustle of the city, especially whilst strolling in the downtown area.
Pike Place Market on a rainy day.
The charming Post Alley.
The Seattle Great Wheel as seen from Pike Place Market.
The futuristic Amazon Spheres.
There was much to be praised about the food scene in Seattle. Despite the fact we only had two proper, sit-down meals on our day trip, we found ourselves thoroughly enjoying the eclectic cuisines and friendly service we experienced at both establishments, particularly restaurant Stateside where they served French & Vietnamese fusion fare. We had to take a picture of their Vanilla Duck Egg Custard because it very much resembled a beautiful flower!
We concluded our trip by making an obligatory stop at the grand Starbucks Reserve Roastery where the night still seemed young. People engaged in chitchats as they gathered around the main bar sipping coffee while others curiously examined the large machinery used to roast the brand’s coffee beans.
The immense Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle. Patrons can enjoy a variety of freshly baked goods, artisanal pizzas and of course, coffee, in an interactive environment.
The grand, main bar of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
Although the weather was not on our side, visiting and roaming the streets of Seattle essentially equated to ticking off a long, overdue item from my bucket list. In any case, this inaugural visit had me desiring to go back again and experience the city more deeply and hopefully in a different light. But for now, a trip down memory lane shall suffice.
Photography by James Yang
