Passing Through Seattle

Monday

My time in Moscow was done, so I headed west to Seattle and was there in about 4 1/2 to 5 hours.


View Larger Map

Since I had come at the last minute (nobody, including myself, knew I was actually going to make the trip until Sunday), I didn't have any set plans. I drove downtown to meet up with Justin, and we went out with Kim and Zeke for dinner at my favorite Chinese restaurant ever, Kung Ho, in Factoria.

For the main courses, we ordered lemon chicken (my fave there), Mongolian beef, cashew nut shrimp, and sweet and sour chicken. But the appetizers were a highlight for sure: we ordered dumplings, an onion pan fried cake (so good), and jelly fish. You read correctly. Jelly fish. It had to be done, though nobody else was really keen on the idea. I just had to try it, or I'd never be able to look myself in the face in the mirror again because I'd wimped out. Jellies are mostly water, anyway, so how bad could it be? It actually was fine. Tasted like the carrots and stuff it came in. The texture is fun, kind of like a cross between rice noodles and gummy worms, but snappier.


After dinner, Justin, Kim, and I went to the stake center next to the Bellevue temple for FHE. Kim gave a lovely spiritual thought about faith...ish...and then everyone ate the many desserts that had been brought for "favorite dessert night". I talked with a couple of old acquaintances from when I lived here. We played Nertz. Good times.


Tuesday

I slept in a bit Tuesday then headed out for a day to myself (everyone else works and didn't know I was coming so didn't take days off). I ate leftover Thai food from Moscow and worked out at the local Gold's (for free, thanks to travel passes). Then I headed to Pike Place Market to grab a few of my favorite things from Fran's, Beecher's (where I lusted after a recipe book containing the recipe for their mouth-watering mac and cheese), and Sotto Voce, which I couldn't afford to do, but I've actually not spent that much so far this trip, so I splurged. *cringe* I also stopped in at the Wyland gallery and let his work take me to happy places for a while and dreamed about being able to one day purchase some of his art (limited edition prints go for $1500-7000, originals from around $10000, and lucite sculptures start around $700).

I also took some pictures along the way.

















Now, I'm sitting in Caffe Vita on Pine, finally updating my blog, paying my bills, and checking on flights to Texas...I just found out I can switch my flight to Austin from Salt Lake to leave from and return to Seattle instead for only $25. ...and I'm tempted to avoid having to rush back to Utah just to catch a flight...hm...