 |
Hey guys, I just got back to Manchester, UK after my four days away in the Emerald City. The post-travel depression has hit already. To put in simple terms, I adore your city, and I am so thankful to have even had the opportunity to visit. I was flattered by the extent of hospitality and welcomeness, so I wanted to get that out of the way first and foremost. For anybody interested in what I got up to in my 4 days here, please see below! I’ll try to keep it as concise as possible. FRIDAY – I landed in SeaTac around 3pm. I was immediately taken aback by the vibrant colour of the Puget Sound foresty visible across the runways, contrasted with the backdrop of the gloomy afternoon sky. I hopped on the Link Light Rail (incredibly efficient by the way!) and I was on my way to Westlake Station as I stayed at the Green Totoise Hostel right by Pike Place. I checked into the hostel and made my way out for some food, had an amazing chicken fried steak and had a wander around Seattle Center then back towards the hostel. The folks in the bar were so lovely and I even had a drink bought for me (this would become quite a common occurence). I slept quite early on the Friday, around 9pm as my UK body was still acclimatising to the timezone difference. This means I woke up at 6am with a lot of energy. I got myself breakfast then headed out to Kerry Park for sunrise. SATURDAY Wow, what an amazing start to the day. The view was nothing short of serene, and Kerry Park is in such a great location to get the Rainier backdrop, with the Space Needle front and center. It felt like having a birds eye view of the whole city, and with the weekend ahead, that was nothing short of a liberating sensation. Went back into the city, and went around Pike Place Market. I was there around 8.30am, so a lot of stalls were setting up, but it was actually very pleasant seeing the market come alive over the course of the morning. Each vendor had stories to tell, advice to give. There was a place which did fruit which was really nice (the kind gentleman gave me loads of testers) and a man was selling journals, I bought a buffalo hide journal and I can’t wait to get writing in it. I ended up going for teriyaki for some fuel for the day, and since the dish is rooted so deeply in the city as well. Now seems like an appropriate time to say that the portion sizes are insane here. Went on the Argosy Cruise – this was actually super awesome and I did not expect to have as much fun as I did on it. Even though it was the only 1 hour cruise, I thought that was a perfect amount of time to get settled, see the skyline, and develop my understanding on Puget Sound/Bainbridge Island as well. The man who was conducting the tour was SUPER knowledgable and enthusiastic, honestly cannot reccommend the Argosy Cruise enough. Went to the Kraken game after – the arena is really cool, I met a man named Jack in a bar the night prior who worked on the roof of this arena when it was renovated a few years back. The fact that this is technically a new arena but also a renovation from the 60s is super impressive, on top of the sustainability incentive. The Kraken lost (and looked dreadful in the first two periods!) but the energy persisted throughout and the third period near comeback was absolutely riveting. I was surrounded by quite a few Rangers fans so I made sure to get loud for the Kraken especially when we were making the comeback. Few minutes after the game ended and I was at the top of the Space Needle. The whole novelty of going up there was really cool, the staff were humurous and knowledgeable as well. This pic doesn’t really do the view justice but the fact that Mount Rainier was visible for pretty much the whole weekend is a massive privilege. As a 22 year old man, I knew I had to fight in a night out somewhere in the weekend, and I had some ground to make up by sleeping in last night as well. I went out to Capitol Hill and went to the iconic Dick’s Drive Thru, which felt like the center of the universe with how much was going on around there at 7pm on a Saturday. I can’t remember the name of the bar I ended up at, but I think it was called the Tavern or something like that? It had a cool vibe and I was dead worried about going in there and not making friends as a solo guy, but literally within 30 minutes there was a group of like 6 of us. Shoutout to Carson, Kayla, Lily, Morgan, Vanessa and Riley for making the night as cool as it was. When I went in there, the place was quiet/relaxed, and by midnight everybody was on tables and it was rowdy. To be completely honest I don’t remember anything past like 12.30am… People kept buying me drinks lmao. SUNDAY THIS IS THE BIG ONE. I woke up feeling like shit but I ran into Pike Place to grab a bagel from some Korean bagel stand. That refuelled me and I walked down to Pioneer Square, getting very giddy and excited. I went into Sluggers. The vibe of this bar was super cool, I have NEVER seen a bar so lively at 10.30am. Of course in the UK the NFL doesn’t start till 6pm at the earliest for us, so seeing the games all on the TVs live at 10.30am was a super weird feeling. Got chatting away in Sluggers, and within a few drinks I had forgotten that I’m supposed to be hungover by this point (Hair of the dog, can’t fault it). The best moment was when I stepped out of the rear entrance of Sluggers. See, I knew that Pioneer Square was close to Lumen. But not THAT close. I did not expect the sight that I got, and that’s when I looked up and in front of me was the stadium I have been yearning to visit for ten years. In all of it’s beauty, Lumen Field I made sure to get my picture in front of the stadium, and off I went into the stadium. It’s even better in person than seeing pictures and videos online, I had intense goosebumps the whole time that I was walking up the concourse. Also, super underrated are the views of the city from the concourse. I found my seat, and it was time to finally watch Seattle Seahawks football in person. Admittedly, I was doubtful if the stadium really gets ‘that loud’ I got humbled pretty quickly. It’s a swarm of noise. So much so, you can perhaps feel your body naturally tell you that you’re in too loud of a space. Not that whatever your body is telling you matters at that point, you’re watching the reigning Superbowl champions defend our home turf against divisional rivals. I just loved being there in the stands. High-fiving everybody when AJ caught the touchdown pass, getting loud for third down, it really felt like I was part of the game alongside all the fans, making the 12s moniker authentic and something that can only be experienced in Lumen. Maybe the game wasn’t super spectacular. But I didn’t travel half way across the world to watch us lose to the Cardinals, and we understood the assignment and got the job done. I got teary eyed towards the end of the fourth quarter, knowing the whole trip was worth it and that I’m so lucky to call myself a fan of the best team in the NFL in every metric. After the game, I went to I think it was called the ‘Saloon’? As reccommended by somebody in Sluggers, it was a great place to wind down, and the live band were super talented. Walking back from Pioneer Square back into Belltown, I was ecstatic. MONDAY Woke up early on Monday as well, and figured I would make my way out to the Gas Works Park. Initially, since I did Kerry Park, I was reluctant to go to Gas Works, but a friend I made on the Saturday night told me that Gas Works is really worth it. Gas Works Park on a tranquil Monday morning was super pleasant. I had a breakfast burrito wrap from a local place just a few minutes walk from here, and that was super nice (their flat white was insane as well, as a coffee lover Seattle scratches that itch for me). This was a nice moment to just reflect on the weekend and to slow things down. After this, I went to the Museum of Pop Culture as the last thing to do on my trip (all the pics are saved on a different device, but I’m sure if you’re local and have been there you know what the place looks like anyway). I’m not a museum guy but it was super interactive and immersive, and seeing the SB48 trophy in person was super cool as well. I think as a museum it doesn’t just play it safe, it’s not afraid to acknowledge modern pop culture as well and isn’t just a nostalgia den. So I really enjoyed the place (I heard they have a Jimi Hendrix/Nirvana exhibit opening soon, I WISH I could go and see that). And with that, it was time to go to the airport and head back to miserable Manchester. Honestly I’ve gotten emotional just typing this post out numerous times. This city really spoke to me in a way that no other city or place has done. Is it a perfect utopia of a place? Of course not. But to me, I see Seattle and I see a city that strives to be expressive, doesn’t seek to suppress and embraces modernity while also retaining a degree of class that cannot be manufactured. Between the food, the people, the sports teams, the music, just all of it. There is a real magic about Seattle that has inspired me. Should all be okay with you guys, I would love to come back one day. Once more, thank you for your hospitality. I will always have time for the stories you tell, the wisdom you bestow and the charm your city radiates. submitted by /u/DeFy_DC |
