Day 46: Seattle’s Pike Place Market
After spending so much time in the wild part of the west it was time to heat back to civilization. Seattle was a city that held many things important to me.I had originally planned my route here to visit the University of Washington but later learned their programs weren’t quite what I was looking for in a grad school (While they boast high acclaims in the geology realm, speleology is not exactly something they can claim to fame). So while my professional reasons were missing for this particular visit I had planned this trip well in advance and I didn’t want to change it now.
Besides, I still had things I felt were important to experience in the Seattle area. I was able to examine the flood basalts on my way here. It was the home city to one of my favorite television dramas, Grey’s Anatomy. I wanted to experience the port city life and what it was like to be in the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps more importantly, it was home to the football team I cheer for, the Seattle Seahawks.The first thing I needed to experience while here was Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market.
Pike Place Market is probably the epitome of port city life. You walk through the market next to giant ice-filled bins of fresh fish and other seafood, and listen to the salesmen throw their pitches out to the crowd eager to listen. This market isn’t an ordinary market- it has inspired business marketing practices everywhere. If you go to any local bookstore in the business section you are guaranteed to find at least one with advice stemming from the Pike Place Market. These guys know how to sell, and they keep the attention of the entire crowd.
Stands in the market vary greatly in their offerings, from jewelry to paintings to clothing and more you can find someone trying to sell something. Fruit stands are common and have fresh fruit from around the states, not just local fruit. The era of mass transportation has certainly changed the scene from what it would have been a decade ago. Fresh flower stands are also abundant in the market place, and as the day progresses the prices of the fresh bouquets drop. If I lived in Seattle I would imagine fresh flowers would be a common occurrence in my home.
The permanent shops that line the opposite side of the street are equally as seductive to the traveler or local. I chose to eat lunch at the famous Russian baker, “Piroshky Piroshky”. The line was long, but the food was well worth the wait. I ordered a lovely meat and cheese pastry, and followed it up with a sweet pastry they call “Oscar’s Star”, a chocolate and hazelnut filled treat in the shape of a star.
Street performers are common here as well, mostly musicians that play almost anything. There was even a man that was rolling a piano around on wheels. As I watched one man playing guitar in an eye-catching outfit I noticed another shop I had to visit: Beecher’s Cheese. My relative that I was staying with in Seattle had told me about a unique cheese that Beecher’s offered and I was intrigued. Cheese is a food group on it’s own to me.
At Beecher’s you can watch them make cheese right in front of you, the big troughs of dairy being stirred behind glass panes as you stand in line to try some samples before purchasing. The cheese range in type, but the one I was recommended and found to be the most unique was called “No Woman” cheese, a cheddar type with Jamaican spices.
On my way home I stopped by “Qwest” field, which was in the process of being renamed “Century Link” field. In fact I was watching them remove the Qwest letters from the field the very day I visited. I picked up a new Seahawks jersey, a pair of socks, and a new beer glass to enjoy my favorite beverages out of during game days this coming season- all from the pro shop across from the field.
My visit to Seattle this time was short, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would love to come back one day (perhaps for a Seahawks game?), not only to visit the area but also to see my relative who I stayed with. She was very accommodating and introduced me to some new foods while I stayed in her home ( I tried my first Vietnamese dish, she is an excellent cook!). Tomorrow I would enjoy one last important mark of passage for any Seattle tourist as I leave the city: A ferry boat ride across the bay.
I’ll see everyone on the Pacific coast tomorrow.
-Nicole
