The Emerald City (continued from previous page)
The sandwich was good, with or without the dream. It was certainly football-player sized! Everything is big in Seattle!
Feeling that near-explosion feeling (Dear Jones Barbecue…!) we headed to Pike Place Market to walk off lunch. Parking down by the waterfront and taking the colorfully painted elevators to the market, we exited near my favorite part of the entire market – the rows of fresh flowers. I have enviously desired a fabulous floral bouquet each time I’ve been to the market but I’ve never had the opportunity to get one because I’ve always been traveling. Do the vendors know that $5.00 for a huge bouquet is dirt cheap?! I couldn’t wait to have my very own!
I love Pike’s Market! I love the people, the sights, the sounds, the atmosphere. I never tire of the flying fish, my second favorite area of the market, nor the colorful produce that includes baseball-sized peaches, ping pong ball-sized grapes, football-sized papaya. The pepper wreaths cry out to me – if only I had a way to get them home on the plane. The seafood is a never-ending source of curiosity for me, though I'm not ashamed to admit that I have to read labels to identify what I’m seeing. I’ve never seen so many varieties of mushrooms as I've seen at the market.
Leaving the fresh produce stands, we walked in and out of shops. Karyn convinced me I needed a kitchen gadget for peeling fresh garlic. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t tried it myself but it works like a charm and I don’t know how I lived without it! I was delighted to find a small shop that sells flavored vinegars and oils. It’s especially nice that they have many choices on display for sampling. I bought three bottles and have enjoyed them at home over fresh tomatoes.
The markets aren’t solely food-related. Karyn bought a cute, whimsical clock for her bathroom, and the jewelry was quite nice. I looked at several pieces but couldn’t choose between the many offerings and eventually walked away without any. There are a lot of decorative items and artworks for sale, clothing and accessories, things for pets, kitchen gadgets, a wine shop, a souvenir shop – there’s something for everyone. Did I mention that I love the market?
After a glass of iced team in the hotel room, Karyn and I headed for Mike’s place in Lake Forest Park. It was a scenic drive past lakes and evergreen trees. We arrived before Mike came home from his job at the winery so we made ourselves at home. Poor Craig was on the couch, sniffling and sneezing and feeling miserable from his cold. I’d have been suspicious that he didn’t want to tag along with us only to be dragged into every used bookstore Seattle has to offer if not for the box of Kleenex he kept within hand’s reach!
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