Seeing Seattle

Dear You

If you get to Seattle, I expect you will not only be happy you came, but also will want to return. In any weather, it is a city of pleasing aspect. The cityscape is quite attractive and because of the geography the hillside residences are worth a few frames of film themselves.

In my first visit I was lucky to have a local contact, with whom I stayed and was escorted to places he knew, including up to Whidbey Island. In Seattle, we dined at a magnificent restaurant, which featured a range of crab dishes. Then on to the original Starbucks, where two guys sang and played instruments by the doorway, their dog lolling near the open guitar case eyeing the money dropped there. It's across from the public market where people gather as an audience while others purchase fish . . . well, you really have to see that to understand the attraction. Up and down are flower sellers with gorgeous bouquets for not much money.

And books. Lots of bookshops -- perhaps the big box chains are here, too, but why would you miss those quirky and wonderful independents? I got a book on quilting and another on cooking seafood.

Well, that gets me to oysters. Somewhere along the scenic winding highway up Whidbey Island toward Deception Pass (picture spot #75, I swear!), we stopped at a place where oysters are sold fresh from the sea. That evening, three of us ate the five dozen right off the grill.

Life can be really good, don't you think?