Day #28 Seattle FUN FUN FUN

I took another opportunity to go back into Seattle on my own Wednesday, my last full day in the NW. 

Lorrie's Caddy provided the wheels again. Garmin provided the directions.

I didn't notice the "CHECK ENGINE" light the day before, but got a bit worried when the second orange light came on. All the other gauges were fine. After taking this picture I realized it was telling me to turn on my lights. Duh, could be why it looked like a light bulb!

I was able to park just around the corner from the market. What a hoot! I have included a couple of links below for those who don't know about Pike Place Market and the motivational FISH story. (The video is short and all educators will remember the staff development when this was making the circuit, emphasizing the power of positive energy in the work place.)

The famous entrance

The counter... flying fish every time there is a purchase.

I found a new man!

Fresh catch

Dungenous Crab - yum

And a fresh baked and stuffed canola to go!

Pike Place Market 

FISH video

The next destination.....
Space Needle 

Remember, the last time I was here was when I was 12 in 1966, not long after Seattle hosted the World's Fair. I was excited!

Valet parking took care of the caddy (reduced rates for visitors to the top).

Photo first! (Start counting how many times you can find Mr. Rainier and the Space needle in this, and the photos throughout this post... HINT...Don't miss the reflections or shadows!)

Going up!

 Views from the top - after making a few calls to friends on the East coast who were just getting home from work...rubbing it in just a bit :D !

Giant spiders added as artwork to a building below

Olympic Mountains in the rear

Couldn't tell you what it was. Zooming didn't help, but it was cool from the top!

Zoomed view of the Victoria Clipper at Pier 69 from the top

Artifacts from the World's Fair

Cascade mountain range hosts Mt. Rainier (look for it in the skyline at one o'clock)

 And then a gift for the day that I was not expecting...  an introduction to Dale Chihuly and his Garden and Glass located right next to the Space Needle.

http://www.chihuly.com/biography.aspx

Prepare to be awed and amazed. I was.

This is a ceiling!

Words do not do it justice

Even the reflections are stunning!

This exhibit fills a room and then.... the exhibit moves outside!

Those vines are all glass!

My new blue scarf goes quite well in the blue garden, don't you agree?

Of course the perfect weather contributed to the great shots! 

A quick stop at the gift shop...

choosing a two sided Chihuly floor puzzle adding to my collection of things to do with the grandchildren I don't have..... yet.

The perfect day got even more perfect with dinner, meeting Cousin Diane, the one from Lodi with the pretty colored doors! 

Diane's favorite Seattle restaurant for Thai food

What's this? Diane and I had about 30 minutes before her friend, Claudia, joined us. I spotted a Catherine's store close by. (Lorrie and I looked for one in Olympia unsuccessfully the day before.) The sales were too good to pass up and I will have to throw out a few more things to make room for these. Oh, well!

Claudia and Diane

Yummy dinner! (My first experience gives this a rating of "A.")

Fun, fun, fun

Time to head for Olympia, pack and get some sleep. Flight leaves at 10:40 a.m. Burbank, here I come!