Always Find Personal Time

Today was our first day back from five days in the Pacific Northwest.

Of course, planning a vacation in the NW part of America

in January is probably questionable

but it was a great 3 hour flight and the weather though

very, very humid [ie light rain] and chilly

We really had a great time.

 

The first night we did the Space Needle park and had dinner

at the top...the food was good, the service great

and we got to see the whole city.

The second adventure was a skytrain ride downtown

and a walk to Pike's Market

I don't know why this place is popular for tourists

it is more of an open vegetable and fish market

and we passed many little old ladies who were walking up

the very steep street with their fresh food

the rest of the place is typical tourists with everything to buy

or little restaurants but still it is not 'something'

you must see.

 

We were immersed in the fragrance of legal pot

on the streets, in the hotel...

but we didn't notice any shops anywhere

maybe they are still trying to get those ducks in a row

on 'regulation' - boys don't take too long for the 'taxes' are getting away

and really isn't that what it is all about.

 

Our trip north over the 'boarder' was interesting

no they did not stamp my passport though I thought it was mandatory

I watched several people just show a driver's license...

we had to turn on the 'devices' since the cost to use them in Canada

was a little expensive...when we got lost we just

pulled over at the corner and asked a great guy walking a dog

for directions - the old GPS system worked great.

 

Two nights in Vancouver was fantastic

and we actually ran out of time to do everything but we became

great 'map readers' - it is an easy town

with fantastically friendly people.

The food was good...the weather good and we had a lot of fun.

 

Now going back across the boarder was not so easy

the lines were long and we had to go through the 3rd degree

by a proper person in a uniform who wore the 'really' look very well

but he finally let us back into America.

 

The greatest part of our adventure was two nights

on the bay in Tacoma...

great hotel, made time to visit two very old friends in different areas

one out on the other part of the peninsula

taking us along the waterways and into the deep forests

to a beautiful resort

 

We spent the whole time trying 'seafood'

I think we had more appetizers than meals but the chowder

was so different one from the other

and I am not sure which I preferred except I really like

New England Clam chowder that is thick.

The crab cakes were fantastic but honestly the fried calamari

and fried clams were to die for...the fish was okay

the salmon wasn't any different then you can get anywhere

the shrimp were fresh but small even though they were called prongs

All and all the food was great.

 

The coffee...it was like so strong [and I love strong]

that you would become an addict

within a week of drinking coffee in Washington.

 

So, we returned home feeling great

and woke up to snow.

 

Vacations or adventures as I prefer to call them

should be about 'enjoying' and 'experiencing' life

doing the simple things that you rarely get the time to do.

Enjoy to the fullest.

 

Vancouver Welcome Committee

 

barb