A couple of weeks ago (just before Labor Day Weekend to be more specific) my husband and I got the chance to visit a friend who was working at Amazon for the summer. We went running a few times and got to see gorgeous views like this one, above.

We walked everywhere, and I was the lag-behind-er: taking mah photos. Because I have a problem.

Here I am just taking a picture of my feet. Posing with some Seattle coffee beans. As you can imagine, Seattle just paves its streets in gold-bronze roasted bean imagery.

Here my friends are walking off into the sunset, pretending I'm not part of their little tour.

Naturally, the locals all wanted a picture of me. (Okay, they were a business team on a team building scavenger hunt.) They were tasked to accost someone who would take a picture of them while they took a picture of the photo taker. Basically, a dream come true for me.

So, Seattle was a great time for me. It was full of tasty food, beautiful textures... remarkably friendly people! I loved it. Apparently the saying goes: Seattle was hip before Brooklyn became... Brooklyn. Er, I'm not the best with story re-telling. For one, I'm unconvinced when anyone uses the word "hip." For two, I just used the word hip. But the point is! Seattle was full of honest and good folks. At least... I think they were honest.

Every corner, every street, I felt like there was something visually awesome to take away. The prison-y 91.5 gate, the orange-slice owl eyes, the... traffic jam block facade. Everything was so pretty!

There was this guy. Marshmallow face-tubby.

Gigantic oysters that looked like they had eaten two other oysters before arriving in front of you.

Everywhere you looked there was a great food place. Even the flying stingers were out dining. I say flying stingers because it doesn't look like a bee... and honestly looks like a wasp. But, I'm no expert. Take your own guesses from this horrible hip shot.

I even got to visit with the wonderful team at Moorea Seal. They were so lovely and kind enough to let me peep into their workshop/studio space. I felt very humbled and also, really into this adorable house night-light with ridiculously awesome trees! I believe the correct name for it isGhost House with Trees, and was made by Dan and Mer Dundin. Making my little porcelain housesfrom long ago look like a far cry. I humbly bow, and totally want those trees.    

After visiting with the Moorea Seal team, I was like this. Also, I was happy to be back at Rachel's Ginger Beer. Apparently I like ginger beer, and didn't realize this until Seattle slapped me in the face with it. So the hand/talon like gesture I'm making is probably like a, 'Wow, omgsogood!" face.

How one couldn't be wooed by Seattle, is beyond me. I'm not saying I'm going to go buy some new bedsheets for Seattle, but they do have some things that are working for them.

1. Fresh seafood
2. Coffee all over the place
3. Great food makers
4. All access pass to west coast cheeses
5. That Parisian lifestyle I crave
6. Beautiful city, all the time, every day.
7. What helps out #6? They have clean streets.
8. What helps out #7? Probably the fresh seafood requires all the cleaning.
9. I didn't see everything, but I did eat everything... and it was good.

I do love you Seattle. You and all your nautical, coastal, delicious charm. Plus, you are really, really close to Vancouver, Canada. (I'm a Vermonter who loves my Canada.)

See you in another longish week! Getting ready for a trip to San Francisco next. Want to leave a comment? Answer this! What's your favorite coastal city to visit and why? I'm looking for ideas. :)