Weekend Wanderings

I took advantage of my first free weekend and the glorious spring weather to explore Seattle.  First order of business on Saturday was to pick up my rental cello from Bischofberger Violins, a gingerbread concoction that perches atop a hill about a mile and a half's walk from the apartment. The map didn't make it clear that it was an uphill climb all the way; happily I realized that the number 8 bus goes almost door to door.

Gates Foundation employees are encouraged to save the environment by using public transportation which extends to everyone being given a free bus pass to cut down on car travel, both work and non-work related. So I've also been exercising my Orca card on the buses. I hopped on a number 70 up to the Washington University campus.  The bus travels north along the shore of lake Union through Eastlake.

I spent a very pleasant couple of hours trying not very successfully to follow the walking tour of the campus in my guidebook in reverse, starting from half way around since that's where the weekend bus stops.  The campus reminded me of Princeton; the cherry trees were slightly past their best but I enjoyed all the blooms including azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons.  Mount Rainier was stubbornly elusive, hiding behind cloud even though most of the sky was blue. I enjoyed a leisurely lunch and a flight of Washington IPAs at Big Time Brewery and Alehouse and then caught a bus downtown to Pike Place Market.

I managed to stick to my shopping list at the market although it was tempting to stray.  My haul included a beautiful bunch of tulips, variegated red and gold, fresh juicy local salmon and smoked mussels, Beecher's cheese, local veggies and a box of Fran's chocolates (well, it is Easter after all), a little teapot and a couple of second hand books.

Sunday's exploring focused on Queen Anne, an upscale and historical residential neighborhood just north of the Gates Foundation.  I scaled several sets of steps built in the early 1900's to connect people with the trolley stops, and enjoyed stunning panoramic views from the top. Snow capped mountains were visible to the east but Mount Rainier remained  hidden behind the skyscrapers of downtown.  I'm determined to see it one of these days soon! The homes in Queen Anne are beautiful, a mix of styles and periods from Victorian to modern, and the gardens are gorgeous with cherry trees, azaleas, daffodils and tulips blooming, with bluebells delicately scenting the air on the shadier slopes.