I went on a “Food Tour” of Seattle today, which was basically a walking tour of the city stopping off at our guide’s favourite places to eat on the way. It was a great way to see Seattle and I ate some really, really great food on the way! But because of all that walking I don’t feel full. Sucks to be me!
Anyway, here’s a list of where I went and what we ate!
- Philly Cheese Steak @ Calozzi’s (USA)
- Salami and cheese platter (with bread and olives) @ Armandino’s Salumi (Italian)
- Chinese BBQ Pork @ Kau Kau (Chinese)
- Papaya Salad @ The Green Leaf (Vietnamese)
- Fried Mac & Cheese Wedges @ 5 Point Cafe (USA)
- Pork Sandwich @ Paseo (Carribean)
- Burgers @ Blue Moon Burgers (USA)
- Chocolate @ Theo Chocolate Factory
- Salmon Crustini @ Spur Gastropub (fusion food… sort of French, I’d say)
The tour took about 5 hours and only cost $20, which is a bargain if you ask me.
Or, the incomprehensible ramblings of a over- tired English girl.
I’m in Seattle! It’s nice here. Cold. Snowing. Well, it was snowing last night, now there’s lots of snow all over the place but it’s not snowing any more.
Went up the Space Needle this morning; Seattle’s version of the dominant city feature- the large phallic object. New York has the Empire State building. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. London has Big Ben, Pisa’s is wonky and Seattle has the Space Needle. All long, tall objects, thrusting up into the sky, making their presence known whether we want to acknowledge them or not. Phallic indeed. View was awesome though, I’ve got great pictures.
Anyway; to people back home reading this I’m fine, running out of money (feel free to send me some) but good, hoping to get back on the road again soon but pretty much all forms of transport are down at the moment due to the aforementioned snow and ice.
Updates to follow.
So. This is it.
I’m leaving Vancouver, heading up Whistler mountain, down to Seattle, and on from there. I like this, not having (much) of a plan. Just some cash in my pocket and a car and a continent to explore.
If you see my Mum, tell her I love her. And I’ll call her soon.
1. Australians (there are just so god damn many of them!) 2. The fact that when hostel staff finish work at 2am, they start drinking. So at breakfast/ check out in the morning they’re rude and hungover and just awful. 3. The man wearing a pair of long johns and a leather jacket drinking milk from the carton in the kitchen. 4. No internet signal anywhere where you actually need it. 5. Bunk beds that squeak every time you move. Every time you bloody inhale. 6. Four people living in a room smaller than the rabbit hutch we used to keep Smokey in. 7. The fact that beer is like FOUR POUNDS A PINT here. 8. Communal showers. 9. Bathrooms with doors that don’t lock. 10. A complete and utter lack of privacy. 11. The bar next door that plays music through until sunrise. I have been awake at sunrise and verified this fact. 12. Very expensive laundry machines. 13. The things that are free are things that you don’t actually need. The things that you do need are expensive. 14. Roommates who are unwilling/ unable to lock the door after themselves. 15. The kitchen which only has four hobs, for a hostel which has 200 beds. Someone do the maths and figure that out, cos I surely can’t. 16. Vending machines that charge 75p for a Mars bar. ($1.25… I did a rough conversion) 17. Australians (it bears repeating).
Yes, the plan has changed. In fact, the current plan is so far from the original plan, it could be called a new plan altogether.
The short story is I’m not staying in Vancouver.
The long story goes a bit like this: after a lot of soul searching and wondering what the hell I’m doing, I’ve decided to go travelling through Canada, the Pacific Northwest and then down the west coast of America. Vancouver is a great city, but there’s nothing here for me. I had a long conversation with a very wise person who said in no uncertain terms that there was no way in hell I should stay here and work in Starbucks for a year! I’ve got the funds and the resources to be able to fulfill some of my dreams and go to places I’ve wanted to go to for years. So that’s what I’m going to do.
The consequences of the new plan are that I’ll be back in the UK by the middle of December (at the latest). I’m really going for a big, blow- out trip! And the unfortunate fact of the matter is, unless my Dad won that £million on the lottery tonight I can’t afford to make this trip go on forever!
I suppose I’m a bit sad that I couldn’t make this work out. But if nothing else, I’ve learned a lot about myself, I think; being forced to take care of yourself with no outside influences sort of does that. And I have a new found determination to do something with my writing… watch this space. I might be saying goodbye to Vancouver, but I’m not going anywere.
Bow and black, please. Yes, Strongbow and blackcurrant cordial. Never mind, just give me a glass of cider. Strongbow! Not Appletiser, for goodness’ sake.
Ah, gotta love these guys. Good news is though, I’ve found somewhere that serves Strongbow! Hallelujah! Happy days! It’s not Blackthorn, but it’ll do.
Went to the ice hockey last night, it must be a sort of right of passage if you’re in Canada. It was pretty good as well, we only paid $22 for Giants tickets, they’re the Vancouver college team (and they won!) I have a feeling that we might be making this a semi- regular occuance.
Possibly have a lead on somewhere to live; only downside is that it’s with four guys. They’re looking at a 5 bed appartment and need a fifth person. Two Irish guys and two English… they’re really cool. I don’t know if it will come to anything, but I sure as hell don’t want to stay in the hostel forever! (For the love of god, don’t tell my grandmother this piece of information. She’ll just freak out.)
It’s not so bad here, (the hostel, I mean), the rooms are just really small. I’m not used to having to share at all, let alone with two other people! Well, I tidied up some today, reorganising my stuff so that’s put me in a better mood!
I think we’re doing trivia night tonight. I’ve been roped in to fulfill the ‘Arts’ section. Wish us luck!
Laura Marling, ‘My Manic and I’
Vancouver is awesome. Well, the 8 blocks around my hostel downtown are awesome. I’m yet to explore much further than that! Walking down the street, you can see the mountains in between the buildings and I swear, I’ve never seen anything like it before. Sure, there are mountains in Britain, but nothing like this. It’s so, so beautiful. All of the important things are now done, I’m looking forward to meeting up with some people and seeing a bit more of this part of the world!
