Because I have reached Seattle by plane and Greyhound in previous trips, I won't go into our pretend travel from Memphis to Seattle. Suffice to say we are here.
The tour is lodging us in Four Season Hotels during our entire trip around the world. Beanie and I arrived a two days early so we could see Seattle for the first time for her and a second time for m
The tour is lodging us in Four Season Hotels during our entire trip around the world. Beanie and I arrived a two days early so we could see Seattle for the first time for her and a second time for m
As soon as we checked in, we caught a cab to the Greyhound Bus Station.
I wanted to go inside and remember how it felt when I was there alone 30 years ago. The bus had arrived before dawn. I just patiently sat in the waiting room until it got light and Burger King would open. Police came in searching for a robber.
I said to Beanie. "Ya think we can just have a hamburger here...I know we will be eating such gourmet food on our tour...but I would so love to have a hamburger right here right now! It is eleven o'clock, we will be hungry again in a few hours."
So we did...talk about daja view!?
I said to Beanie. "Ya think we can just have a hamburger here...I know we will be eating such gourmet food on our tour...but I would so love to have a hamburger right here right now! It is eleven o'clock, we will be hungry again in a few hours."
So we did...talk about daja view!?
Then Beanie and I descended that very steep hill street down to Pike Place fish market. A girl who had been eaten a small size order of fries at Burger King also left when we did. Surely she wasn't following us?!
It was just as crowded as I remembered it thirty years ago. It is hard to believe fish can generate such excitement!!
We sent a few cards back home; we didn't plan to do that on the tour...the less trouble the better. There were buskers of all kinds; we loved the rhythm and blues quartet in particular. There was also a guy who trains cats. We were more than happy to drop money into their buckets.
The girl definitely seemed to be following us. She never spoke but stayed close..
.Finally Beanie asked, "What do you want? Why are you following us??"
The girl was quite pretty and looked well care for. She was holding her arm as though it was hurting.
She starting crying. "I thought two old ladies would care about what happens to me. You see, yesterday I got in trouble with my parents. I am 14 and I ran away with my 20 year old boyfriend. I had saved a little money and we caught a bus from Spokane. He dumped me and is probably stoned somewhere. I don't what to do now...I don't even have money left to place a phone call to my folks."
She told us her name--Karen; we told her our names. Then I invited her to walk with us for awhile, while my friend and I think about her situation.
In front of us stood a distraction: a pig. It caused Karen to wipe away her tears and laugh.
The girl definitely seemed to be following us. She never spoke but stayed close..
.Finally Beanie asked, "What do you want? Why are you following us??"The girl was quite pretty and looked well care for. She was holding her arm as though it was hurting.
She starting crying. "I thought two old ladies would care about what happens to me. You see, yesterday I got in trouble with my parents. I am 14 and I ran away with my 20 year old boyfriend. I had saved a little money and we caught a bus from Spokane. He dumped me and is probably stoned somewhere. I don't what to do now...I don't even have money left to place a phone call to my folks."
She told us her name--Karen; we told her our names. Then I invited her to walk with us for awhile, while my friend and I think about her situation.
In front of us stood a distraction: a pig. It caused Karen to wipe away her tears and laugh.
We were fascinated by Rachel the Pig that weighs more than 550 pounds. It is the unofficial mascot of the market. Here she is with a pretty girl sitting on it.
The three of us continued to walk together. There were so many shops of various kinds. some with gorgeous flowers, chocolate treats, and very nice restaurants. We must have walked for hours never getting bored.
The sky darkened.
Then it started to rain...very hard...then harder.
We made a decision about our new friend. We decided to catch a cab back to our Presidential Suite in the Four Season Hotel. From there we would call her parents. Our conversation is sort of private; so we won't tell you all that was said. I hope we were honest without being preachy. We even prayed together a little. So we had our first adventure without even leaving the country.
The parents were thrilled over the call from their daughter. It takes 4 hours to drive from Spokane to Seattle. Since it was raining, we offered to keep their daughter over night. They will get her by 10 am tomorrow.
We realized just how tired we were and had room service bring us a wonderful fish dinner; Alaskan Halibut. Maybe we did a dangerous thing letting Karen stay with us overnight....but we were blessed.
The other passengers will arrive tomorrow afternoon. But Beanie and I will have time to go up in the Space Needle.
When I was in Seattle before, you couldn't see the mountains from the Needle. There was so much fog. I don't think we will see the mountains this time either, if it is still raining. Nevertheless, we can eat lunch at Sky City Restaurant. Tomorrow night is the Welcome Dinner for our tour. But we will be thinking about Karen for awhile.
Beanie and I will write more when we know more. Love, annie
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The sky darkened.
Then it started to rain...very hard...then harder. We made a decision about our new friend. We decided to catch a cab back to our Presidential Suite in the Four Season Hotel. From there we would call her parents. Our conversation is sort of private; so we won't tell you all that was said. I hope we were honest without being preachy. We even prayed together a little. So we had our first adventure without even leaving the country.
The parents were thrilled over the call from their daughter. It takes 4 hours to drive from Spokane to Seattle. Since it was raining, we offered to keep their daughter over night. They will get her by 10 am tomorrow.
We realized just how tired we were and had room service bring us a wonderful fish dinner; Alaskan Halibut. Maybe we did a dangerous thing letting Karen stay with us overnight....but we were blessed.
The other passengers will arrive tomorrow afternoon. But Beanie and I will have time to go up in the Space Needle.
When I was in Seattle before, you couldn't see the mountains from the Needle. There was so much fog. I don't think we will see the mountains this time either, if it is still raining. Nevertheless, we can eat lunch at Sky City Restaurant. Tomorrow night is the Welcome Dinner for our tour. But we will be thinking about Karen for awhile.
Beanie and I will write more when we know more. Love, annie
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