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North-Western revelations.
This entry was posted in Americas, USA and tagged Alaska Airlines, Amazon, Amazon Spheres, Berlusconi, Cascadia, Cobain, Ferry, Foo Fighters, Food, Food market, Inuit, Lowell's, Marijuana, Night, Nirvana, Olympic, Oyster, Pacific, Pike Market, Port, Rain, Salmon, Sea, Seafront, Seattle, Serial Killer, Sphere, Sticker, Street art, Tech, Tech boys, Washington, Washington state, Weed, West Coast. Bookmark the permalink.
I love my time in Seattle, crashing on a friends couch and just hanging about reading in cafes while she worked. Good memories.
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Sounds like a pretty nice way to pass the time!
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Ahh, Seattle… There were times when I’d die to be there. I’d fish out Tom Robbins and everything Pearl Jam-related and have the time of my life. I never came even close. The closest was almost buying a t-shirt in Vienna, back then when Seattle was everywhere, that said: “Bomb Seattle.”
I’m glad it gave you good times and good food and made you promise to return.
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I’ve never, really, been able to appreciate Pearl Jam. Don’t ask me why, I just can’t… Hope you do make it there one day Manja, it’s a lovely place. No flamingos though.
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Ah, really? Somebody must have ruined them for you, as Miami Vice did for flamingos. 😀
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Nah, I just think Eddie Vedder never clicked with me. Don’t know, back in high school when everyone raved about Pearl Jam I was more into Oasis, those first Offspring albums and, of course, Gigi d’Agostino. I guess I was (and still am) too trashy!
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Ooops, I see. I had to google Mr. Gigi and the first randomly found notes told me everything. 😉
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WHAT?! You didn’t know him already? Perhaps it’s because of you being in Tuscany, up north Bla Bla is the second national anthem.
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I always love your commentaries, Fabrizio, but you’re truly at the top of your game with this one. So atmospheric, the pop culture references are brilliant. Your comment about American food was hilarious. I’ve been to much of America, but so far have not made it to the Pacific Northwest. I get the feeling this was a stopover?
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Thanks Julie, I suppose I should also thank America’s cultural hegemony. And in fairness, food in the US is generally great. I haven’t been around much, but I’ve always been able to find great, honest, quality cooking around; I’ve even had some decent catfish (possibly the least useful fish around). From the little I’ve seen, the Northwest seems like a place I’d fit right in: dressing poorly is actively encouraged, there’s mountains, fish, great beer and moustaches.
Sadly, it was a stopover in the sense that I’m back already. 😦
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I don’t know Seattle well, having been there only a few brief times, but I think it has a bit in common with Vancouver – if only the weather and a love of outdoor activities. This was a lovely glimpse of the city Fabrizio. I like seeing it through your eyes. I never would have thought to photograph all the little stickers, but it’s these kind of little details that bring a place to life.
Alison
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Thanks Alison! Surprised you never been there, considering it’s not far from Vancouver. But then again, you’re in Vancouver… why move?!
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Oh I’ve been there, more than once, I just don’t know it well. I’ve never really explored the city at all. Went once to see a skating show, once to visit a friend who lives in Renton. That’s all I can remember.
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I always love cities built by the sea — Hong Kong, Istanbul, Sydney they all have certain characteristics their inland counterparts can only dream of imitating. Since I was 20 years younger, Seattle has been in my wishlist of US cities I most want to visit, although in recent years others seem to appear more appealing to me, I must admit. But this post of yours reminds me of that long-held dream of mine of seeing this city one day.
“Unlike bankers, they’re largely making productive contributions to society.” I’m glad I no longer work in a bank, although when I still did I was nowhere near those people who made lots of money out of their customers. 🙂
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Well Bama I think you’ll like it!
Don’t get me wrong, there’s banker and banker. My old man has been a banker for 45 years, giving our mortgages to small entrepreneurs, looking after people’s savings and so on. Bankers like that are absolutely necessary; bankers like those I see in the Square Mile, betting against countries and companies and so on… should they disappear all one day, would we be worse off?
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Amusing like many of your posts on U.S. cities, but I laughed out loud at the bizarre linking of the Alaska Airlines Inuit and Berlusconi! 🙂 Seattle used to be in my work travel territory (yep, as a banker, but not the avaricious type!), but I haven’t been back for years. Very fun to read your impressions.
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Tell me it isn’t Him, smirking under his parka hood! Nice to know you worked there, I certainly would’ve chosen it over Houston. There’s even a tram line!!!
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Haha. And I would NEVER make that trade of cities! Too rainy and gray up there even though it’s a cool place. I need sun!
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But mountains… and sea… (and legal weed cough cough)
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I enjoyed your observations on Seattle. I lived there for a summer, and have passed through many times over the years. It is a strange blend of blue-collar grit, hippies, techies, nature, old and modern. And you are right – America has great food. We just eat too much of it, and it isn’t so healthy.
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Thanks Jeff! It’s an interesting blend indeed and one I’d love to see better. That NW corner of the US is quite interesting. Food portions in America are great; a meal might be a bit pricier than some parts of London but usually it’s the one meal I’ll eat for the whole day… value!
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Welcome to the Northwest! It was interesting reading your always unique take on a city I know, if only slightly. I’ve driven through it many times, and sometimes stopping in the ‘burbs north of Seattle to visit a niece’s family. But I’ve only played tourist once, maybe 30 years ago, and never made it to Pike Place Market.
And if you ever make it to Portland, give me a shout.
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Thanks Dave! I’ve seen very little of the NW but it really whetted my appetite. Portland will surely come, sooner or later.
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What a refreshing and fun take on Seattle. I love this part of the world (I live in Vancouver) but the relentless winter battleship grey sky and rain can drive me a bit mad…don’t worry, not cauldron cooking mad. Despite the grey, you’re prose and photos really make Seattle pop!
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Thanks Caroline! You’re in good company with regards to shite weather. Yesterday at the office we all stopped for a moment because… yes. the sun was out. It was a splendid sunset over the City of London, with the skyscrapers turning orange and just cotton-wool clouds everywhere. It was 3:30PM. By the time I left at 5 it was already pissing with rain…
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This was really entertaining for me to read, since I live in Seattle! I’m not originally from here so I have /some/ outsider perspective left, but even so. I like your description of the hipsters. One thing that struck me after moving here and what visiting friends often comment on is how the average person appears a bit more outdoorsy. I’ve certainly fallen into this myself… easy when you have such proximity to amazing hiking!
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Ah, how much I envy you Leah! It must be great to have so many mountains around. Enjoy!
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The visuals you paint with your words are captivating from the get-go. As alway, I adore your writing style. And the photographs complete the experience. I especially enjoyed the twilight images, and surprisingly, the ones with overcast skies.
I’ve been away from the USA so long that I’ve forgotten the beauty to be discovered on my doorstep. Our very own Ha Long Bay with bacon and fresh fish is particularly inviting.
And you are so right about that Alaska Airlines mascot! Creepy.
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Thank you so much for reading, Lisa. I must say that the equation Silvio-Alaska man came from my father. One day he saw some pictures from a work trip to New York JFK; in the background there was an Alaskan plane and he went “What the *&$$ is Berlusconi doing on a plane?” Can’t unsee it afterwards.
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😂I’ll never be able to unsee it either
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*always 😬
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Great post, brought back memories of Seattle. I also used to love the sight of sea planes coming in to land. Sea planes! Almost as anachronistic as a dirigible.
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Yes, they bring you back to another time, don’t they? Thanks for reading IJ.
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