Space Needles and Foreign Films in Seattle
16.06.2008 – 7:49My first American city on the west coast, after my short trip to Canada was Seattle. This time I was not officially couchsurfing, but staying with a good friend of Jason, who is not yet on the best community for travelers. Actually I did not see my host too often, as he was working all the time. Project deadlines and such annoyances… But - lucky me - he had some great roommates. And so I got picked up in town, taken out to a ladies (and two guys) night out and had some great talks. And lots more.
The whole time in Seattle was quite rainy. And as I still hadn’t fully recovered from my cold, I spent a lot of time in Cafes and other indoor places.
I got here on the expensive Clipper from Victoria. Make sure you get some sandwiches or other food, when you get on one of these! There’s only a horrible tiny bar on board. And their “dinner baskets” are not much more than some crackers and some sticks of this generic cheddar.
Anyway, I got to Seattle, walking up the stairs to the historic Pike Place Market with my big old bag on the shoulders, searching for a place, where I could lock it in for the day. I ended up at the - tada - greyhound station. At least they have this hightech lockers! For customers only. Whatever.
After having late lunch at this chinese restaurant at Pike Place (don’t know the name but its in the very north, long-streched building and has a nice view on the waterfront, getting a haircut at Broadway on Capitol Hill (traveling is great with really short hair) and a late to go at the Vivace booth, I met Sam, one of these roommates and got to my new home-for-some-days.
Later I found out, that Vivace was actually the Cafe, that Brian (one of my DC hosts for those who don’t remember) recommended me as “probably the best coffee place on the west coast”. And yes the latte to go (3 shots, 16 oz) was really good. Perfect foam and all a nice flavour. But it was to go, and as Vivace also has a full-grown cafe with over 80 seats, I decided to find that one and get a good cappucino and some pastry. It was definitely worth the effort! Check it out, if you have the chance. Cafe Vivace on Capitol Hill.
What followed was this ladies night out with me and the ex-boyfriend of one of the girls as the only not-females. I had definitely a lot of fun that night. And I tell you, these girls know how to drink beer! And they’re obsessed with their titties. And with dresing up. We went to this place where the girls could dress up in fancy glittery clothes while waiting for the food.
As it was still raining next morning, I decided to check out the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) that was going on at the moment and saw two movies. This one documentary called “This Way Up” about the wall in israel being built from the perspective of a man living in a home for old people in Palestine. Really nice pictures, slow, gives you time to think, great character, this old man, witty he is! The world would be better if old people and kids would lead it! And the other movie was “The Wave” or “Die Welle”. A german movie about a schooling experiment that actually took place in california in the late 60s. It was about a week-long intense “real live” course on autocracy that got out of hands. Definitely an impressive movie. I also really enjoyed that the original teacher and two students from the californian class back in the 60s were on stage for a Q&A after the movie. Made the experience even more intense.
On the “free Thursday” I decided to see the SAM (Seattle Art Museum). Might be great if you like rather old art, but was not really my thing. At least is was free. But their sculpture park at the waterfront, which is free every day, was amazing. It’s really nice how the architecture, the plants and the actual art pieced work together.
I must have seen a lot more, but that’s enough for the moment. One more. The space needle, I have to make my title work… It’s one of these super tall buildings that a lot of cities have. And Seattle has one, too. It’s high. And no I did not get up. Cities look all about the same from above. 