Try as I might, I still have a problem keeping a journal while on a trip (with exceptions, those being when I’m in Europe) and I have not yet resolved the issue of internet connectivity well enough to say I’m going to blog nightly. Which is a shame, because so much gets lost when you try to come back to the memories but have little to act as mnemonics. Of course, there’s the issue of actually experiencing the place you’re visiting, and in that regard I am golden.
I had tons of fun this time around in Seattle, even if this wasn’t a touristy trip per se. Experiencing the city as a temporary local, driving around its streets (sorry Seattle, you have yet to convince me that you truly experience traffic that’s worse than I-95 in Miami), shopping in the farmers market and cooking a meal for our friends, spending a Shabbat with a local family in the Jewish community we now know we’d like to move into, these were all amazing experiences that I treasure precisely because they were out of the ordinary fare for a visitor to the city. I simply cannot wait to go back and become a permanent resident.
While the blogging/journaling was scarce, I did a lot of Twitter updates, precisely as a way to remind myself of what we did when. As a bonus, they allow me to show you a quick overview of our time in Seattle. Enjoy.
A TWITTERIZED VERSION OF SEATTLE REDUX
On my way to the airport. 8:07 AM Nov 27th from txt
At the gate already. Cleared security suprisingly fast. Don’t toy with me, fate. 9:55 AM Nov 27th from txt
Boarding. 10:26 AM Nov 27th from txt
You eat onions before going into a very packed plane? Seriously? 10:47 AM Nov 27th from txt
Breathe normally. Ha! 11:03 AM Nov 27th from txt
Arrived in Chicago. Hey @vandermoore I see you! 2:07 PM Nov 27th from txt
Waiting at O’hare, which is suprisingly empty. 3:20 PM Nov 27th from txt
Off to Seattle. 4:30 PM Nov 27th from txt
Landed in Seattle. 8:39 PM Nov 27th from txt
Renting the car now. 9:37 PM Nov 27th from txt
Dude, Bamboo Garden is open. Yes! 10:53 PM Nov 27th from txt
Having breakfast at Noah’s Bagels in the U district. 2:40 P Nov 28th from txt
Wow, so many kosher breads! 4:00 PM Nov 28th from txt
Shopping at Albertson’s on Mercer Island. 4:12 P Nov 28th from txt
At the REI store. 5:31 P Nov 28th from txt
Bikes, bikes, bikes! 5:46 PM Nov 28th from txt
Man, I so wanna move up here. 6:02 P Nov 28th from txt
For a brief moment the Space Needle looked gorgeous in the orange glow of the setting sun. 6:51 P Nov 28th from txt
Yo @jaydeflix and @patricia_eddy. 12:08 A Nov 30th from txt
At Pike Place Brewery. Mmm… Kilt-lifter on tap. 1:38 A Nov 30th from txt
http://twitpic.com/pakn – Mmm 4:06 PM Nov 30th from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/p6jx – The Space Needle got a hat! 2:45 A Nov 30th from TwitPic
Turning in for the night. 2:47 A Nov 30th from txt
Up. Trying to make it to West Seattle. 11:45 A Nov 30th from txt
At Sur le Table. 2:13 P Nov 30th from txt
The fog is rolling in from the sound onto the Pike Place Market. It’s absolutely gorgeous. 3:47 P Nov 30th from txt
Heading out to Ballard Farmer’s Market. 4:38 P Nov 30th from txt
Playing Monty Python Fluxx with wife, @jaydeflix and @patricia_eddy. 11:05 P Nov 30th from web
http://twitpic.com/ph6 – Cold and sunny morning in Seattle. 1:45 P Dec 1st from TwitPic
Riding with convertible hood down! 2:52 PM Dec 1st from txt
http://twitpic.com/pif8 – At the Magnuson Park Fin Project. 4:37 P Dec 1st from TwitPic
At Pabla Veggie Cuisine in Issaquah. Mmm… Kosher Indian food. 5:29 P Dec 1st from txt
$35 for two buffet and drinks? Hell yeah! 6:07 PM Dec 1st from txt
We just found the office of Dr. Tran! 6:30 P Dec 1st from txt
At Uwajimaya 7:15 P Dec 1st from txt
http://twitpic.com/pji2 – Cow bike. 7:17 P Dec 1st from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/pjsl – Engrish. 7:49 P Dec 1st from TwitPic
At REI. 8:50 P Dec 1st from txt
Hanging out with @patricia_eddy and @jaydeflix. 11:35 P Dec 1st from web
@ITPodcast I’m loving REI a lot, actually. 11:36 P Dec 1st from web in reply to ITPodcast
@chrishanrahan My goal this trip is to go all around Seattle, so yeah. 🙂 11:36 P Dec 1st from web in reply to chrishanrahan
Checking out Jewish areas in Seattle. 12:26 A Dec 2nd from twhirl
Wait, free internet at the hotel? Damn, they sure kept this a secret! 3:02 AM Dec 2nd from twhirl
Room extended till Sunday no problem. 2:22 A Dec 2nd from txt
Turning in for the night. 2:56 A Dec 2nd from txt
Wait, free internet at the hotel? Damn, they sure kept this a secret! 3:02 AM Dec 2nd from twhirl
Moved to a new room and now I have a lovely view of a Gentleman’s Club out the window. 2:01 P Dec 2nd from txt
Top Pot Donuts, why can’t you be kosher? :16 PM Dec 2nd from txt
At Alki Beach. No orcas though. 3:04 P Dec 2nd from txt
West Seattle is beautiful. 3:07 P Dec 2nd from txt
Hey @patricia_eddy I can see your house from Alki. 3:22 P Dec 2nd from txt
Getting food at Bamboo Garden. 4:12 P Dec 2nd from txt
How fast is the service? Took 5 minutes for our food to be done. 4:16 P Dec 2nd from txt
Doing laundry while looking out the window onto Elliot Bay. Not a bad afternoon. 6:57 P Dec 2nd from twhirl
Sunset over Puget Sound is glorious. 7:49 P Dec 2nd from txt
Heading out. 8:18 P Dec 2nd from twhirl
At Archie McPhee. 8:53 P Dec 2nd from txt
http://twitpic.com/przb – Fierce. 9:45 P Dec 2nd from TwitPic
At Island Crust pizza in Mercer Island. Kosher pizza! 10:36 P Dec 2nd from txt
We just got kosher candy corn, something we’ve never found in Miami. 10:46 P Dec 2nd from txt
http://twitpic.com/psnj – This was excellent pizza. 11:29 P Dec 2nd from TwitPic
Met a Jewish couple at Island Crust and now we have an invitation for Shabbat. 11:35 P Dec 2nd from txt
Hanging out at the hotel room, having a Pyramid Hefeweizen. 1:28 A Dec 3rd from txt
So this is what Seattle looks like at 6 am. 9:26 A Dec 3rd from txt
Heading over to Sharei Tefillah in Ravenna for morning prayers. 9:28 A Dec 3rd from txt
Heading back to the hotel. 10:48 A Dec 3rd from txt
Pit stop at Noah’s Bagels. 1:13 A Dec 3rd from txt
Ah so this is what you folks in Seattle call traffic. Cute. 11:29 A Dec 3rd from txt
I’m getting very adept at getting lost yet finding my way to where I’m going. 11:40 A Dec 3rd from txt
Back at the hotel. 11:44 A Dec 3rd from txt
@chrishanrahan When I travel, I travel. 🙂 12:36 PM Dec 3rd from twhirl in reply to chrishanrahan
Going to lunch with @Pramas in a few. 2:38 PM Dec 3rd from twhirl
Thanks @Pramas for joining my wife and I for a nice lunch. 4:39 P Dec 3rd from txt
http://twitpic.com/pxrf – 4:49 PM Dec 3rd from TwitPic
http://twitpic.com/pynq – At the EMP. 6:41 P Dec 3rd from TwitPic
Gotta put more money in the meter. 6:38 P Dec 3rd from txt
Dammit got a parking ticket. 7:04 P Dec 3rd from txt
At the Sci-Fi Museum. 8:06 P Dec 3rd from txt
Hmm… What to do for dinner today? 8:29 P Dec 3rd from txt
At Island Crust again tonight. Soup and pasta for dinner. 9:47 P Dec 3rd from txt
At The Pike Brewery. Again. Yes we like this place. 12:38 A Dec 4th from txt
My wife says I’m the weirdest person she knows. 1:40 A Dec 4th from txt
http://twitpic.com/q19v – An hour later. 1:49 A Dec 4th from TwitPic
Last call. 1:58 A Dec 4th from txt
S#!t It’s cold! 2:23 AM Dec 4th from txt
Back at the hotel. 2:43 A Dec 4th from txt
I am so late for prayers. 10:07 A Dec 4th from txt
At prayers. 10:27 A Dec 4th from txt
Heading back. 11:07 A Dec 4th from txt
Hey, you can kinda see Mt. Rainier through the morning fog! 11:18 A Dec 4th from txt
The honey Greek yogurt from The Greek Gods company is just perfect. 1:02 P Dec 4th from twhirl
Must get coffee. Now. 2:16 P Dec 4th from twhirl
Wow, it is an amazingly clear day! 2:22 PM Dec 4th from txt
The Ovaltine latte at Top Pot Doughnuts is just phenomenal. 2:52 P Dec 4th from txt
http://twitpic.com/q50c – There’s a seagull outside my window. 2:53 P Dec 4th from TwitPic
@grungydan You can haz Seattle too, but only if I haz as well. 3:45 P Dec 4th from twhirl in reply to grungydan
Ok, finally heading out. Going to check out the neighborhood in Ravenna. 4:31 P Dec 4th from twhirl
Having tea. 5:48 P Dec 4th from txt
At Gas Works Park. 6:34 P Dec 4th from txt
Mmm… Corn chowder. I’m addicted. 7:37 P Dec 4th from txt
Dinner at the hotel tonight. 7:54 P Dec 4th from txt
007 at The Big Picture. Movie and alcohol! 8:57 P Dec 4th from txt
At Volunteer Park. There’s a street fair. Oh, it’s the Art Walk! 11:23 PM Dec 4th from txt
http://twitpic.com/q9fs – Steampunk jewelry. 12:01 AM Dec 5th from TwitPic
Turning in for the night. 2:08 AM Dec 5th from txt
At prayers. 10:13 AM Dec 5th from txt
Prayers done. Back to the hotel or bagel pit stop? 10:50 AM Dec 5th from txt
Bagels win. But just a quick stop as I’ll return later with my wife for proper breakfast. 11:00 AM Dec 5th from txt
Mt. Rainier looks unreal. So majestic. 11:19 AM Dec 5th from txt
@AtomicOvermind The mountain has been out for two days straight now. We’re on a roll, here! 11:46 AM Dec 5th from twhirl in reply to AtomicOvermind
Ok, heading out. Short day today! 1:28 PM Dec 5th from twhirl
The view from Kerry Park is amazing today. 2:35 PM Dec 5th from txt
Kosher sushi at the University Village QFC! This I didn’t know about. 3:17 PM Dec 5th from txt
They also have a big kosher section with pre-made sandwiches. I know where I’m getting food for the trip home. 3:22 PM Dec 5th from txt
Getting ready and heading out in a few. Shabbat in T minus 1 hour! 5:58 PM Dec 5th from twhirl
Shabbat Shalom. 6:44 PM Dec 5th from txt
Our last night in Seattle. 9:23 PM Dec 6th from txt
Checking out houses. 11:18 PM Dec 6th from txt
Going out for kosher Indian food. 12:00 AM Dec 7th from twhirl
http://twitpic.com/qvee – Mmm… Indian food. 1:00 AM Dec 7th from TwitPic
Dear lord, we are so full! The Indian food at Pabla Veggie Cuisine in Issaquah is just amazing. Can I take them with me to Miami? 2:26 AM Dec 7th from twhirl
Gotta pack, but all I wanna do is go to sleep. 2:39 AM Dec 7th from twhirl
There are 26 dudes from the east coast staying in various rooms around the hotel being pain in the asses at 1:30 am. 4:15 AM Dec 7th from twhirl
Going to (try to) sleep. 4:15 AM Dec 7th from twhirl
Up and about since 5 am. My bag has practically doubled in size as I try to pack all of Seattle in there. 8:39 AM Dec 7th from txt
Car returned. Waiting for the shuttle to SeaTac Airport. 10:19 AM Dec 7th from txt
At the gate already. I so hate the Shoe Carnival. 11:06 AM Dec 7th from txt
Just paid $5 for a small pack of Imodium. Totally worth it. 11:07 AM Dec 7th from txt
On our way to Chicago O’Hare. 11:32 AM Dec 7th from txt
http://twitpic.com/qy2f – Cramped inside the airplane. 11:32 AM Dec 7th from TwitPic
Bye Seattle. We miss you already. 11:36 AM Dec 7th from txt
Landed in Chicago. 3:01 PM Dec 7th from txt
Waiting at the gate. We are both feeling very much not well. 3:27 PM Dec 7th from txt
Need coffee. 3:46 PM Dec 7th from txt
Lots of Russians in Chicago? 4:17 PM Dec 7th from txt
Waiting to board. 4:27 PM Dec 7th from txt
Must find out how one gets AA Priority Access. 4:45 PM Dec 7th from txt
On the plus side, I’ve gotten a few ideas for more episodes of The Gamer Traveler. 4:53 PM Dec 7th from txt
In the plane, packed like a sardine. Next stop: Miami. 5:20 PM Dec 7th from txt
Hello Miami. 8:16 PM Dec 7th from txt
MIA, every time I leave and come back I realize what a crappy airport you are. 8:32 PM Dec 7th from txt
http://twitpic.com/r35x – That’s right, this doesn’t apply to you. 8:44 PM Dec 7th from TwitPic
Ok, picked up. 8:43 PM Dec 7th from txt
I’m sleepy. 10:44 PM Dec 7th from txt
Kosher Indian. Yum!
For awhile there was supposedly one in Manhattan, but I never made it there. Miami seems to have the most variety of Kosher restaurants among the cities I’ve been to.
It’s good to hear that you found what you need. I didn’t realize there was much of a community in Seattle.
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I’m so glad you had such a great time in our fair city. As a lifetime local I do occasionally grumble and complain, but it is a great place to live and there is very little to actually complain about with it.
I just wish I would have got to meet you while you were in town, but if you move here there will be plenty of time for that.
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David: We have some variety down here, but it’s all very much meat-focused and Ashkenazi in dominance, so you take the good with the meh. In Seattle all Kosher restaurants are vegetarian or dairy, but you have authentic Indian and Chinese.
The community in Seattle is actually quite big and old. I’ll be talking more about that in future posts, so just keep an eye out.
Dragavan: Yeah, these visits are so short and packed that I find myself unable to meet with people (both times I was able to meet only with Chris Pramas, because he works right near the hotel we were staying at). G-d willing, we’ll be there in 09, and then yeah, we’ll hang out.
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