SEATTLE!

Seattle was fabulous. Our hotel, Best Western, was far more glamorous then any other Best Western I've ever seen. There was a doorman who sprang to attention whenever you were within fifteen feet of the door, even if your arms weren't full. Of coarse, he was board as anything and I couldn't blame him for wanting some excitement, even if it did consist of something as pittily as a door. Since we arrived three hours earlier then check-in time, we desperately needed somebody to unload us of our baggage. Not to worry! A cheerful young employee relieved us of our burdens, and informed us he'd bring them up to our rooms. Of coarse, what he didn't inform us of is that we'd be expected to leave him a tip. Which made it sound a lot more appealing to just take up our own bags.

As I mentioned, we arrived three hours early. So we roamed Pikes Market for three hours or so. It was a fabolous experience because of the samples, in particular. I covered a cheese factory, a truffle shop, and lots of little French Bakeries and Starbucks', which are the predominant species in Seattle. I sampled a luscious orange chocolate truffle, except for it wasn't as tacky as orange. No, it was pegged someting sophisticated and charismatic such as, ladamalencias, or the essence of that, anyway. I also stabbed a cheesecurd with a small, menacing harpoon (aka toothpick), and savored it's squeeky crumbles in my pearly whites.

The next day, we rode a fairy to Banbride Island, experienced an Underground Tour, and visited Ye Old Curiousity Shop. Except for what I really just wanted to talk about was the food.