Safe(co) in Seattle

After kissing the ground on our front door step and changing over our luggage, we got back on the highway and drove up to Seattle for the baseball. Fortunately, the I-5 is straight, wide, and blessedly free of inclement weather!

 Obligatory pre-game Pike Place nachos...

 ... and delicious cheesy garlic bread.

Once we got to the ball park, my nachos had settled and I was ready for dessert. Bring on the caramel corn! 

Sweet, sweet cron

King Felix on the mound

They were playing the Yankees, so the crowd was quite big

Peanuts

At one point during the game a guy leapt out of the crowd and ran onto the field, only to be tackled by security and led away to great applause. Having grown up on cricket, I didn't think that was too weird but apparently it's quite unusual in baseball. There must've been something in the water on Saturday night, because shortly afterwards another guy ran out...

... and then a naked guy ran out:

... and then a fourth guy - he wasn't naked, but he did lose his shoe in the furore.

Because we're completely crazy (I like to think of it more as efficient), after the game we had another drive ahead of us, this time to Portland airport so I could ready for my 7am flight to New York. We had to leave a little early, but we were pleased to hear on the radio in the car that the Mariners beat the Yankees in extra innings. Yay! What better way to celebrate than a midnight slice of pie from Sharis?

Coconut cream pie for Paul and lemon meringue for me.

Seattle Weekend

After Twin Peaks, we headed back to Seattle for a weekend of delicious food and sunny days.

First order of business, dog signage

Coffee from Vivace

On Saturday morning, Paul & I went on the Safeco Field tour -

An historic Mariners moment

So empty!

The home plate from above historic moment

The back wall of the press box tends to catch foul balls 

 The official scorer's seat

 Ichiro!

 On the field

Sitting in Ichiro's seat in the dugout 

Cryptic inspirational notices in the dugout. I wonder what happened in Omaha? 

Obligatory post-game press conference 

On the way back to the car

After baseball geekery, we collected Georgia and made the compulsory trip to Pike Place Market, just in time for the Seattle Cheese Festival.

Did you not hear me say... CHEESE FESTIVAL? 

I was momentarily distracted from cheese by Gatsby-sized tipis. I think I'll have to try to make one of these when I get home!

Now, back to cheese

OSU apparently has its own cheese-making outfit. Who knew?!

Once we were completely cheesed out, we wandered into the market to watch the fish throwing (I didn't manage to photograph that, they're just too darn quick)... 

... and pick up some hot and delicious cinnamon doughnuts 

 Guardians of the doughnut

At this point I became a very slack photographer, so I have no evidence of delicious pho or the most amazing apple pancakes. However, I did manage to capture coffee with a friend before we set out for home on Sunday morning:

Epic Road Trip of Awesome: Seattle

This weekend we took advantage of our proximity to so many great towns and cities (and exciting events - more to come on that) and traversed the Northwest in a rented Yaris. Amazing things were seen, delicious meals were eaten and of course, many, many photos were taken. First stop - Seattle.

We actually planned this weekend away from home a few months ago, but the Seattle leg of the trip wasn't added on until last week. Hoorah for extra spontaneous holidays! We were watching the Seattle Mariners' first game of the season at a bar last week, and Paul realised that since we were going to be on the road anyway, we could leave a day earlier and be there for Opening Night at their home field in Seattle on Friday. And why not?

We arrived to a gloriously warm Spring afternoon, and headed to Paul's old stomping grounds to do some sight seeing and search for squirrels (of which no further mention will be made as there were no damn squirrels ANYWHERE - a conspiracy is afoot, I tell you!).

 Greenlake

 Cherry blossoms at the University of Washington

The world's tastiest vegie nachos at Pike Place Brewery

After delicious nachos and refreshing locally brewed beer, it was time to head to the ball game. 

 As it was Opening Night, there was much flag-waving, award-giving, anthem-singing and firework-exploding.

Some men in outfits threw and hit things

Don't mind if I do!

 I was excited to hear that Safeco Field has vegie dogs - unfortunately they are served by unhelpful wenches on dry and uninspiring gluten free buns, so it wasn't quite the success I was hoping for.

The legendary Safeco garlic fries did make up for it though. 

Sadly, the Mariners couldn't quite overcome the fact that despite winning the first two games of the season, they still suck. We decided to call it quits after the 8th inning when Paul just couldn't suffer the anguish any longer, and headed to B&O Espresso in Capitol Hill for dessert. By this stage in the evening, my camera batteries had died so I have no evidence of dessert, but I seem to recall that I enjoyed some kind of earl grey steamed tea and a slice of lemon cream pie. Now, if only the Mariners were as good at baseball as I am at eating!