San Francisco and Seattle, part 2

Pike Place in the early afternoon

Roger and I flew into Seattle and the first thing we did was drive to Pike Place for a quick snack. We passed all the fish and vegetable stands and got a piroshky from Piroshky, Piroshky as well as cups of coffee from the original Starbucks.


Genevieve and Grace enjoying happy times, and uni, at Nishino in Madison Park

Later that night, we met up with Grace who gave us the quick evening tour of the city, driving us briefly through Belltown, University Village and Capitol Hill. We had dinner as planned at Nishino in Madison Park, where we were waited on by a very congenial, though slightly flustered young man. For dessert, we enjoyed fried banana and an herb sorbet (mint?) served with red beans.


Roger and Mike strike a pose

We started our second day with some pastries from Macrina Bakery in Belltown. Using Grace's handy guidebook, we explored more neighborhoods including Pioneer Square, address of the very cool Elliott Bay Bookstore and the equally cool Ebbets Field Flannels. Roger bought a neat-o Marianao Tigres baseball cap and I got an Almendares Alacranes shirt, with their logo, "He who defeats Almendares, dies!"

After we spent an hour at the flagship REI Store, looking at bags and bike stuff, we drove to Archie McPhee in funky Ballard. Although the store itself was a little disappointing - bad gum! - we did enjoy a very tasty lunch of Cuban sandwiches at Paseo in nearby Fremont.


Jen, Mike, and Genevieve

We called up our friend Mike Shannon and rendez-voused earlier than planned. As we waited for Mike's wife, Jen, to come home, Mike took us on a tour of his neighborhood, Beacon Hill, and the very nice Mount Baker. We drove by "for sale" houses and Mike pointed out Mercer Island and the tony east-side suburbs of Redmond and Bellevue.

For dinner, Jen and Mike treated us to good Chinese food at Seven Stars Pepper where we had delicious dan dan noodle soup, and then Ambrosia Cafe for yummy bubble tea, both in the International District. We capped the night watching a very funny TiVo'd episode of Scrubs.


Roger and Genevieve, with the Seattle skyline behind us

More Seattle in part 3!