Cities are nicest when they are just waking up: no slow tour groups getting in your way, the sunlight hitting the piers just so, seagulls squawking and soaring overhead.
Mornings in Seattle, I do as the locals do and run along the waterfront, Alaskan Way on one side of me and Elliott Bay on the other. I pass Pike Place Market, a bunch of street art, the Great Wheel, the aquarium, some restaurants, and a lot of noisy construction. I breathe in the sea air and feel so much gratitude that I made this trip happen, that I am able to travel and see and hear and run and be inspired.
I’ve always been a sucker for poetry on walls.
Pike Place Market has its own offbeat charm in the morning, especially on the lower levels:
Thus concludes my sampler on the Elliott Bay waterfront, Pike Place Market (so glad I took the Market Experience tour!), and Seattle street art. Time for me to eat a proper breakfast rather than just munching on bananas and orange slices, refill my ORCA card (public transportation), check out of my hostel in touristy downtown, and head north to my new neighborhood: Fremont!
Congrats on what looks like an awesome trip! I missed the “shoe museum”, I would’ve laughed so hard at that 🙂 And, we only were at the waterfront during peak hours, this is so serene and beautiful (and empty! perfect for the right shot) that I want to go back 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your trip, can’t see the rest of the photos 🙂
Thanks, Farin (every time I see your name I’m reminded of how much I love it)! I didn’t love certain parts of being in tourist-filled downtown, but I did love my proximity to the Market so I could see it at different times of the day. It’s nice seeing the contrast between pre-opening and busybusybusy, you know?
Eager to share more, glad you like the photos!
GREAT pictures! I’m so glad you’re having a good time there. Enjoy it!
Kristen @ 31 Million Seconds recently posted…AskAwayFriday with Talbert Zoo
Thank you Kristen! I am having a great time. On all of my trips I have lower points and high points, and I’m currently on an upswing, hurray!
Good afternoon! I love seeing parts of Seattle that we missed, especially the un-crowded market and views of the water from different vantage points. I didn’t know the Pike Place Market had different levels, so you have enlarged my “vision” of a really stimulating place to see! SO glad you are enjoying it, Christy, and sharing it with those of us wishing we could be there, too. That library does truly look amazing!!
That’s part of my goal, to explore places at uncommon times and from different vantage points, to see what others normally don’t. It goes along with a saying I always try to remember when exploring: ‘Always look behind you’, which taken broadly just means look at things differently! It’s all about perspective 🙂
Wait until I share a whole post about the library. I still can’t believe that space. It’s gorgeous!
And the Market actually has *six* levels! I was surprised, too!
I do hope to get to Seattle one day!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 3/13/15
I hope you get here eventually, it’s a wonderful city!
The magic shop is still there!!!
I went there about 10 years ago. When my family was walking through Pike Place Market, a fish stand staff member played a prank on my brother. He had a snapper on a stick, and when my brother bent in to look at its mouth, the staff member made the fish jump out at him. My brother must have jumped four feet, haha. Wish I could have caught that on camera. 🙂
Alex Hurst recently posted…Translating Cultures
Yup! I wish I’d seen the magic shop open, but I still have a chance to go back. My walking tour group had a funny encounter with the famous fish guys; they’re SUCH characters! And they really love their job, which is fun to see.
I get so frustrated when I can’t catch something on camera that I really want to document! But it’s all a practice in letting go and acceptance 🙂
My husband and I visited a couple of years ago and LOVED it. I definitely want to go back! Your photos are gorgeous 🙂
Yes, people told me I would love it before I got here, and I do! Thanks Liz!
AMAZING!! Looks like London at first with that big wheel. I would love to be there. I love peaceful mornings.
Rea recently posted…Proud Of My Brown Skin. You Should Be Too!
What a gift. I’ve never been but you’re my second blogger friend who recently went to Seattle and is writing great things about it!
I’ll get there someday..