Our train trip started at Pacific Central Station where we were oh so efficiently kept in order by the absolutely fabulous Chris. I don’t know what his official title is but he was in charge of everything, from making sure we stood in the correct place at the correct time in the station, to putting our seat allocation tag in the right place at our seats and helping out the buffet car attendant when the line got too long. He tried very hard on the station to get the station attendants to put longer and tighter loops in the customs line (the train crosses the border into the US) to keep everyone inside,  but it was the one thing with which he had no success and the line eventually wound its way out on to the pavement where the 6:00am wind had quite a nip. Fortunately we were near the front. Great trip, interesting scenery, highly recommended. And King St Station at Seattle is gorgeous.

We deposited our luggage in the apartment, the tiniest apartment you have ever seen, and headed off to find a bar for a beer and food. No Anchor was fabulous, there was a very ingenious grid to help you find a beer suited to you. Did you want a beer that was approachable or esoteric, modern or traditional? I went modern/esoteric with the Upright Four Saisom, good choice!

Food was delicious

The walls were lined with cabinets of all sorts of memorabilia and collectibles, mostly interesting, but this was quite disturbing

The roof top patio of the apartment was just right for drinks and nibbles overlooking Seattle, with a fabulous view of the Space Needle.

Next morning we headed off to the Pike Place Market, there were the usual market stores, but great quality. Absolutely packed though so it was hard to stop and browse, you sort of got swept along with flow.

A walk along the waterfront to see the cruise ships embarking for the next cruise north, and bubbles and oysters for lunch.

I found a gorgeous coffee shop that opened at 5:00am, a bonus for everyone, the apartment was so small there was nowhere to hide if I woke up bright and early, I loved my coffee shop with a delicious brew and comfy leather chairsv at the window to watch Seattle come alive.

Over the road from my coffee shop I could see and smell a genuine French patisserie which I resisted until the last day.

I had a minor, well actually major, awake all night panic when on our last night I couldn’t find my wallet. I was convinced I had left it at the patisserie. Particularly after I inspected the baguette photo I took of myself in our apartment building mirror, no sign of a black wallet! After a literally sleepless night in Seattle I was at the patisserie very early in the morning when I knew they were in the back baking. No, no wallet there. Back home I decided to finish packing before I rang up and cancelled my credit card, and for joy, for joy, there was my wallet slipped down between two suitcases!

I was able to head off to Bitch Biscuit for our last breakfast with a light heart! I was quite excited about breakfast there, biscuits (sort of like scones) gravy and grits with egg on top.  It sounded like real American food. The reality wasn’t so great, it was quite stodgy and not lots of flavor. Cute diner though.

That’s about it for now, next post will be about the museums we visited. Oh and btw, if you look really hard at the photo of me in the mirror you can just see my wallet, peeking out from under my arm behind the baguette.