Sunday, September 8, 2013...

 

 

 

Up by 7:30 AM, we headed down to breakfast at Rockwells, then back to the room to watch some of CBS Sunday Morning and get ready to leave.  We asked the desk clerk about the best way to the US Border, and she confirmed the route that we had found, Canada Hwy 99 to I-5 in the United States.  After packing the car, we stopped next door to fill up the gas tank...$1.49 per liter=over $4.00 a gallon! I programed the GPS for Seattle and headed to the US border.  It was a quick trip to within 1 mile of the border, when we were suddenly stuck in a long line of traffic.  It was quite frustrating as we crept along for over an hour before making it to the border crossing agent.  After showing our passports and answering 3 questions about our travel, we were on our way in less than a minute.

 

 

Our first sight of Seattle's Space Needle

Mediterranean Inn on Queen Anne Hill

 

Soon after getting on I-5 we pulled off at the first exit for a quick break...then we were on the road again.  Within about 2 hours we were getting very close to Seattle, and our exit...in fact we had our first sighting of the famous Space Needle.  The GPS simply guided us through the streets of Seattle, Denny Avenue, to Queen Anne Hill and our hotel...The Mediterranean Inn.

 

Our first glimpse of Mount Rainier

Key Bank Arena in the foreground with the Space Needle
and the Pacific Science Center from the 1962 World's Fair

Another view of Mount Rainier

Elliot Bay and Puget Sound from our rooftop

 

 

Pat waited down the block as I got us checked in and was given our room keys, car tag, and directions to the hotel's underground garage.  Pat drove around the block to enter the garage, we unloaded the car, and headed up the elevator to our room...222 (how appropriate for 2 retired teachers?)  The Mediterranean Inn is a classic older hotel that has been completely restored (now referred to as a boutique hotel).  Very nice room with a kitchenette, 2 double beds and bathroom.  No air conditioning...but it was nice and cool, with great windows to open and a ceiling fan to use as needed. 

 

We had decided that we would like to eat at the top of the Space Needle, so I called to find out about making reservations.  There were NO dinner times available for that evening nor the next two days; however, they luckily had 1 lunch reservation available at 12:45 PM Monday, which of course I set up.  Pat & I also wanted to take a tour of Seattle, and found that our hotel could set that up for us for the next morning.  The concierge called back within a few minutes having set us up for a 3 hour Seattle tour from 9:00 AM to Noon.  He explained that we would be picked up in our lobby at 8:40 AM the next morning.  Great! 

 

 

Can't wait to dine at the top of the Space Needle

 

 

 

The Mediterranean had a roof top garden, with great views, so we next headed up the elevator to check out the view.  We were blown away as we stepped out onto the roof to see a clear view of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, the Pacific Science Center and the Space Needle  This was amazing!  There were deck chairs available to relax and enjoy the views...so we did.  We started talking to a couple about the great view, and then of course asked where they were traveling from.  They told us that they were from a small southern Indiana town, Brookville.  Small world...as it turned out Pat's wife, Sharon, who is from Brookville, was familiar with Paul & Bonnie Chaney...even having a good friend in common.  The Chaney's had flown into Salt Lake City, then driven to Glacier National Park, Cor de Lane, Idaho, and on to Seattle for a visit with a Vietnam Veteran friend of Paul's.  Also, Paul & I had both had Mr. Jim Helms as teachers...he in Whitewater, and myself, at North Dearborn.

Deck chairs for enjoying the views from the rooftop

 

 

Pizza by the slice at Paglicci's Pizza

 

It was dinner time, and we were both hungry for our first pizza in two weeks!  The desk suggested a local pizzeria called Paglicci Pizza, just a block up the hill from us. We headed up the block, and found that the pizza was by the slice, so we each got two slices of pepperoni, a large salad, and iced tea.  Paaglicci's wasn't LaRosa's or Pizza King, but satisfied our hunger for pizza right now. 

Space Needle and Seattle skyline at sunset

 

 

Sunset on Mount Rainier

 

 

Sunset over Queen Anne Hill

 

Space Needle & Pacific Science Center after dark

 

We headed up to the rooftop again to check out the sunset views, and we were not disappointed.  Mount Rainier glowed, and Elliot Bay glimmered, as lights started to twinkle on in the downtown high rise buildings of Seattle.  It was another epic day of our journey.  Can't wait for Monday in Seattle!