Seattle could have simply been about... the skyline, from the space needle to the stadiums, the hempfest, the vibrant traditional market (Pike Place), and back to hostel living. But it was SO much much more... And we didn't even encounter the rain that is renowned here either.

Getting past that British reserve in us of not wanting to burden anyone, we stayed at friends we had met and made in Peru in November 2012, Clark (The Godfather) and Libs. S instantly falling in love with their dog Celest and being petrified of their cat Barney, aka Voldermolt! K became just as smitten with Celest.

With kayaks secured to the car roof, one to one tutorials under our belts, we kayaked with the pros across Washington Lake to Bastyr university. Whilst K had to negotiate steering and paddling the kayak from the back seat, S thought the 'tide' (ahem, in a lake!) was a little choppy at times!! What a great way to literally see Seattle.

'Amazing how your environment impacts upon the quality of your lifestyle' ... This being totally true of how Libs and Clark live. 'Having the best of the both worlds' springs to mind, so in touch with nature yet with amenities so close to hand. Solar panels fuelling all of their electricity, and growing some of their own fruit and veg...

Which leads us nicely to our foodie part:
We ate so much yummy food, with some ingredients having been picked freshly from the garden. Home made carrot and ginger soup, blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and carrot cake that Clark had baked for his brothers birthday, all went down more than a treat. We even got our aprons on and made daal, veggie curry and roti too. All survived to tell the tale, so it couldn't have been that bad!

The warmest welcome, laughter and love extended to us was heartfelt. If reading this, THANK YOU guys again. We are conscious that we experience places 'like a drop in the ocean', but it gives us a flavour of what a place is like, and this place was certainly about friends, and Seattle beating Denver in the American Football! 'Lets blow the Popsicle stand'. Oh yeah...