Claire is 23! Wow, how did that happen so fast??

After a Happy Birthday aria call to Claire (she is at her apt., we're at our airbnb), we began Day Three in Seattle! We are so excited to see her and celebrate after work. This is probably a good time to mention how incredibly proud I am of her - making the move to Seattle by herself and making the huge mark she is in her work! She just beams when she talks about her work and the people! Her reviews are fantastic and I am thrilled that they value not only her skills but also the wonderful person that she is!

My day started with a trek to a new coffee spot, ETG. What a blast from the past and such a warm and welcoming host! I got into a discussion of the weather with the owner and a local that stopped in. It is supposed to hit 90 on Sunday - none of us are thrilled with that idea. In a city where air conditioning is a rarity, we all just anticipated being grumpy! :) Back to the house to enjoy another morning on the patio before Grace walkes up! She seems to be back on a strong sleep schedule after Asia and now Pacific Time!

This morning we explored Fremont - shops, bakeries, views and of course Breakfast! The Yellow Dot was highly recommended by Claire and Yelp, so we gave it a shot. With one of the many Google buildings at our back, we enjoyed an avocado topped omelet and the hustle and bustle of a morning in Fremont. The bike traffic almost overtakes the car and bus traffic! We say segways, scooters, skateboards and other transport machines as people made their way to a Wednesday work day. So cool! And the dogs...... Helps feed my need to see Lucy!

Afternoon was spent in Ballard. As someone on the bus told us, this is old Seattle. There is a strong Scandinavian vibe here and the shops and many restaurants reflect that. It was a beautiful day to explore! I had my first Nitro coffee in Ballard - who knew that coffee from a keg was a thing? Amazing and just right. We needed a pick me up before meeting the birthday girl and my nitro and Graces go-to dirty chai were just right!

A treat peek of Mt Ranier on our way to Claire's apartment was a thrill from the bus! Love this city and its surprises!

Claire picked out dinner at a trendy Mexican spot called Casco Antiguo in Pioneer Square. A bus and a train ride later we arrived! It was amazing starting with a grapefruit margarita and moving to guacamole and queso with chorizo. Yum! The signature tacos were the perfect birthday treat! Dessert included a nice walk through Pioneer Square and an uber ride to the Fainting Goat in Fremont for birthday gelato! A grocery trip capped off our day before the walk UP the hill to our home for the next three days!

Good night Seattle! Thank you for keeping Claire safe and happy!