We left Vancouver feeling a little sad. We had had such a good time in Canada. It almost felt like the end of a holiday. We got a taxi to the bus terminus and got on board for a 4 hour drive to Seattle. Fortunately the bus had a loo. Unfortunately I (Vic) thought I had locked myself in. I pushed and pulled the door. No one seemed bothered until Jill came back and slid it open....oops !!

We crossed the border at Blaine Washington state. Everyone off the bus say hi to the border guard and get back on again. Eventually we arrived in Seattle and got a taxi to our hotel. Again a very nice hotel but no tea making facilites. Jill is not happy.

Seattle is right on the coast and is renowned for its fish restaurant. So we go to a Vietnamese restaurant....well we are going there. Jill had a shrimp pad tai and I had Prawns in honey cream with walnuts. I wondered when the other 5 people were arriving to help me eat it. We were the only diners so Charlie the waiter pulled up a chair and gave us the low down on the city.

Next day we started off in the morning with a trip to the Pike Street market. Famous for fish der and fish throwing by the mongers. After a look around we headed to the Space Needle and took the lift to the top. It goes up the outside so its a spectacular view. Lots of pics at the top.

Down again and we hopped on the skytrain to go back downtown. After a Subway sarnie it was back to the hotel to do some washing. In the afternoon it rained but we still braved it and went down to the harbour.

Dinner was in 'Rock Bottom' a local bar which was heaving and then 30 minutes later empty.....must be us. My fears about having to drink lager for 4 months have so far been unfounded. This was another micro brewery and I got a menu of their beers. Stouts, Mild etc etc. Yum yum

Today we started in Pioneer square and took the Underground tour. Basically Seattle burned down and they re-built over it creating passages under the city. It was a very amusing and actually quite interesting tour. Back up top it was a in the The Central. This is the bar where Nirvana first played. Local boy makes good then blows his brains out.

The occupation of choice in Seattle seems to be hobo or drug dealer. Every street corner seems to have a 3 tooth nuttter singing to themself or a shift guy exchanging wraps. Police are visibly absent.

Also had a coffee in the first branch of Starbucks. It has a brown sign not green. Dont ask me why.

Anyway back in the hotel now. Tomorrow we pick up another car and start the west coast trip. First stop is to take the ferry to Bainbridge Island.