Alex Quinn's Japan Journal

12/26/2005, Seattle trip day 3: Sightseeing with Akemi, EMP, Space Needle, etc.

Breakfast at the Shanty Cafe

One of the things I've missed most about Seattle, aside from people, is the great breakfast diners.  Especially omelettes with hash browns and such.  You can't find a big breakfast like that in Japan, as far as I know.  Similar, but not the same.  So, I was eager and the Shanty Cafe was perfect - and convenient.

First, the menu.  For me, just looking at the menu was fun, especially knowing there would be some food behind the promises.

More of the menu.  Sorry if this bores you.  I like looking at this a lot.  I went for the spinach omellette - my favorite.

Akemi went for the German Scramble.

And here's the lunch side.

I enjoyed the menu so much, I got someone to take our picture with it.  To me, seeing this menu was right along with seeing the Space Needle or things of that nature.

And alas, the sweet fulfillment.  Akemi's scramble...

... and my omelette.

EMP (Experience Music Project)

EMP was just a 15 minute walk from the cafe.

They don't let you take pictures of anything in the museum EXCEPT this sculpture.  But, the light is crap, so it doesn't work very well.

We took this one secretly.  We saw most, if not all, of the exhibits.  We especially enjoyed playing in the interactive room.  There are all kinds of instruments you can play with well designed kits that teach you just a little about how to play them.  We were doing spoken word and rap.  Very, very difficult for a non-native speaker.  She gave it a good shot, and did pretty well.

Space Needle

The Space Needle is right next to EMP.

I love this picture with Akemi and the needle.  She looks so grand - and happy.

Going up in the elevator.

We were lucky enough to find a rainbow at the top.

To be honest, one of my purposes in taking her there was to have a smooch at the top.

Apparently, the couple in the background had the same idea.

With all these tourist around, I really felt like a tourist myself.  Akemi kept quipping that it was hard to tell which of us was the foreigner and which was the local.

It was cold out there on the observation deck.

But, the scenery up there was beautiful.

Looking down at Mytle Edwards Park and Elliott Bay.

Weather could have been better, but still pretty good for December.

In the indoor observation area, everything was Christmassy.

A little ride around town with Mom

After the Space Needle, my mom kindly picked us up.  We drove around downtown for a while.

Northwest Seaport

Next, we stopped in at the Northwest Seaport.  My mom has been trying to raise awareness and ultimately funds to save the Winona, a historic ship that currently lives there.  The Winona will likely be pushed out by Paul Allen's development plans there.  It's a shame because this seafaring culture is at the heart of Seattle's character.  It needs to be preserved.  Anyway, we enjoyed walking around and taking some time-exposure dusk photographs.

Virginia V, a historic steam boat at the Northwest Seaport.

Northwest Seaport at dusk.

Northwest Seaport at dusk.

Northwest Seaport at dusk.

Fremont Coffee (aka Sophia's)

Fremont Coffee is one of my favorite hang-outs in Seattle.  I was really happy to be able to make a stop and have a mocha.

Delicious!

We sat and talked with my mom for a while.  She took this picture candidly.

I had less luck trying to sneak a candid shot of my mom.  All I got was a finger.

After coffee, I went outside with my mom and Akemi sipped her coffee.  The place is just beautiful.  Oriental rugs everywhere.  Pretty walls.  Nice music.  It's just an old house that has been converted.  But, the atmosphere is really nice.

Fisherman's Terminal

After coffee, my mom took us for a little more sightseeing.  Just a quick stop at Fisherman's terminal.  I love taking time exposure photos at twilight.  In these, it was pretty dark, but there was enough indirect lighting and moonlight to make the colors come through.  It's as easy as fingerpainting.  You can't help but make pretty pictures.

I guess this is my favorite of them.

This one is looking across the canal at boats in Ballard.

A typical fishing boat.

Dinner with Steve Callihan

My mom made dinner for us.  We had Steve Callihan, a family friend over.  He and Akemi talked at length about history.  Akemi enjoys history.  She can listen to somebody talk about history in English for a lot longer than I can (also in English).

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