The urban environment -- Journal of Place 4

On Friday, we wanted a change. Instead of exploring parks and local recreation, we traveled to Seattle -- the burgeoning metropolis where my father works. Seattle is a pleasant city on the shore of Puget sound (in fact, many companies have taken advantage of Seattle's location by naming themselves "Sound Insurance" or "Sound Banking" etc.) The urban population is around three million, but the city doesn't feel crowded. The only place where I do feel claustrophobic sometimes is the Pike market, where local fishermen, artists, farmers, and musicians congregate to sell their wares. In fact, the first Starbucks is in the Pike's Market, and I have yet to drink coffee there (the lines are always ridiculously long).

I have been in Seattle before, so the experience was not entirely new. My family and I have explored the affluent and cultural area of Queen Anne hill and the Space Needle (Seattle's most famous landmark), and the coastal area and Pike Market. On Friday, we decided to walk around Downtown -- where all the shopping and working occurs. We encountered all sorts of people: the stereotypical valley girls going shopping, the well dressed businessmen and businesswomen, the homeless people sleeping on benches and ground, and more. It was interesting to just walk around and observe -- with no specific location or goal in mind.

At around one, we went to a seafood place to have lunch with my dad. It was tasty. The only remarkable thing I have to relate about this restaurant is that it has a dish called "Mussels in Purgatory," which intrigued me enough to order it.

After lunch, my dad went back to his office, and my mother and I walked alongside the shore and the piers. It was a clear day, and all the islands and peninsulas of Puget Sound were visible. After a good long walk, we went back to our car and drove home.

The space needle visible in the distance.