Seattle

I woke early on my first morning in Seattle, I didn't know how early as it was still dark. I tried to sleep for a little longer,but my body wasn't having it. And anyway I wanted to get to the INS office, they opened at 07.00. I got up,showered and was in the kitchen for breakfast by 06.30. I was the only one who was. The hostel provides free internet access, so I checked where I was going and how I should get there. Unfortunately this was no help and when I got to the bus stop the bus I needed was not listed. I asked a couple of bus drivers and they gave me the same info, so I believed them and got on that bus. It was the wrong bus and I ended up way south of Seattle city centre and miles away from where I needed to be. I asked another bus driver for directions, there was no one else. He told me that I needed another bus and then another, the advice was correct. I eventually got to the office after three more bus changes and a short walk via Sea-Tac international airport. I got to see a lot of Seattle!! I went through security at the entrance of the Department of Homeland Security and since I didn't have an appointment I lined up at the information desk. The clerk there gave me the forms I would need to file for an extension for my visa. It would cost $300 just to file the damn thing and of course, with no guarantee that the extension would be granted. I then asked what would happen if I went to Canada, would I be given another 90 days when I re-entered the U.S.? He didn't know and gave me a sheet of tel no's and told me to call the border patrol. I called the border patrol, they weren't able or wouldn't give me a clear answer to my question. He was unhappy that I seemed to be trying to circumvent the "system". While if the whole process for applying for a visa wasn't so complicated and time consuming I would have done that in the first place. So, I'll go to Canada and see what happens on my return. At least I didn't have to spend a long time in the INS when I did get there, I was done and dusted by 10.30 and free to get on with the rest of my day. And since I had been using the same bus ticket all morning the various detours hadn't cost me any more money. The day was looking up.
I caught the bus back towards central Seattle and went to the Museum of Flight. I am not a big aeroplane fan, but was sufficiently interested to go. And I'm glad that I did, I got to see a lot of old Boeing planes of course, but also some World War I and II planes. I got to walk on to an old Air Force 1 and Concorde, a British Airways Concorde no less. I am glad that it wasn't an Air France Concorde. Cool place. I hopped onto another bus and headed back to downtown. I got off near my hostel and walked into the city centre, my first goal was the tallest building in Seattle, the Columbia centre. I got the left up the 73rd floor and looked out over Seattle, including a great view of the Space Needle. I wasn't too bothered about going to the top of the Space Needle, especially as it cost $16 and the Columbia centre cost $5. Also if I went to the top of the Space Needle, I wouldn't be able to see it. There's not much point in getting a view of a famous skyline if the most famous component of said view is missing!
A few blocks over from Columbia is Seattle's public library, but this time I was more interested in the building itself than accessing the internet. I didn't need to go to a library at the moment to use a computer, the computer access was free at my hostel. About bloody time! The outside shell of the building is made up of glass triangles and the interior is far from your usual library building. There is liberal use of strong lime greens and deep boudoir reds. The stacks of books are arranged on a sloping floor that runs over four floors and is known as the spiral. It is a building that is used and useful, everything a public library should be.
I took a long walk across town and went to see the Space Needle up close. It's an interesting tower but I wasn't bothered to go to the top. I bought some postcards, took some photos and relaxed in the park at the base. It was a nice day and a good a place as any to chill. Maybe if I wasn't travelling by myself I would have gone to the top of the tower, I don't know. I don't regret making this trip by myself and to be honest it's not as if I have spent every waking moment alone. In fact there have been times when I have looked forward to being by myself. Despite this I do miss having some one to share this experience with. I do share it in a way through this blog, the photos I take and the postcards I send, but it is a second hand sharing. I suppose the question has to be would I swap my independence for a companion and I don't know what the answer would be.
As it was the first Thursday of the month, some of the museums had free entry. I decided to take advantage of this and went to SAM, the Seattle Art Museum. SAM has a wide range of exhibits, from tribal art,European porcelain, Homa quilts through to contemporary American art. The exhibits were well displayed but I didn't feel as if there was one thing pulling all of the exhibits together. It felt very disjointed. They also had a room from a Venetian house that they had dismantled, shipped to Seattle and reassembled. I not sure what the reason behind this was, it was just a room and nothing else. It wasn't being used as a backdrop for Italian art, which would have made sense. A couple of the exhibitions contents had been donated to the museum and I think that this was the only reason that some of those items were on display. On the whole this was not a great experience. I will also miss and forthcoming exhibition of Michelangelo drawings. Although I consoled myself with the thought that I would probably see a more complete exhibition when I return to Europe.
I went back to China town, where my hostel is and had ramen for dinner. The ramen was ok, the Sapporo beer was better. After dinner I headed to Safeco field to watch the Mariners play the Oakland Athletics. Don't worry, I haven't turned into a baseball fan, but it was a good opportunity to see another game before the end of the season and the ticket only cost $7. The game wasn't terribly interesting but I did have my photo taken with the Mariners Moose mascot. And I got to see Ichiro play, I think he's attractive. The steward in my section, Larry, took a photo of me and then asked if I had come to the game alone. I said yes and he then gave me a game baseball. Again, not a baseball fan, but very happy.
After the game, a quick walk back to the hostel and to bed. Not bad for my first full day in Seattle.