My friend from junior high had signed up for the U.S. Marine Marathon in D.C. at the end of October and invited me to join her. I declined because I couldn’t imagine training through the hot summer. She later confided that what she really wanted was to go on a trip with me. So here I was, taking her on a trip to the Seattle area.
I arrived in Seattle a day before she did, which gave me time to pick up the rental car and be ready to meet her when she landed. Since her flight wouldn’t arrive until around noon, I got up early to explore the city.
I had visited Seattle a few times before, but last night I learned that a new Overlook Walk had just opened, only a couple of minutes from The Charter Hotel Seattle where I was staying. Naturally, that was the first place I wanted to see, so I started my walk there.
After Overlook Walk, I headed over to Olympic Sculpture Park
Then I followed Broad St towards the Space Needle, passing a sculpture named “Olympic Iliad” by Alexander Liberman.
Another sculpture, “Sonic Bloom” by Dan Corson, in front of the Tropical Butterfly House
“Grass Blades” by John Fleming in front of Museum of Pop Culture
Museum of Pop Culture
Time to head back
My last stop was the Amazon Spheres before heading back to the hotel to check out. I had wanted to visit them for several years, but they were either closed due to the pandemic or not open during my past visits (they’re only open two Saturdays a month). I was so glad they happened to be open while I was in Seattle this time.
The Amazon Spheres house over 40,000 plants from more than 30 countries, many of them quite unusual. The one in the picture below is called the ‘toothbrush orchid,’ named for its flowers that smell like a toothbrush.
And plants with different kinds of leaves.
Some with spikes …
Some with hair …
And leaves with all kinds of patterns and colors …
These leaves below are even taller than me …
And this one is called Devil’s Palm, probably because it has thorns all over its trunk.
Unfortunately, noon was approaching and it was time to head to the airport and pick up my rental car. I had gotten a lot done this morning and really enjoyed my city walk.
The total walk was about 5.55 miles and took two hours.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/seattle-city-walk-802a5fd