When I travel, it’s almost always internationally. I love getting stamps in my passport, changing money and being someplace where people don’t speak English. So what am I doing here in Seattle? After dragging my boyfriend Ricardo to Costa Rica in February, this time he got to pick somewhere that he wanted to go. His brother and sister-in-law, Eddy and Paola, live here so we decided to come out and visit them. And I am always happy to explore a place that I have never been to before.
In another country, the simplest activities can be adventures. I remember trying to buy tickets for the subway in Barcelona, buying the wrong kind, and some very nice locals helping us to straighten it out. Learning to take the subways and buses in Mexico City and Buenos Aires was fun. Just waiting on line in a bank to change money can be a cultural experience. And one of my favorite destinations in a foreign country is the supermarket. I love seeing all of the different products and unfamiliar brands. It’s also a great place to buy gifts and souvenirs. Generally, when I am in a city in the United States, I miss out on all of these intercultural opportunities. Luckily, however, I love markets. And boy, does Seattle have a market!
When I told people I was going to Seattle and asked for suggestions of things to do here, everybody told me to go to the Pike Place Market. So I did. What a great place! First of all, it’s massive. We walked around there yesterday and are going back later. We saw the famous fish sellers who throw the fish and the original Starbucks. But even more fun was just seeing the beautiful fruits, flowers and homemade treats. Lots of venders give out samples. I tried cherries, chocolate covered cherries, honey, jams, and nuts yesterday. Everything is locally grown or produced and the vendors take great pride in their products. There is also a sizeable area of crafts and jewelery with really beautiful merchandise. I’m going to try to show some willpower!
The other thing that is different on this trip from how I usually travel is that we are staying with Ricardo’s family and not in a hotel. Luckily, Eddy and Paola are wonderful hosts and seem really happy to have us here. It makes it personal and homey and they are making our time here more fun. And they’re all speaking Spanish to each other so I can kind of pretend I’m in another country!
Fierce Sunflower 