It was very clean and no graffiti was visible. The streets were shaded with many different species of trees and numerous telegraph poles were adorned with baskets of growing flowers beautifully in bloom.
Puget Sound is the waterway leading into the Pacific Ocean. Within the Sound are 350 Islands about half of which are inhabited. Large ferries ply between many of them. We were advised to stay on deck as our ship leaves Friday so we can observe the beauty of some.
Apparently Seattle has a very Low crime rate and is a safe place to walk around at night - unlike, we were told, some other American cities.
It seems there has been considerable consultation in the past between citizens and the powers that be. Minority and other powerless groups have often been heard and, where possible, been catered for. One instance mentioned was the farmers markets in Pike Place. Instead of the city demolishing the rundown precinct the people raised money to buy the area and preserve it. It still operates and is a magnet for tourists. The people built a number of expensive condominiums at each end of the street to raise the money to buy the area and allow the poor to remain in and operate the markets. A win-win for all.
It would be great if there were more stories like this in our cities. Instead the low class dwellings and shanties are more often than not bulldozed to make way for the sanitized rich to live!
To end our stay we sampled the delights of a seaside port like this by indulging in a fabulous clam chowder for lunch in the market and enjoyed a great seafood meal for dinner at the Crab Pot. Shrimp, clams, mussels, choritzo, corn and a wonderful sourdough. A beautiful meal and very reasonably priced.
Tomorrow we board the Rhapsody of the Seas for a 7 day voyage through the inside passage to Alaska. Excited? - VERY!
The beautiful picture is a 5000 m mountain near Seattle. Can't remember it's name. Darn
Trevor
No comments:
Post a Comment