Day 4

The train from Portland was short in comparison to our previous train trip. We had plenty of good views of the Puget Sound. Before long, we were pulling into the downtown train station. Our luck granted us arrival coinciding with the near start of a Seahawks game. We worked the opposite direction of all the Seattle/Green Bay fans and lugged our bags across the street to their light rail station. A few flights of stairs down into the earth, we loaded onto the train and headed back down towards SeaTac. The light rail was similar to our trolley, so it was no big for us. We wrangled our bags to the SeaTac Inn. Ideally, you wouldn't want to go from a presidential quality hotel like the Benson to the SeaTac Inn. When you go for the cheapest hotel closet to the train stop: Yeah, its not going to be the best. Really though, its just a place to rest our head.

We started the next day right away and headed back to the rail and headed to downtown. Despite having more Starbucks per square mile than anywhere else, there were none that were open when we came in. Our food tour met up in the lobby of the Seattle Art Museum, which was a beautiful facility. We met our group and headed out to our first "bite" which was a small restaurant in the art museum. We got to meet the restaurant manager and he told us all about his restaurant and some funny stories. Finally he let us sample a flat bread with salmon and creme freche(sp?). Super good.

Our quirky tour guide then led us down to the Pike Market, a hustling and bustling market full of fresh smells and busy crowds. We tried all sorts of delicious local foods: Crepes, Sausages, Chowder, Salmon, Fruit, Pastrami on Rye, Indian food, coffee and soda. They were all so delicious and fresh. I was so proud of Emily for trying everything. Thats right she tried it all. The pastrami on rye sandwich, the crepes with banana and nutella and even the indian food. She never fails to surprise me. After our tour we headed out on our own. We looked at all the stalls of flowers and fruit. We ran into a cool a capella group, playing for coins. We eventually doubled back for some chowder in a bread bowl and grabbed a fresh peach. So good. We started wandering about and went down an alley and found a little wine tasting bar featuring all Washington state wines. we took a small flight and headed back out. We attempted to go up this tall building for a view, but it was closed on Sundays.

We headed back down to the Pike Brewing Company, an old brewery turned awesome pub/restaurant. It is a gravity powered brewery, for all those beer geeks. So cool. We shared steamed mussels and mushroom/artichoke/crab pizza. So good. Plus fresh craft beer. So so good. Our taste buds have been spoiled this day.