Joking on the phone on my day of arrival my ...

Trip Start Aug 08, 2002
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Trip End Feb 01, 2004


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Flag of United States  , Washington,
Friday, October 4, 2002

Joking on the phone on my day of arrival my dad said that it rains most of the time in Seattle (something that most foreigners seem to think it does constantly in the UK). I wasn't surprised, if a little chargrinned, to find it throwing it down yesterday morning.

After finding the library I had a quick look in the Lonely Planet guidebook for Seattle. Apparently they have 55 days of unmolested sunshine a year, the other 310 days have some form of fog, mist or cloud present. In fact yesterday the cloud/mist was that low you couldn't see the top of many of the skyscrapers.

Another thing I didn't know was that Seattle was home to Jimi Hendrix (though he was spotted in New York, then made it big in London). I know all this now because I went to the Experience Music Project (EMP).

This is a $450 million complex that was created by one of the Microsoft co-founders. The building, which is the wierdest thing I've ever seen, is somewhat controversial, and was apparently inspired when the architect bought several guitars and smashed them up, then used them for inspiration in the creation (who lets these people build buildings?).

I enjoyed it, lots about the history of music, the guitar, the west coast scene, milestones in music, a Jimi Hendrix gallery (the founder is a big fan and it was originally going to be all about Jimi), and a place to mess about with a few instruments. You also get a MEG, which is an electronic guide (trust a guy from Mircosoft) which you point at exhibits, or tap in the number, and it tells you (through your headphones) a bit more about the item. Strange, but fairly funky.

Of to Portland tomorrow, I hope.
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