So my last day in seattle well i wasn't too ...
Trip Start
Aug 08, 2002
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22
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Trip End
Feb 01, 2004
Portland,
Oregon,
United States
Monday, October 7, 2002
After that I wandered down to Pier 48 and had a quick look, from the sidewalk, at the Russian sub (Foxtrot class for those interested). Don't ask me what it's doing in Seattle, I don't have the faintest idea.
Next I found myself in Pioneer Square (a famous bit of Seattle). So called, I believe, because it used to be full of suppliers and outfitters for those going to the Yukon. When gold was found in the Yukon, the first 2 tons of it was sailed into Seattle (don't aske why, no one knows). Seattle declared itself the "gareway to the Yukon," despite being 2000 miles south. The Candian government then enforced a rule saying any prospectors had to have a years worth of supplies (a so called ton) which was to be enforced at the border by the RCMP (Royal Candian Mounted Police). Seattle got rich, and Pioneer square got a name.
I spied the offices of the Underground Tour and bought a ticket. Now Seattle, you see, is built on raised walls essentially. Because they're on a tidal plain the couldn't bury things like waste pipes etc (you hit water) so when the town burnt down (I forget when) they built walls along the edge of the roads (anywhere from 8 to 32 ft high) and filled in the road area with rubble etc (allowing you to put in waste, electricity, etc). This meant that at least one story of a building was below road level. So, you had a ladder stationed at each of the four corners so that when you parked your horse or carriage you (both men and women) could climd down to the shops, bank, etc. Then the government told all the businesses etc that they had to pay to raise the sidewalks, and they had to do it their way. This left the 8-32 ft gap which was, tehnically, the worlds first mall. Many businesses kept their lower doors open to business as well (useful in a city with so much rain). Some time ago though, they condemmed them, but after some campaigning, the founder of the underground tour got some parts re-opened and they now provide good, informative, and very funny (our guide was like a stand up comedienne) tours. Still, it pretty weird to think that most of downtown Seattle is held up by 8-32 ft and it's wierder still to be underneath and hear/see people walking over you.
In the evening I hooked up with a guy I'd met in Vancouver who I bumped into in the morning and we, plus his roomates went to see "Red Dragon" (the new hannibal lectur movie) in a 1 screen, yet very new and high tech cinema. Then we headed back as we'd signed up for free entry into the comedy club.
Now, I've never been to a comedy club before, but it was pretty good. In this instance we had two teams of 3 comedians (each two guys and a girl) who'd perform tasks/challenges and then a panel of 3 judges awarded them points (kind of like "Whose line is it anyway?"). The team with the highest score, wins. Pretty funny.
The following day I spent most of the day travelling to Portland. There were new security measures in place because 2 people had slit Greyhound bus drivers' throats whilst on the bus recently. Charming country the US.
The day ended with me finding someone womans wallet (purse to people in the UK, wallet in the US, a purse is equivalent to a handbag over here) in the phone box.
The next day I dug up a number for Portlan PD and they sent a squad car to come collect it from me! So, after standing for 20 mins next to the phone box, right next door to the hostel, looking somewhat suspicious no doubt, the squad car turns up to make me look even more so! After handing it over, and giving my details, I wandered off to the OMSI (that's Oregon, the state I'm in, Museum of Science and Industry). I had a tour around the last US diesel/electric submarine, one of three used in "The Hunt for Red October," all the current US subs are nuclear powered, and about twice as long.
Then I went in the planetarium, which was good, I've never been in one before. I avoided the IMAX cinema, although the planetarium is basically and IMAX screen but on the ceiling. Eventually I wandered the museum and played about with games and gadgets that are supposed to teach you about science, but I found cool fun (think a water and air rocket, make your own electrical circuits, etc).
