Sweet City Woman

I can't spend another day cooped up in my apt and making up excuses to go check my mail at the library. It is Saturday, therefore a day to do something exciting. I charged my iPod, packed an umbrella, Dubuque Senior Rams sweatshirt and my camera into my backpack, threw on my kicky new Nike's and decided to head off downtown. I got directions off Google Maps yesterday, so the route should be no problem. (I need to cut a deal with Google Maps so that I get like a buck every time I give them free advertising. Maybe then I can afford such luxuries like turning the lights on in my apt or buying food. Hey, a girl can hope.)

Where else would I venture off to other than Pike Place Market? I didn't get to walk around down there the first time we saw it so I figured a nice 45 min stroll downtown would be the perfect time to see what all the fuss was about. Well, it was pretty amazing. It was like a small town festival with people selling yard art and cat magnets, except that there were wall-to-wall people. Everybody and their Asian brother were there. I had to fight my way through the crowds just to get to try a sample of hickory smoked moose jerky or the garlic mustard raspberry jam spread (both of which were not bad). I loved looking around at all of the little shops and getting to try all of the different food there. I had a bad smoothie incident this morning back at the apt so I was pretty hungry and they didn't disappoint. I didn't see any fish being thrown but I think that was because I was hear around 10:45am and not 5:45am. That would be one early morning walk.

I snuck out behind one of the shops and it had a great view overlooking Elliot Bay. I caught one of the ferries going by and had to get a picture. Derek Shepherd would be proud. It was a really gorgeous day. I was only slightly getting annoyed with the blister that was forming on my left  heel but I decided to press on. There was more to be seen and done. 

Here's a shot of the street that runs along the market. Like I said, there were just people everywhere. I know it's a Saturday and it's a big tourist trap, but I guess I thought it would have quieted it down by lunch time. It's just not that type of place. This thing was still going full speed. You don't want to get in the way of customers trying to get free samples and haggle over okra prices. The bathroom stall doors also only came up to my shoulders. This was concerning to me, but I overlooked it. 

Eventually the guilt of only eating for free began to weigh on me so I began my hunt to find the cheapest food possible. I heard this woman speaking with, what I assumed was a bit of a Polish accent. She was selling this hot pocket type thing that you see above. I bought it to see what it was like. It wasn't bad, it just didn't taste like anything. Ah, the Polish way: you pay extra for taste. It was also scolding hot. Those little buggers really can hold the heat.

I got this shot just as I was leaving the Market. I was on my way to find the movie theatre that was only a few blocks away. Apparently I was in just the right part of town. On my way I stopped inside a Starbs and got a Green Tea Frappuccino, which Suzanna got me hooked on, to finish off one of the many gift cards I have there. Then I felt a little sassy and decided to stop by Sephora and put on black shimmer eye liner. Foxy. All of the stores that I would ever want to go to were on these 6 blocks so I'm glad I found it. Gap, Old Navy, Tiffany's, it was all there. 

I finally made it to the movie theatre where I bought my ticket and watched the movie by myself for the first time. It wasn't too bad. The only other person in the theatre was also by himself. Probably because he looked like Colonel Sanders. I saw Hamlet 2 and it was so hilarious. It made me miss high school theatre, and college theatre, but also get really excited for Seattle Rep Theatre. So that's a plus.

I was thinking about taking the Monorail to cut some of the walk time down, but it was a nice day and I wasn't in a rush. I don't think I noticed how hot it had become. Or how much that blister was starting to hurt. Or the fact that getting downtown was pretty much down hill the whole way. Going back home was...an experience. By the time I got to the bottom of the Queen Anne hill I was tired and in pain. Looking up at it, I seriously thought about throwing in the towel. But I didn't want my first time climbing up the hill to be after a hard day at work so I sucked it up and started the trek. I could feel the blood dripping down my heel into a pool in my shoe. I was sweating through my shirt to the backpack that was hanging heavily on my back. I was carrying a blanket from Bed Bath and Beyond that I bought on the way home that might was well have been an anvil. I only paused once, to lean against a telephone pole and not pass out. But the worst part? A 60 yr old Indian man was doing double time up this thing without breaking a sweat. I felt embarrassed and like I wanted to hurl. But I made it home, ripped off my shoes, bandaged my heel and drank the entire contents of my Nalgene bottle. Then I proceeded to wash my face and lie spread eagle on my living room floor. This will take some getting used to.  I think if I ever walk home with my future roommate there will be a strict no-talking-while-hyperventilating-up-the-hill policy.