We're in Seattle Part II
On Friday, our second day in Seattle, we decided to take the chance to do some sightseeing. Our first stop was the Space Needle, which we selected as our destination on account of the fact that it is walking distance from our building. This is the Space Needle, as viewed from directly below the building.
I don't have much to tell you about the Space Needle, except that it costs $16 to head up to the top of the building. Needless to say, we didn't go inside.
Next to the Space Needle is the Experience Music Project. Again, we didn't go inside. I can tell you, though, that it's designed by none other than Frank Gehry, a tidbit I discerned from the fact that it is nearly identical to Disney Hall, which is odd considering the design is supposed to be based on Jimi Hendrix's guitar. Not only does Gehry produce crap, but it's the same crap over and over again. I didn't take a picture on account of the glare from the metal.
We ended up at a station for the Ride the Ducks Tour of Seattle. This tour costs roughly $25, but is well worth the price. Basically, the Ducks are the DUKW from World War II. These are amphibious vehicles that are now used to take people around Seattle by both road and water. The ducks look like this:
Our guide for the tour was a girl named Claire Buoyant, who had only lived in Seattle for a few years, but was extremely knowledgeable about the city. We spent the first forty-five minutes of the tour checking out Seattle's streets. Mostly, this leg of the tour focused on the downtown area.
One thing that is interesting about Seattle is that there is a lot of public art out here. For example, take this fake metal tree.
I think this sculpture might make more sense in Los Angeles where vegetation actually is manufactured.
My favorite piece of public art is Hammering Man, which is outside of the Seattle Art Museum. This is part of the Jonathan Borofsky series and while it's not the largest Hammering Man in the world, it is pretty huge.
If that doesn't give a good impression of size, check out how passersby are dwarfed by Hammering Man's legs.
The second half of the tour took place on the lake. Well, one of the lakes. It seems like there is an awful lot of water here.
From the lake, the Space Needle still towered over the city.
And the view is incredible.
The most interesting sight from the lake was Gas Works Park. Long story short, this was the site of a gas company that went out of business and was sold to a developer who couldn't develop the land on account of it being contaminated. The city then turned the site into a park and, after numerous attempts, was finally able to make grass grow with a special, er, fertilizer.
Throughout the tour, the guides play a mix of music and people start singing and dancing, both in the car and on the street. I really wish I was able to get a photo of the guy who did the YMCA dance while selling his stack of homeless newspapers. Also, the dudes at the car wash went crazy when she played "Car Wash."
To be continued...
I don't have much to tell you about the Space Needle, except that it costs $16 to head up to the top of the building. Needless to say, we didn't go inside.
Next to the Space Needle is the Experience Music Project. Again, we didn't go inside. I can tell you, though, that it's designed by none other than Frank Gehry, a tidbit I discerned from the fact that it is nearly identical to Disney Hall, which is odd considering the design is supposed to be based on Jimi Hendrix's guitar. Not only does Gehry produce crap, but it's the same crap over and over again. I didn't take a picture on account of the glare from the metal.
We ended up at a station for the Ride the Ducks Tour of Seattle. This tour costs roughly $25, but is well worth the price. Basically, the Ducks are the DUKW from World War II. These are amphibious vehicles that are now used to take people around Seattle by both road and water. The ducks look like this:
Our guide for the tour was a girl named Claire Buoyant, who had only lived in Seattle for a few years, but was extremely knowledgeable about the city. We spent the first forty-five minutes of the tour checking out Seattle's streets. Mostly, this leg of the tour focused on the downtown area.
One thing that is interesting about Seattle is that there is a lot of public art out here. For example, take this fake metal tree.
I think this sculpture might make more sense in Los Angeles where vegetation actually is manufactured.
My favorite piece of public art is Hammering Man, which is outside of the Seattle Art Museum. This is part of the Jonathan Borofsky series and while it's not the largest Hammering Man in the world, it is pretty huge.
If that doesn't give a good impression of size, check out how passersby are dwarfed by Hammering Man's legs.
The second half of the tour took place on the lake. Well, one of the lakes. It seems like there is an awful lot of water here.
From the lake, the Space Needle still towered over the city.
And the view is incredible.
The most interesting sight from the lake was Gas Works Park. Long story short, this was the site of a gas company that went out of business and was sold to a developer who couldn't develop the land on account of it being contaminated. The city then turned the site into a park and, after numerous attempts, was finally able to make grass grow with a special, er, fertilizer.
Throughout the tour, the guides play a mix of music and people start singing and dancing, both in the car and on the street. I really wish I was able to get a photo of the guy who did the YMCA dance while selling his stack of homeless newspapers. Also, the dudes at the car wash went crazy when she played "Car Wash."
To be continued...
Labels: Leaving L.A., Seattle, Tours
posted by liz o. at
2:42 PM
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