American Panda - Seattle: Land of Beers and Bums
Hello to all of you nice, Sweden loving Swedes on your first of many Swedish National Day holidays. I am jealous that not only do you have the day off, but none of you truly know how to celebrate and thus nothing is actually expected of you. I mean of course, nothing other than drinking.
Speaking of drinking, last week I had the good fortune of being sent to Seattle for a week of work. I can only say this about being sent anywhere for work, if they pay for your room and for your food, it can't be beat. Well, at least for the first few days before living out of a suitcase takes its toll. If you have ever woken up to an actual wake up call at 6:30 am and taken a shower in a strange bathroom before having to iron suitcase-wrinkled clothing you know what I am talking about.
That aside, Seattle is a pretty cool place. I drank lots of great local beers and was able to make it to three breweries for free sample as well! I saw the Space Needle, Pike Place Market (where they throw the fish around), the first Starbucks Coffee and even a couple of totem poles! However I did not get to see the place where Nirvana first played, you know why? Cuz I don't care! To be honest, I didn't see anything anywhere that made reference to the good old days of grunge. You know what this tells me? It tells me that Seattle has moved on so now the rest of the world should follow suit.
One thing that Seattle needs to improve upon is surprisingly not its weather. That was nice, no humidity and not too hot. I would give up the sun if I didn't have the type of humidity found in New England. Anyways, the issue that Seattle needs to deal with is the bums! I hope you are hearing me Seattle when I say that it is an epidemic!!! Everywhere I went I was asked for money. Not just change, I was actually approached by someone with the nerve to ask me for $3!!! Can you believe that? I am thinking that everyone in the city has a secret heroine addiction that can only be met by asking tourists and the like for their change. It was unbelievable. I was on the third floor of a conference center and was approached by someone asking for change and even when I was at the airport getting ready to leave the city I was approached by someone asking for change to get a bus to the city center (most likely to beg for change!). It was incredulous.
Bums aside, I enjoyed the trip and what I did see of the city. The next trip for me is coming up at the end of this month. Thats right, Stockholm look out! R Panda is coming Swedeside for a little nordic fun with K and E Panda. If anyone wants anything from America let me know!
R. Panda
