To the Northwest and back. . . .

Just back from six days in Seattle/Vancouver and I'm still trying to warm up. My sister and I went to spend the Passover holiday with her son and my favorite nephew, actually, my only nephew. We still call him Bobby, although I believe he just passed his 60th birthday and has three grandchildren of his own.

Seattle is a fascinating city. The weather changes on a dime, from brilliant sunshine to grey and drizzly, but we charged onward regardless, and I do mean charged. Bobby gives no quarter and attaches no age to his mother (my older sister) or his aunt. Flattering, yes. Tiring, you bet.

We arrived on a Friday at noon and were out on the streets sightseeing and visiting two winerys by mid-afternoon, ending the day at what passes for a food court in Seattle, but seemed more like a middle-eastern/far east array of distinctly foreign food offerings. Forget Miami's Cuban food fetishes, this is Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese, all rolled together, with a little Russian and Polish thrown in for good measure. Dinner, actually, was delicious, especially since we were joined by Bobby's son Mark, wife Kate, and adorable grandkids, Sam and Caroline.

Saturday morning at 7:30am we were on our way to the train station and the 8:30 train to Vancouver. The 2 1/2 hour trip was visually wonderful. . the northwest is magnificent with towering trees and lots of lonesome farm houses. After checking into the hotel where we would spend the night, we were off again, boarding a tiny, toy-like ferry to Granville Island where we had lunch (this time the food was Greek) and enjoyed a rare bit of sunshine in a large3 open patio, serenaded by a street musician who looked like a homeless person and seemed to be playing a giant stick. (See photo)

Vancouver is actually a spectacular city and we enjoyed every minute there before boarding the train on Sunday evening for the trip back to Seattle. Bobby allowed Fran and me to relax on Monday. Actually, I relaxed, my sister started cooking for the Passover seder we were having that evening.

I made the mistake of agreeing to take a "walk" with Boomer and Bosco, Bobby's two dogs. I put quotes around "walk", because neither Boomer nor Bosco have ever heard that word. They only know "run" and maybe "run fast". Boomer is a gorgeous Siberian Husky and all he needs is a sled to compete in the Iditerod. Bosco is a giant size brown lab, extremely sweet, but as Bobby admits, he has "issues". Basically, he's nuts. He specializes in qucik bursts of stop and go followed by a need to wind his leash around your legs. There was no way I could keep up with Boomer so I won Bosco. A couple of miles and 45 minutes later, on a steep hill, I called Uncle. . or rather Aunt. . and handed Bosco's leash back to his father.

On Tuesday we did the Tulip Festival . . acres and acres of absolutely gorgeous color. . .and Wednesday we drove to Tacoma to visit the incredible renovated courthouse, once a train station, (did I mention Bobby is a lawyer?), plus the marvelous Glass Museum. Tacoma is the home of Dale Chihuly, the glass artist, and I spent several months as a guide of the wonderful Chihuly installation at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, so it was very exciting to visit the source of all that beauty.

Wednesday evening we boarded the "red eye" and flew back to Miami, arriving at 7:30 in the morning, 4:30am, Seattle time. My inner time clock is still confrused, but it was a fun week. Miami's warmth feels wonderful. Did I mention it was in the low 40s most of the time?

The Northwest is spectacular, no doubt about it. But as I sit at my computer I am looking out the window at Biscayne Bay, the sun is shining and there are jet skis and fast moving power boats moving across the skyline. If you don't mind, I think I 'll stick with Miami.
# # #
Photo captions: Top left: Gorgeous tulips everywhere. Top Right:Boomer & Bosco showing me love. Bottom left: The sisters in front of a field of daffodils. Bottom right: Street singer on Granville Island, Vancouver.