Being Tourists in Seattle

Currently sitting in an Airport waiting for a bus... yes, you read that right, a bus. Many airports have bus terminals located in them also. This morning we were scheduled to leave at 930. We arrived at the airport at 938; yep, our bus wasn't kind enough to wait for us. :( No biggie, I confirmed we could get on the 1pm bus and now we sit and wait. 

Since being here, I've watched hundreds of people, kept an eye on a lady's bag, thought about moving the water man's cart of water jugs when he walked away, received a compliment on my hair, was asked to donate to a charity, talked to my friend (and traveling partner). Been grand. 

Yesterday was a fun, long, slightly cool day around town. We took the metro into downtown Seattle. First stop was the Original Starbucks. Have to say it was THE best pumpkin spice Latte I've ever had. AND it was actually extra hot, like I requested. From there we strolled through Pike's Place Market. Just a normal day, watched some fisherman throw whole fish around while singing. That was legit.

It was a bit cool, breezy and foggy. I kept hoping it would warm up, since I had worn my flip flops. But alas, it never did. oh well. We sauntered down to Pioneer Square, where we went on an tour of the Underground city of Seattle. The original city of Seattle lies 15 feet under where it is today. That fifteen feet is the difference of sea level. They used to have major flooding problems, which  is compounded by the use of outhouses in the 1850s. Glad I didn't visit back then. So, after the fire of 1889 burned the city to the ground, they decided to raise it up past sea level. The original sidewalks were never filled in, thus today you have the "underground." Quite interesting.

For lunch, we grabbed some chowder. I tried some Seafood Bisque, that was AMAZING! I never had anything like it and was a little uncertain about it, but it was an excellent choice. We made it up the Space Needle in time to see the city in daylight, watch the sunset and see the city lights at night. Perfect time of the day. :)

Long day, but we got a lot accomplished. Twas fun!

outside Pikes Place Market

at Pioneer Square

old bank under the city of Seattle

daytime view from Space Needle

sun setting

sunset 

Seattle city lights

I <3 Traveling

Traveling!

I am by no means a travel expert, but I do LOVE traveling. Many of the following I found on other travel blogs and since I can relate to most of them, thought I'd share. My next trip is only twelve days away! So, I'm getting excited.... and you who have the travel bug know what that's like..... 

Cheers to the Vagabond life!

You know you're a traveler (or missionary) when......

your boss doesn't ask why you want time off, they just ask "where are you going this time?"

you have a collection of SIM cards from around the world and you keep hold of them, just in case....

you can say "thank you" in ten or more different languages

you don't need a scale to measure your luggage

you can do currency exchanges in your head and it doesn't hurt

you refer to cities by their airport code instead of their name

you have a credit card that allows you to collect air miles

you always know exactly where you passport is and when it expires

someone asks where you got your outfit and you name countries instead of stores

you have to factor in time zones for every Skype call 

you wonder why people are always saying they want to travel, but never do

you often plan trips you never take

you suffer reverse-culture shock

home refers to more than one country 

you hardly ever get lost and when you do, you have no problem asking a local for help

your permanent address is still your parents' house, cause you're never in one place long enough

you commonly start sentences with, "my friend from _________ [insert country]"

all your friends ask for help in finding tickets or other travel advice

you get restless if you haven't traveled in too long

you hear strangers talk about traveling, you immediately eavesdrop

someone tells you they don't have a passport, you look at them like they have two heads

everyone counts on you in geography class or trivia time when required to name the capital of some random country

you to go McDonalds simply for the wifi

you watch a movie on DVD a week before it is released in theaters

fellow travelers ask you for directions in a city you don't live in

you have more friends overseas than at home

your bucket list is almost entirely travel-related

the majority of your paycheck goes into saving up for travelling

you aspire to write a travel memoir

you're not satisfied with the name of a country when you ask someone "Where are you from?" 

One travel blog I read today had a short comparison of travelers and tourists. I had to laugh at one paragraph, cause been there, done that.... 

"A tourist will go by the destinations to visit to such an extent that there will be nothing he will want to miss. Reached Agra on Friday? No matter what, the tourist will demand that he be shown the Taj Mahal without disturbing the rest of his itinerary. A traveller, on the other hand, will seek out people and other places to explore. The tourist will gush about Taj Mahal for a few days but a traveller will carry the stories of daily life from Agra and every other place he visits forever."

Sun Rising

The shorter days allows me to experience the magnitude of an incredible sunrise. During the summer months, I occasionally see the setting sun at 1am or midnight... (thanks to my night job) But sunrises, yeah I don't usually see those during the summer. I'm not one to get up at 3am to see the sun rise. :) 

But wish you could have been with me this past week on my drives to work. One day last week when I turned from my dirt road on to the main road into town, the eastern sky was just beginning to come alive. I drove west into town, so the horizon before me was still a combination of blues and grays. But glancing in my rear view mirror, light flooded my eyes. As the minutes passed, the blue began to be tinted with pink, then more pink and orange. Pulling into the parking lot, the entire heavens were ablaze with color. The sun was just cresting the horizon, but the world was overwhelming alive with color and light. 

I thought of John 12:32 - "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." 

As the sun that morning (and again today) rose higher into the sky, no part of the heavens were not reached with it's light. Clouds that once appeared blue and gray were now pink and eventually white. If we lift Christ up, He will do the drawing of sinners to Himself. His Word does not return void, so we must share His Word. 

Not only do I enjoy a sunrise for the awesome, inspiring beauty which magnifies my God, but it is also a wonderful reminder that my job as a child of God is raise Him up. I am to bring Him glory with my life; every aspect of my life. 

sun rise from last year, viewed from my front porch

Political Rant

Can I get on my Political Soapbox for a few moments? 

I am not usually very vocal about political matters. I do vote, which I think every citizen of America should do. You complain about government's ever increasing debt, or the government's shut down or about individual politicians you don't like.... But do you vote? Do you make your voice heard in the political arena? 

We the People of the United States are responsible for the condition of our government. After all, our politicians are elected officials. We are the ones who have allowed them to serve term after term after term. 

If I were the President of the United States..... 

this is very hypothetical, but just humor me.... 

I would not accept a salary of $400,000. 

and members of Congress who are no longer serving, would also no longer receive a paycheck. (it's simple, you don't work for something, why get paid for it) duh

those individuals who think they need welfare (free money) will have to work to receive their stamps or checks or other government assistance

we would not  fund ridiculous projects, such as poison ivy eating goats (really?)

we would not spend money that we don't have! 

Pretty much, I would just have common sense if I were President. 

Come on people, do you really want the government telling you everything that you or can't do. 

I don't have Health Insurance right now. And you know what? that's MY choice!

The government should NOT require me to pay for something that I don't want. 

Thought this was the Land of the Free...

ok, that was my little rant for the day. 

I'm thankful that God, the Creator of the Universe, is my Friend and my Father. No matter what happens with my government and country, I am still His. And NOTHING will ever change that. Rich or poor, dead or alive, I belong to Christ. My joy/attitude will not be affect by whether the government is operational or in shut down. 

GOD BLESS!!