What Happens in the Emerald City...

Soundtrack: Never See The Day / Straight Line Stitch (because all epic, life-altering journeys should start off with ear-bleeding metal. Keeps the nerves in check.)

It is debatable if driving down an actual yellow brick road would be smoother and more comfortable - particularly in a sports car - than the worn-out concrete slabs that make up many sections of the I-5 between Bellingham and Seattle. Luckily mass density population came to my rescue and had me going 5mph for half of the trip. Much smoother that way

Finally...Seattle!

Soundtrack: Kirlian Camera / Odyssey Europa (because nothing seeps urban metrosexuality like Italian electronica. Plus, Kirlian Camera always stirs nostalgia for past trips to Seattle...at least the bits I remember).

Seattle offers anything you could ask for...as long as it is coffee, books, or wine. It seems every street is littered with coffee shops, books stores, wine bars, book stores that sell coffee, coffee bars with books, book stores offering wine, wine bars with specialty coffee, book stores with a wine / coffee bar. Definitely endless possibilities.

For anyone that has spent any time downtown Seattle, they can attest to one of the most recognizable qualities of the city - the rich, wide-spread aroma of hundreds of different types of food...all melding together into something that resembles fresh seafood and / or a rich, deep-fried bratwurst sausage. A fantastic place to be if you are hungry - but a really, really bad place to be if you are hung-over. Trust me.

Before dinner I visited one of my favourite places in Seattle - the Polar Bar at the Arctic Club Hotel. For anyone not familiar with this place, it never left the 1920's - which is beyond cool, as it has this totally 'Shining' thing going. Check the following pics for proof. Once again, I was served a nice French Absinthe from Viktor (nationality unknown) who, as the bill came, I totally expected to pipe up with "your money is no good here, Mr. Crowhurst". Unfortunately he did not. But if you are ever in the area and want to experience Absinthe, not just the drink but the whole timeless atmosphere, you have to go here.

Had dinner at a place called 'Purple Wine Bar' (mostly because my hotel room came with a $40 credit to it...but it was good). Very cool, happening...I was totally out of place. Had a steak that was actually too rare, even for me - it was actually still cold in the middle. The center of the restaurant was a gigantic pillar of wine with a spiral staircase (pic to follow)...so much wine...aggghhhh....

All this, and nothing really interesting pertaining to Australia. Well, tomorrow I take the long, long flight. Hopefully will be updating the blog once in Sydney...though more likely as I sit around LAF'nX for 6.5 hours.

Take care all!