This combined Canada Day and Independence Day weekend marked my longest contiguous stay in Seattle ever. Four days of time spent in the Emerald City. I’ve been in the United State longer, but a great deal of this is usually camping time in off the beaten path places. This is a bit different.

So what did 4 days and 5 nights in Seattle teach me?

Independence Day in the United States is a very big deal; a (long) walk around the Alki beach area had us peppered with American flags - usually more than one at most properties. These people do wave their flag.

Having said that, I was a bit underwhelmed by the patriotism. The Capitol Hill gang celebrates differently than the Alki Beach gang. Signs were everywhere, but in a very understated way.

The most patriotic moment was attending a Mariner’s game, pitched by Kenny Rogers mid-appeal on his 20 game suspension. Not a popular man.

The singing of the National Anthem was astonishing though. I have never seen anything like this at a Canadian sporting event, although I’d bet a Stanley Cup final with a Canadian team (unlikely though that may be) and perhaps a world championship game. I doubt it though. Every hand and hat was held over heart without a trace of cynicism outside of my little bubble of Canadiana. I was, of course, busily pointing out the history of the song which celebrated a Canadian (O.K. - British if you’re going to be picky) attack during the war of 1812.’ BTW, any of my fellow Canadians proud of the fact that we’re the only nation to ever succesfully attack the Capitol? Anybody want to try again? C’mon. You know it’d be fun.

While we’re on that topic, how’s this for revisionist history. First, notice that the Americans were siding with the French. Regrets I’ve had a few. Should’ve seen that one coming anyway - when was the last time you heard “France has won!” being shouted in the streets? Anyway, we’re still here. I think we know who won this one folks. Deal with it.

The list of things to do in Seattle is substantially longer than any weekend in Vancouver. No Fun Vancouver? Absolutely.

A partial list of the things we didn’t do:

• hit a burlesque show
• watch women wrestle
• go to Friday night bicycle races at the Velodrome
• head to Pike Place market
• go for a hike in the North Cascades
• roam aimlessly along Broadway at Capitol Hill people watching

And here, a partial list of the things I did do:

• visited Seattle’s Children’s Hospital to do a bit of work
• bar hopping on Saturday night
• drank many $4 pints of Stella Artois
• bought a frisbee at the Patagonia store (no, I didn’t declare it but it’s still in the states!)
• saw the aforementioned Mariners game (but I didn’t have a Ichiroll)
• had pie at the Twin Peaks Cafe, which is not in Snoqualmie but instead in North Bend (and while I didn’t try it, I’m assured the coffee is, in fact, damn fine)
• visited Snoqualmie falls, with their spectacularly beautiful tumble
• saw a scooter rally with at least 100 scooters sponsored by the Vespa Club of Seattle
• watched the beautiful sand at Alki beach and saw a single picnic being put together with two grills, ninety-six cans of pop, fourty-eight juice boxes, a game of Parcheesi and Monopoly as well as other things
• provided pronunciation lessons on critically important words such as roof, root, and route (and was told, by many people, that I did not speak “like a Canadian”)
• watched an Osprey grab a fish from the water and take it away (of course my camera was in my bag at the time)
• visited the Ballard Locks, which are similar (but much larger) than the lift locks I grew up loving so much on the Trent Canal

A good weekend.

There’s a hot rumour that Seattle is not as safe as Vancouver. While one weekend does not provide a good example, two men were killed this weekend in Vancouver within steps of each other (at different times) near a Skytrain station, and Canada celebrated Independence Day by releasing Karla Homolka from jail.

I certainly didn’t feel unsafe in Seattle.

So go. Spend time. Our American neighbours are fun to hang out with.

I’ll be doing it again, I’m sure, although I hope the next time is on two wheels.

Posted by skooter at 6:28 PM This entry is filed under America, Travel, Vancouver.