We're now in Seattle, the Emerald City, the Jet City, birth city of the now all too ubiquitous coffee bar, and Microsoft Vista, may it rot in hell, amen. It's raining. It's been raining since we arrived a couple of days ago. According to the forecasts it'll be raining every day till we leave. The locals are not piling their belongings into boats or making their way to the roofs so apparently endless precipitation is no cause for alarm here.
We're not staying in a hotel this time, so no reviews. We're residing instead with one of Mary's brothers, his wife and two rather kinetic boys. Not being exposed often to small children, we find ourselves alternatively delighted and appalled. Well, Mary is delighted and I'm appalled. Right now - it'll be time to switch in another hour. We have a schedule. I am at this point learning what boys of ten listen to for music. It's not quite what I remember from my youth, which I think might have been either the Monkees or the Archies, giants in the field of pop music that they were. I'm not sure what the name of the musical styles kids listen to now. A few minutes ago I would have sworn they were listening to Volga boatmen music.
So far Seattle is living up to its reputation as a great place to get a bite to eat. Last night, for instance, we had what I sincerely believe might be the single best pizza I've ever scarfed down. With a couple of Peronis on the side. Because there's something fitting about drinking Italian beer (or birra to be more accurate) with pizza. Even though the Pacific Northwest is a hotbed of beer brewing and drinking, and thinking about drinking beer, and wondering where one can get another beer - well, you can see where this is going. I think I'll go and get myself another beer.
Ok, thirst temporarily slaked, the location of this paragon of pizza that I consumed with extreme gusto is Pagliacci. Now don't bother writing telling me about that special pizzeria in your town, or even in Seattle, that is better, indeed better than any other pizzeria in the world, 'cause I don't care. First, you're all wrong. Irrevocably and sadly wrong. Second, 'cause like so many things in this world, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am sure that there are pizzas somewhere that might be as good as the one I had last night. I will even concede that there might be a pizza someplace, at some point in time, that might be even better than the pizza I ate. But not here and not now. And to be honest my contention about the pizza being the best I've ever eaten is undeniable because for me it really is - someday I concede that there is a rather likely possibility that I will find a better pizza. Just not today, mainly because I'm not going to eat any pizza today. I think we're moving on to Chinese food.
Yesterday we also enjoyed a light lunch at a Seattle institution - Ray's Boathouse. It was scrumptious - the seafood was delightful and afterwards I was filled with goodwill towards my fellow man. This was enhanced with a cupcake and latte at Cupcake Royale afterwards. And don't ask - I don't know how one harvests cupcakes (click on the link). This was the first time we'd participated in the cupcake trend. Interesting, we'd been seeing articles about it the whole gourmet cupcake thing and I personally like the idea of 'gourmet' personal sized cakes. I mean who doesn't like that idea? Some kind of commie, I'm sure. First of all, as an engineer I appreciate that the ratio of icing is greater in proportion to the cake then in a normal cake. Second, who doesn't like easily portable cake-like confections? Not we!
Later in this trip we'll be sampling some Chinese food and what promises to be a pretty good burger. Oh, and some more Alaska Ale. Much, much more of that!
