The continuation of Sabo's epic photo posts

[sabotabby]

Since I was already on the left coast, I took a jaunt up to Seattle to visit my friend annaotto. (You guys don't know her, but she's awesome, and if you met me through LJ, you have her to thank for it. She's my oldest internet friend—we met about a decade ago—and she was the one who got me into blogging.) Anyway, apologies to my other Seattle friends whom I didn't get a chance to see. I was only there for a scattered couple of days, and we had a lot of plans. Anyway, I need to go back to Seattle because it's my favourite place in the States, and next time I'll be more prepared about hanging out and such.

As previously mentioned, Seattle is in the midst of the worst heatwave ever, and as non-rainy weather is a bit of a curiosity there, hardly anyone has air conditioning. Fortunately, we'd already planned to spend most of the week on Orcas Island, which is surrounded by ocean and thus a little cooler, doing nature stuff.

Hence, most of these pictures are of nature things, but there are some city things for those of you who are allergic to outdoors.

P.S. Yes, rojonoir, of course I paid a visit to Giant Lenin. I didn't take a photo though. Anyway, I've now seen him covered in Christmas lights, holding an election sign in 2006, and now holding a huge burrito. I think Lenin would like burritos.




There is some sort of penguin thing going on at the zoo, so there are little penguin statues everywhere. I thus bring to you a picture of a penguin in a tiara. You can thank me in the comments.


We went on a coffee tasting tour in Pike Market. I think half the reason I love Seattle so much is that it's a city that appreciates coffee as much as I do, and hates Starbucks as much as I do too.


Here is a hotel with walruses on it.


Seriously, it's cool to have sidewalk picnics after 9 pm. No problem at all.


It's true. He doesn't give a shit about you at all.


We went to a goth bar to see some goth bands and have goth drinks out of glasses that had blinky lights in them. The drinks were also very strong which is why I don't have any other pictures of this evening. I think I might have passed out.


The story of the Fox's Wedding has creeped me out since I saw Kurosawa's Dreams. So I was delighted to find a store with a window display of it.


So then we took the ferry out to Orcas Island and I saw this sign. It's nice to know that some firearms are okay in Canada.


Here is the hotel where we stayed. It was very cute.


It was decorated with all sorts of quaint Victorian stuff, which makes me happy.


This is the view from the front of the hotel. When there's a really low tide, you can walk out to this island. Unfortunately, there wasn't that low of a tide when we were there, but it was still pretty as hell. We sat out on a patio at the hotel restaurant and I was a bad vegetarian and had a halibut in raspberry sauce. It was wonderful. I'm sure the fish had lived a good life and came from sustainable stocks.


Our first hike was up Turtleback Mountain. At one point we just kind of collapsed because, dude, hiking up a mountain is hard. I really like how this shot came out.

I'm not sure which of the following two photos of a dead deer that we found came out better. You can decide:






Beautiful sunlit forest clearing.


Haha, are you sick of this yet?


We then went whale-watching, which was incredible. Also, I like lighthouses. They always look so lonely.




We saw a bunch of bald eagles.


Our next hike was in Moran State Park, which was even prettier.


I like how this one came out, too. The tree is all, "Good morning, forest!"


It wouldn't be a vacation unless I made friends with strange cats in strange cities. This is Matt the Cat.


Back in Seattle, we went to the Sculpture Garden, the Seattle Art Museum, and then to a burlesque version of Alice in Wonderland. I don't have pictures of the latter; sorry!


Seattle is just so pretty. Why don't I live on the West Coast again?

Okay, and here is some video from our whale-watching expedition. Sorry for the quality; it's hard to shoot video on a boat, and it's hard to get good footage of the whales period. Also, every time they did something cool I was looking at the whales and not my camera. Enjoy!

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I fear I may never go Whale Watching for fear that I will throw up on the poor widdle Orcas.
I actually got a bit sea sick watching that video.

Seattle looks like the Bomb! Next time I'm in the States I'm definitely checking out the Left (hee!) Coast!

[sabotabby]

Yeah, my normally steady hand with the camera goes to shit when I am on a boat, apparently. Sorry about that. I was very proud of myself for not puking.

[lienne.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU FOR THE PENGUIN

IT IS AWESOME

PS SO ARE YOU

[sabotabby]

WHY THANK YOU.

[auralarua.livejournal.com]

Such awesome pics. I enjoyed the whales also. :D

[sabotabby]

It was even more awesome IRL.

[smartasskicker.livejournal.com]

i was hoping you made it to the giant lenin. have you had breakfast at the place Silence Heart Nest near it? it's run by a cult. we call it The Cult. tommy lived right up the hill from there!

[sabotabby]

I didn't, but I had pancakes at a total hippie place with fabulous coffee.

[shelestel.livejournal.com]

How does the burlesque Alice compare to the porn one?

[sabotabby]

I haven't seen the porn one.

[kmittenz.livejournal.com]

I am seriously jealous right now. Seattle is so frickin' beautiful & Matt the cat is a king among cats.

[sabotabby]

I am saving that picture of Matt the Cat for every time someone tells me that Marinetti is too fat.

[snarkitysnarks.livejournal.com]

I bet you can guess which picture I saved to the collab folder for reference.
Go on, guess.

Also, I am very amused by the LaRouche sign, and I feel I need to thank you more for that than for the penguin (admittedly, I saved the LaRouche sign to the collab folder as well).

[sabotabby]

I was thinking of you and the comic. Both times.

They need to go to Seattle because of all the rain, which makes for great fashions. Just saying.

[snarkitysnarks.livejournal.com]

I should be disturbed that a dead deer makes you think of me, but really I'm just pleased.

It actually disturbs me more that LaRouche makes you think of me.

...D8

[sabotabby]

I meant the lighthouse.

[purveyorofchaos.livejournal.com]

Which goth bar did you go to?

Also, I work with the star of that burlesque adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. She's nifty.

[sabotabby]

I forget the name. It wasn't a dedicated goth bar, apparently; they were just having a goth night or something. It had red walls and neat art. I was really tired and later quite drunk so my memories are kind of a blur.

Also, I work with the star of that burlesque adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. She's nifty.

Who did she play? And more important, where did they get those great dresses?

[purveyorofchaos.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure who she plays, I've never seen the show. But she's the face on the flyer, she might be Alice.

[ironed_orchid]

It looks like a proper holiday with city and country and ocean.

[sabotabby]

It seriously was.

[krinndnz.livejournal.com]

That looks like it was an excellent trip!

As well, I am now entertaining a fantasy of you moving to Seattle and joining the Orcinus team.

[sabotabby]

Hah. I can barely keep my LJ updated these days.

[seanmonster.livejournal.com]

What is the bucket policy at the walrus hotel?