Planes Trains and Automobiles

Sometimes, the desired way to travel isn't always the option we get.

I would prefer to have a ride straight from my driveway to the terminals automatic sliding doors, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Fortunately, that "sometimes" ends up being more enjoyable, even if you're stuck with an annoying fat white guy the whole time.

My brother dropped me off at the train station around 1:15 pm, where i waited next to a man who could have easily been a brad Neely character, mainly because of his balding head, lazy eye and old school walkman. 

On the train to the coast, i met a young man on his way back home carry some cd cases. He looked like he could have just walked out of Music Warehouse in 2002. We talked about some bands we liked and he recommended i check out the Seattle music scene. I think i will, random guy, i think i will. 

Home Sweet Home... Vista, CA 

Something about taking the train system in north county is so heart warming. All the weirdos, all the junkies talking about getting $200 tickets for drinking beer in public parks, and the kids with their skateboards and dumb baseball hats, and all the old people still trying to pretend that this is their town and that public transportation is reliable. All the rusty broken down cars and graffiti alongside the tracks, the dusty backyards, with kids toys, sunburnt plastic sildes and old bikes laying around amongst the dirt and weeds, next to old bottles and cans that chat with the unloved shoes and abandoned underwear on the other side of the chain-link fence. The empty pools and broken down appliances, old washers and broken vacuums left outside to rot. It is so trashy, but i know it so well. It takes me back to when i was younger, 9 maybe 10, and i would play with the neighborhood kids and we would all run around together rolling down dirt hills in cardboard boxes and watch the boys ride dirt bikes and kick up dust that wouldn’t settle till the sun did. The tree swings and driveways molested with sidewalk chalk. I hate it and i love it and part of me hopes that culture never dies. 

Nice upkeep San Diego

The train brought me to the coast around 2, where i then waited till 2:32 to board a different train. I took in the smell of the Southwest coast one last time. The unkept transit center, the smell of fish and dead sea-life wafting along the breeze. If i stood on my tippy toes i could see the sun reflecting off of the ocean-water, and glistening beautifully in the summer sun, which was really hot and the station had no shade so my feet were staring to sweat. 

This is what trains look like in 2014

I’m letting my dad drive my car while i’m gone and i forgot to tell him where i left the keys. i called him and told him and we talked for a bit. He reiterated his want to come up to Seattle while i’m there, and he told me “this is a trip of a lifetime. treat it like one. I want you to spend some money and go out to some nice restaurants.” It’s one of the nicest things he’s ever said to me. 

I finally got on the train and made it down the coast to Encinitas where my friend Colin picked me up and drove me the rest of the way to the airport. We blasted Blink 182‘s Enema of the State Live album most of the way and belted out all the lyrics, which was really fun. He's a terrible driver. 

This is Colin, he gave me a ride to the airport

I got to the airport at 3:30 more or less with no line at the baggage check or security check so i sat down in the terminal at 3:50, two hours before my flight was scheduled to leave, giving me two hours to waste which i spent trying to get the San Diego Airports shitty wifi to work and of course it didn’t, so i gave up and just read my nat geo travel magazine.

 Because reading a magazine is more secure than using public wifi

 The flight was nice. I luckily remembered to bring my giant headphones so i was able to block out most of the screaming children. The girl in the window seat next to me was really sweet. She kept giving me trail mix and almond joy minis and didn’t make me feel obligated to get to know her in anyway. Her name is Song, she is Korean, and is on a vacation traveling around America. She teaches young kids using legos. She is really friendly and i wish her all the best in the rest of her travels.

Song listening to music (most likely K-Pop) and looking out the window

 The view of Seattle, WA from above, photo courtesy of Song

We landed safely around 8:40 and i spent the next 20 minutes wandering around like a lost tourist. Instead of paying some stupidly large amount of money for a cab, i was able to take the Seattle Link Light Rail for $2.75 from the airport to about 3 block away from the hotel Nick is staying in. It was 9 by the time i got on the train because i couldn't find the station. When i finally did my arms were so tired i could have cut them off and used them as a pillow.

Sound Transit: Seattle Public Transit LINK Light Rail 

The train ride was really fun. Being in a new place fills me with so much excitement. It's that first few hours of being in a new city, when you don't quite see it for what it is, when it's still something built up in your mind, some magical place with so much potential and so much to offer. The people are all still strangers and you're too tired to see life in any other way than absolutely fascinating and beautiful.

It was dark out, but i wanted to take a picture of the city going by. This is what i got.

My double chin is all"HEY THERE GOOD LOOKIN' "

I really liked the look of this station. 

 Westlake Station, the last stop on the Light Rail. I'm heading towards the 3rd and Pine entrance to the station, Nick was waiting at 5th and Pine entrance. 

I found him! (he found me)

Happy to see you too! And thank you for carrying my luggage bby (:

Going out to find some food. Hello elevator-mirror-me

Nick and i had a little trouble finding each other, but he finally ran around the block enough times to run into me. We walked back the the hotel together to put my things down. He had a really long day at his internship and just wanted to sleep, and it was already like 10:30, so i was like "Yeah bby, just go to sleep". I was incredibly hungry so I put some of my things away before heading out to get some grub. I headed down the block to a place that claimed to be open till 12 but their kitchen was closed and they nicely sent me to a different restaurant called Palace. It was pricey but i figured, what the hell, it's 11:30, i'm starving, in I'm Seattle, and life is beautiful.  I ordered the house old fashioned and the 1/2 lb burger. The waitress informed me that the meat was ground from a single cow that the restaurant picks and cuts and grinds. I thought she was joking but she was serious. I ate the whole thing. It was so delicious. I can't even explain. I don't even understand how or why. I took the rest of the fries for later, happily gave a 20% tip and left really very satisfied. 

Palace

The bar and open kitchen/grill.

The house Old Fashioned

I hope to get out and see the city tomorrow, visit the water, and Pike's Place, and find a few cheap places to eat. I also want to get some food, maybe stuff for sandwiches and salads and easy no-cook meals. We have a microwave and a mini-fridge. Any good ideas, let me know!