We have visited Las Vegas , the Mid- West , and once, a very long time ago, celebrated New Year in New York . It’s time to meet with the US West Coast, and we start with Seattle, in Washington (not to be confused with the capital, Washington City). If you periodically access our blog, the chronology of events raises questions. Why travel to Seattle after Las Vegas? No particular reason! And so we went to Seattle from Minneapolis. The winter that year seemed extremely cruel, even as the Niagara Falls froze, and that had last happened in 1912: a distant past. Lightning-fast relocation was a necessary measure for survival: outside was -25 °, and in regards to winter preparation, we were only tourists. Even the hardy residents of Minnesota looked at us with condescending pity, as we usually look at girls that are trying zaparkuvatysya parallel. We had to act quickly else in Minnesota there could be a monument for 2 more. The best recourse was a flight to Seattle, and it was warm there.
Four hours flew by the windows — West Coast, but it nothing matters; the main thing is— the temperature is above zero.
1From SeaTac airport to the city tram runs. The local residents for some reason the word “tram” is not stuck and they call our tram Light rail (Light Rail, LRT Train). Like right hint that you are “farmers” were in town nayintelihentnishomu America. Well, we will play by the rules: sit on Light rail, extreme reach the station, and then cab — to the tavern.
2Interesting osoblivist navigation, every stop has a badge with some animals. It seems map stolen tram to the zoo.
3From the airport to the city center — about 40 minutes.
So we have a short time to help. Seattle — the largest city in the northwest United States, located in a picturesque location between the Gulf P’yudzhet Sound and Lake Washington. The city is surrounded by endless forests and national parks in the west behind the Olympic Mountains and the east — Cascade and in the Gulf P’yudzhet are many islands. Because of the nature of the departure of citizens no problems. A happy and fed these mosquitoes, as here, there is nothing to look for.
In Seattle we learned a new word — sound. It turned out that it is not only “sound”, but also a large sea or ocean bay that is larger than the bay and broader than the fjord. Sietlyanam really like that word, because it often occurs in names, for example, the local team of European football Sounders FC, transport system Sound Transit, Energy Company Puget Sound Energy and others. The famous group of Seattle Soundgarden not related to the Gulf, we checked — it is named after the sculpture.
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The first thing that catches the eye, even cutting the habit — is unusually well-lit streets. Perhaps the brightest streets in all states.
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After walking a little central area, we found something mehatsikavoho, so I just went to the hotel. Accommodations were lucky, we had a small kitchen in the first place, it is convenient, and, secondly, financially profitable. Later it turned out that rooms with kitchens — not surprising for America, so in the future we initially searched for the following options.
10During the day the Seattle Center is not much different from other American cities. It is similar to and Chicago , and New York , where we visited before. Yet there is an important detail that distinguishes Seattle on their background — that’s a relief. The city lies on 7 hills, and experience suggests that “uneven” always interesting city for the “level”. You can find attractive perspectives, see the city from above, to practice his feet.
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Bicycle infrastructure is still weak, however, in contrast to cars, there are no problems with parking the iron horse will fit any post.
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Americans mostly law-abiding citizens, but better safe than sorry, so all the sidewalks in downtown reserved beds. If you have a question on what by then you probably never parked on the sidewalk, congratulations, well done.
15The view of the bay and P’yudzhet piece Beynbridzh island. That is the charm of the towns relief in Manhattan do not photographed.
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Silent pace we reached the Central Library. Very interesting building, both in architecture and by fate. Citizens believe that the library was built on the money of the famous Bill Gates, in fact he made only $20 million of the 170, but did it so beautifully that everyone remembered. The remaining amount found by the best democratic traditions: in 1998 voters approved the issue of municipal bonds in the amount of $196.4 million, and are funded program “Library for all”.
18A little hills and streetlights. This is the third type of lamp posts, which we caught on morning.
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If you are tired of walking, you can drive up to the trolley. Moreover, it is a real oddity for American cities.
21Between the 4 th and 5 th Avenue based administration King County, which includes Seattle. Also interesting building, immediately after commissioning it recognized as one of the ugliest government buildings in the country. Probably because it looks like a giant cell. At the entrance we were met by a sculpture called “sand worm” but even such a strong product of modern art failed zahodyty critics.
22Weather in Seattle us happy, not so cold as the Illinois , Wisconsin and Minnesota , but on the other hand — in 2 weeks not a single sunny day, all the time it was overcast and occasionally nakrapuvav rain. We were told that here as always. Change of seasons citizens aware temperature rain. Umbrellas are only tourists and programmers, who arrived recently.
Actually not much rainfall, this indicator is playing Seattle, for example, in such cities as New York, Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore. Small rain falls 150 days a year, so created the impression that it is permanent. Hence the unofficial name — “City of Rain”. That’s really something of a problem, it’s with sunshine 200 days a year in cloudy and another 90 days — partly cloudy.
23Taking the idea of Minneapolis, office buildings slowly connecting passages. But if it is done for the cold here — not to wear a raincoat.
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Roads mostly concrete. Not very aesthetically pleasing, but cheap, reliable and practical. Paintings damaged area just cut, and in its place put a patch or a new stove.
26Local favorites Seahawks (American football) reached the semifinal playoffs of the National Football League. The whole city was plastered with posters “Go Hawks”, “12”, “We are in”. Looking ahead, we say that the Falcons reached the second consecutive match for the Super Bowl, but lost that year by New England Patriots annoying interception in the final seconds.
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How nice to look at this street, as if advertising, but it is located along the facade and not littering the landscape.
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The article on US police we wrote that in every state police in different shape, color patrol cars, even special devices. In Seattle in police cars blue and dark blue uniforms. On special means can not say anything… it’s for the better.
32When we told the Seattle poorly developed cycling infrastructure, we have particularly in mind cycling track, built using a bucket of paint.
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Getting dark and I had to look for a place to take beautiful pictures of the evening city. Google suggested suspiciously quickly. So we hardly surprised when they saw a bunch of people. Photographers.
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If you want to make poppin picture Seattle, then proceed to Queen Anne Hill. However, a walk area where the rich live in Washington. But keep in mind that there are many people note as photographers trampled lawn.
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And most important — no crowds! Want to Take a picture with your left hand, you want — right, you want to shoot videos as you want — the audio.
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The sun went down and could put an end to this story, but regular reader asks where is the view of Seattle from above. We anticipated this because the next day decided to look at the skyscraper Columbia Center. Why does not the Space Needle? After all, most tourists choose precisely Space Needle. It’s like is the main reason… and not because we are zealous champions of pop music. Simply by popularity, Space Needle is much more expensive.
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Unfortunately, someone rozbazikav hack from Columbia Center observation deck and had a few people. Not critical, but brother, I do not trust.
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On a sunny day Columbia Center casts a shadow nearly half of the city. It is the tallest building in Seattle (295 m antenna) and this is another advantage. In the distance looms downtown Bellevue — Second-sized city in the state of Washington. Somewhere begins and the most expensive land in the state, because in Bellevue-area campuses are Redmont Aichi many companies, including Microsoft. And programmers are known to be non-poor people far to go to work do not want, as house prices start from 500 thousand. Dollars.
53View of the Cascade Mountains. There are several volcanoes that are in the “Pacific ring burn”: Baker, Hleisher Peak, Mount St. Helens, Adams. All are considered active. Right (behind the scenes) based Rainier volcano — the highest mountain in Washington State (4392 m). Because of its proximity to Seattle (around 90 km), considered the most dangerous volcano in the United States.
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Ferris Wheel The Seattle Great Wheel on the waterfront. A great place to see the city three times, because it makes oborty 3 per trip. At night and on holidays beautiful neon lights turn on and then on the wheels did not take their eyes.
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Roofs in Seattle — not interested. In Bangkok was green, trees, ponds, and here — ventilation systems, parking and sadness.
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The two main stadiums. CenturyLink Field (front) — the home stadium for the team “Seattle Sihoks” from the National Football League (NFL) and FC “Saunders Seattle” with Major League Soccer (MLS). Safeco Field (in the background) — it holds home games baseball team “Seattle Mariners”.
The history of the stadium CenturyLink Field. She recalls the history of the Central Library, but the capitalist hue. Thus, the 1997 billionaire Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) offered to buy the team “Seattle Sihoks” but said he will do it only if local authorities agree to issue municipal bonds to finance the construction of the new stadium. Otherwise, the team will not be profitable. Allen also offered to cover all the costs of the referendum (about 4 million). Thus 820.364 thousand residents (51.1%) voted to issue municipal bonds for stadium construction and other community service facilities. Stadium passed in 2002, the total cost of the project amounted to 430 million. Now, the stadium management company Allen and is still playing his football team. More precisely, two of his football team, because Allen also has an interest in “Saunders Seattle.”
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Finally, misykyy Seattle skyline from the water. Normal photographs without fotobomberiv ship Do not easy. Water traffic is fairly saturated, because Seattle is one of the largest ports in the United States.
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Today we met with the city, and here is what to do, but we will talk next time. Until the next article!