Playing Seattle Tourist

When you travel you always explore all the little spots that are considered “must sees.” In New York I hit the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and, well, you get my meaning. I went to all the tourism “hotspots.” Now if you ask me what I’ve done in Seattle my answer will stun, because my answer is nothing. Why is my head here? Why am I contemplating the fact that I have lived in the area for 9 years and I’ve really never been to it? I blame the boy who told me that after 8 years in town he just recently rode the monorail.

Sure I’ve been places in Seattle. I’m not a yokel for goodness sake. I hit up SAM (once); I’ve been in the Hall (work here so doesn’t count), and I once killed time before a Sonics game in EMP’s gift shop. I’ve seen the Nutcracker and a play or two at 5th Ave; I’ve been drunk at a place called Franks that served a drink called the Hulk. But I’ve really never been to the “Hotspots.” And I don’t count the time I took the underground tour with my mom and aunt because I was so hungover I didn’t really pay attention to the tour but instead concentrated on not hurling in the musty caves that is the former Seattle.

I think for the New Year, my resolution is going to be to play Seattle tourist. I’ll white knuckle it to the top of the Space Needle; I’ll visit the market with all it’s crowds; and maybe I’ll even ride that monorail.

CW