We stayed in Monroe, a small town in Washington, where we met up with our friends from Oregon City whom we met camping some 23 years ago. We were only about a 45-minute drive from Seattle so we decided to day trip into the city. It was a glorious day weather-wise (not too cold-not too hot) to walk along the waterfront.

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Our first stop was Pike Place Market, a diverse marketplace that opened as a farmers' market in 1907. The City Fish Market was an attraction unto itself. As someone would buy a fish, the vendor would chant the kind of fish in a loud voice and then throw it to another employee to be wrapped in paper. Try as I might, it all happened so fast I could never get a picture!

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Barbara, Jim and Al are enjoying some of the beautiful fruits, veggies and flowers at the market.

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The original Starbucks is located just across the street from the market. We stopped to enjoy this fun band that were playing outside this historic coffeehouse. The guy playing the washboard could make that thing sing!!

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Pioneer Square is a 30-block area of restored historic buildings that were built after the Great Fire of 1889.

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We thought we could afford the State Hotel on our fixed income but changed our minds when we discovered we were in the heart of the red light district!

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...as well as beautiful flowers.

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We explored a five-block area around Pioneer Square on the Underground Tour. The tour included subterranean sidewalks and storefronts that were created when street levels were raised 8 to 35 feet following the fire of 1889. It was on this tour that we learned a few facinating tidbits: 1). Mr. Crapper's invention was imported from England and 2). the Seattle prostitutes were called seamstresses since they were required to have business licenses which required a legal profession. It was said that sewing circles were held in the local houses!

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Sally Thomas Hoffman, a high school friend who lives here in Washington who I hadn't seen for 40 years, recommended that we visit the Saturday Market in Redmond. What wonderful veggies we saw there...

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Our walk on our last night at the Thunderbird Resort in Monroe took us to the Skykomish River at just the right time. The view to the east included not only the river, but also the Wenatchee Ridge in the Cascade Range.

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Down the river to the west, we were treated to a wonderful sunset sky. Who could ask for a more beautiful farewell?

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