After Norm and Krissa's spectacular wedding bash, we headed west through the Coquihala Mountain Range and then south into Washington State. We stopped in Coupeville, a small, quiet town on Whidbey Island. We stayed in a great bed and breakfast called The Blue Goose Inn.
After we got situated in our room, we took a walk into town. Man, this town was quiet! We didn't see anybody. I guess Sunday night is not the time for wild debauchery in Coupeville.
After a stroll on the wharf (or whatever it was) we found a great restaurant called The Mad Crab, where we indulged in shellfish to the extent that the law allows. Next, we found dental floss at a local convenience store and headed back to our room. But the excitement didn't end there. Nope. We channel surfed until we found the University of Washington's cable station and spent the rest of the night grooving to a lecture on child psychology. Did you know that most 2 1/2-year-olds can't think symbolically about objects, while most 3-year-olds can? We didn't either!
The next day, we took the ferry from Whidbey Island and headed for Seattle. The drive was spectacular!
In Seattle we checked out the University of Washington's beautiful campus, had a great lunch with cousin Damon down in the Pike Place Fish Market neighborhood (sorry, no photos--we always forget at the crucial moments), hung out around the Space Needle...
...went up the Space Needle...
and looked at this strange building (the Experience Music Project).
Next, we drove to Volunteer Park, where the weirdest thing happened. It all started when we saw a woman getting dressed in full armor. Then we heard classical music coming from out of thin air. It was brass, and it sounded exquisite. Without thinking, we pulled over and jumped out of the car. We saw an idyllic-looking path leading to an old stone water tower, from which the music seemed to be emanating.
We went running up the path and found a cast-iron gate; it was pushed open slightly.
Without thinking, we just busted though the gate and began running up a spiral staircase. We didn't know if we were supposed to be here, but the music had us mesmerized and it drew us up and up.
Finally we arrived at the top, where we found a wonderful observation area. There were five horn players practicing, and a bunch of people like us looking a little dazed, but enormously happy to just stand and listen for a while.
Emily declared that this was the best part of the trip, and we both agreed that Seattle is a fine town, indeed!
P.S. On the way back to the airport, we were fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the sublime Mt. Ranier, which had been hiding in the clouds all day long. Doesn't it look like it's floating? Egad! What a mountain!
