Day 6 Wednesday

Last night I made friends with another English girl, Sally. We were chatting with a guy, Kevin who was staying at the Hostel in between being out in the Ocean as an electrician on a fishing ship. Kevin knows Seattle fairly well and he told us that his favourite place to visit is the Pacific Science Museum. We agree that it’s sounds like fun, so next thing, Kevin’s on the phone to his boss and he says ‘I’m not coming in tomorrow because I’m taking 2 beautiful English girls to the Science Museum’.

Next morning the three of us jump in a cab and head off to the museum. Kevin is like a little kid when we arrive and this is infectious, we have a great time ‘playing’ with the exhibits. My favourite was the biology section where we tested our flexibility, our strength and in one particularly silly test our centre of balance. We also played with Robots and puzzle games, we learnt about tides (where Kevin thought it would be fun to splash water at Sally & I), space, animals and computers, we saw a 3D movie called ‘Bugs’ in the IMAX cinema and spent a few pleasant if warm minutes in the tropical Butterfly Garden. All together a really fun day out, I’d recommend it with a friend and with or without kids.

After all that excitement we’re starving so for lunch we go to the Space Needle Restaurant. I would argue that this is the best way to enjoy the Space Needle experience. Lunch is a $25 minimum spend per person but the food is excellent (I had coconut shrimp, a healthy portion of large luscious shrimp with great crispy fries and spicy coleslaw) and included is access to the viewing area which will cost you I think $10 anyway. Plus you get the added novelty of enjoying the 360° views as the restaurant slowly revolves.

Sally and I insist that we pay for lunch because Kevin had paid for everything else up to that point in the day, however it came time to get the bill and Kevin, the sneak, had already paid! So not only did we have a great day but it was all courtesy of a very generous and kind electrician we’d only know for a couple of days.

One of the things which has most endeared me to the travelling life is the people that you meet and the way you can develop friendships in a matter of hours it seems. The friendships don’t always last but they make life on the road so much more fun.

After lunch we relaxed by the fountain at the Seattle Centre, watching kids running in and out of the spray, then watching Kevin doing the same! As revenge for the earlier splashing incident Sally and I covertly purchased water pistols at a tacky tourist place. As Kevin returned from the fountain looking very pleased with him self as he’d managed to stay pretty dry we attacked!