Seattle - Day 1

I am in Seattle for the next week at the AAS conference. I had a bit of a lie in this morning, but not a lot. I didn't sleep well and expect to crash any second now. The conference doesn't start until this evening so I took the day to explore. After consulting the reception desk (and finding all the dodgy parts to avoid - not what I asked but good to know anyway), I decided to get the monorail over to the Seattle Centre. I was very excited about the monorail though the trip itself was a bit disappointing. The views of Seattle were not the best. They seem to be rebuilding ... well all of it.

Monorail.

At the Centre there are a bunch of museums and the Space Needle. If you have ever seen Fraiser, you'll get it.

Space Needle.

 I took the trip to the top. It didn't take long to walk around but they do nice coffee up there. Seattle is currently living up to its reputation of being wet. It has been drizzling all day.

View of Downtown

Around the Needle.

The harbor.

While I was sitting drinking my coffee, Seattle seemed to disappear for a while. The cloud was impressive. It seems whenever I go up a tower to get a view, this happens. At least it wasn't as windy as it was up the Empire State Building.

And Seattle disappears!

After the Needle, I went to the Chihuly glass gardens next door. I highly recommend this to anyone in Seattle. It was amazing!!!!! So far by far the best place in Seattle. It's a glass art museum. The displays are amazing, and really beautiful. The first room was the sea life room.

Turtle

The second room had a Persian ceiling.

Glass ceiling

No idea what the third room was but the rooms got more amazing as you move through.

Then was my favorite room. There were 2 boats with glass. It was inspired by a trip to Japan. It was so colorful and cheerful. I spent ages looking and taking photos.

There is also a conservatory with a glass sculpture of flowers from the ceiling.

With the Space Needle.

 One of the thing the artist, Chihuly, seems to love is making glass chandeliers.

And some very pretty bowls/vases. 

The outdoor gardens would be awesome in the sun but as it was raining, I didn't spend much time there.

Tree.

Glass fir tree 

 I got a voucher for the cafe with my ticket so I went there for lunch. The cafe had cool displays on the walls and ceiling and the food was really nice.

Accordions. 

Slightly creeping dolls.

After the glass gardens, I wondered around (mainly trying to find a pharmacy - got to love the recycled air in planes) and the markets. Seattle is supposed to be an amazing music scene, I will see more of it Friday, but they do have some hardcore buskers.

Busking with a piano.

The markets are pretty cool, though I didn't buy anything. There were lots of fish stalls. I am hoping to eat loads of fresh fish while I am here.

The public market

 Though the markets do have some odd names ...

As opposed to the unsanitary one?

The sea front is ... well, it was pretty miserable. They have a wheel, which might be nice in good weather, but it was way too expensive to think about.

The Great Wheel 

To you too!

The map I have suggested visiting Miner's Landing, though I have no idea why. There were a few restaurants but the inside was creepy.

Entrance

The corridor of death 

Inside a weird shop.

I had enough and made my way back to the hotel thankfully finally via a pharmacy. While I was hunting up tissues, a girl from the makeup section gave me a free book. No idea why but I never turn down free books! :-)

Now I am going to crash for a while before the reception tonight. Oh and maybe write my talk (which I haven't started yet). 

Agincourt Pontoon

Saturday was the conference excursion out to the Barrier reef. It was the same company I went with the previous Saturday, but this time to the pontoon. There was a very good reason I didn't do this the first time. You are stuck in one place with a large number of people. Plus there are often that many people here so the reef is damaged in parts. Still it was interesting to see the 2 different ways.
I decided to do a dive anyway (my instructor from last time was there but I couldn't get to dive with him). I regret spending the money. It was a LOT more expensive than the last time and frankly rubbish. We had to hold hands for most of it. I hate that! We stopped to see a Nemo and giant clam but that was it. Every time I slowed to look at fish I was pulled forward. The others decided to go for the second dive. I was very glad I did not!

In fact everything was more expensive. You had to pay this time to hire the stinger suits. People thought I was a little strange but one girl hurt her foot on the coral and I think I was a lot warmer than those who didn't. Plus I avoided sunburn so that part was worth the money.

So I was in less than a happy mood. But everyone else seemed to enjoy their dives so maybe I was just spoilt last time.

I took a quick snorkel but couldn't see anything so went for lunch. After, I found the semi-sub and went for the trip around the reef, chatting to a nice woman from New Zealand.

Plate coral

Valley between coral

The best fish were right under the pontoon

 I was in a bit of a better mood after this so decided to give snorkeling another go. (I was there after all.) And I was glad I did. I went out as far as I was allowed and I was completely on my own so there were lots of fish. I was a lot happier! :-)

They change color (blue and green) to communicate

Sargent major fish 

Male parrot fish 

Plate and stag coral

2 blue legs of a starfish (we think)

Free diving - and apparently I am a red head! 

Sturgeon

Sixbar Wrass

 But then something made my day. I was swimming along and turned to look to my left.

Hawksbill turtle

He just sort of looked at me as if to say "coming?" So I spent the next 1/2 hr just following and watching. I had him all to myself - there was no one else even closely nearby. He was beautiful!

Found something tasty

Coming up for air

and back for more food

I did spot someone else (a student form the conference it turned out) and showed him. He was quite happy, though I think I did scare him when I grabbed him as he swam past. :-)

We stayed until the ship blew the horn, which means get back to the ship or we leave without you.

I spent the trip back looking through my photos and talking to a lovely group of grey nomads (retirees who travel the country) from Melbourne. They also showed us the video they had made of our dive. It was ok, but they were expecting people to buy it for $106 for 1 DVD! They were destined for disappointment. I didn't even buy any of the photos they took. One because I couldn't tell which one was me. Put on a mask, regulator and wet suit and everyone pretty much looks the same. And secondly they cost $22 each. I like mine better and I got a lot more of them!

Back at the marina, I said goodbye to people (and organized a dinner meet-up - without phones it's trickier). They all got the coach back to shower and change but I didn't want to miss the sunset. It was the shortest day in the southern hemisphere and the skies were clear. I wondered down to the park near the estuary.

Over the estuary

I also spotted this girl lying on near the water. Right in front of the crocodile warning sign. And they really do mean it here!

Crocodile food!

I ended up at the end park. There were these amazing trees around the far edge.

One tree or multiple?

I found a spot to watch the sun go down behind the mountains. A lot of people had brought blankets and bottles of wine. I wish I had thought of that.

Enjoying wine and the sunset

After the sunset (and I was being eaten alive once again), I headed back to the marina for a quick drink (and to borrow some more bug stray at a restaurant) before meeting some people for a final sea food dinner. (Got to get it in while I can!)

Quiet final drink at the marina