DAY 47- 50 ~ GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON (July 3 – July 6)

Our first stop in Washington is Gig Harbor.  Gig Harbor is where our friends of 40 years, the Melchiors, live.  We are staying here for 3 days and 4 nights.  Bonnie & Mike are moving to a new home next week (in the same town).  We will be helping them with some of their packing and we will take a trip to Seattle on one of the days.

DAY 49 ~ SEATTLE (July 5)

It is a beautiful, sunny, warm day in Seattle on Saturday; the day after a long night of celebration and explosions (4^th of July). 

The area around the Space Needle is very crowded.  Some kind of festival was going on nearby.  Color Festival??  As we got closer we discovered what the color festival was all about.  A crowd of people throwing powdered chalk of many colors up in the air and at each other.   Of course you must wear white.  We saw many colorful people that day.

Also in the area of the Space Needle is the CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS.  This is a must see!  This is an exhibition that displays the work of the great glass artist Dale Chihuly.  There is in indoor area of several rooms showing his colorful and wonderful designs.  Outdoors is a garden where his designs match the surrounding landscape and flowers.  “I want people to be overwhelmed with light and color in a way they have never experienced”---Dale Chihuly

Persian Ceiling

 Mille Fiori

Float Boat

 Inside the Glasshouse

The COLLECTIONS CAFÉ is a great place to eat.  The café displays many of Dale Chihuly’s personal collections.  All the tables are embedded with a glass window box with a different collection in each one.  It has a fun atmosphere and the food is delicious.

 Juicers

 Antique Christmas Ornaments. This was at our table.

Mike and Bonnie Melchior, myself and Dave

Yummy 

Our last stop before leaving Seattle was Pier 91 where the Princess Cruise ships dock.  Bonnie & Mike’s daughter, Melissa, is a Port Agent supervisor for Princess Cruises.  The Golden Princess was there getting ready to leave for Alaska.  We had a nice visit with Melissa and was given a tour of ‘how it all works’.  It was all so very interesting.   Melissa is the one who will turn you away if you do not have your passport or all the proper documents.  That day 9 people were not allowed to board the Golden Princess.    

We watched the Golden leave the docks and wished so much we were on it.  In Seattle, as the ship departs, you will not hear “The Love Boat” theme song or the horn blow.  The residents on the hill overlooking the docks have made many complaints and Princess listened to them. 

Next Stop Vancouver, Washington.