Daylight Savings in the Arctic Circle
Seattle is the northernmost city in the continental US, and thus the summer days are long and the winter days short. It reminds me of living in Northern Lower Michigan – when it would get dark by 4,00 in Winter, but was light till nearly 10,00 in the Summer. Which was tough, because we had lights out, revelry and “go-to-bed-dang-you-kids” at 10,00 at Interlochen Arts Camp. I was one of the campers who often stayed up to cause mild trouble, like booby-trapping the doors and having a “food club” in the shower room at night. Best summer of my life! My counselor’s train letter to me said, “it was interesting to have you in the cabin”, haha.
Today was sunny so I took advantage of the free vitamin D and walked up the ridiculously steep hill in our neighborhood to the shops at the top. Seriously, this hill would feel comfortable in San Francisco, or the Alps. Here is a photo from part-way up the top.
We live at the bottom closer to the space needle
Dang, that photo doesn’t really show how steep it is. Hold on, let me find another.
The part near the water is roughly 4,000 feet lower than the top
Queen Anne Hill is so steep that there are a number of staircases build into it for pedestrians.
Stairs up the Mountain
Queen Anne is the steepest neighborhood in Seattle, although Magnolia next door is also a place you need good brakes on your car.
Magnolia is the land across the little bay, and the Olympics are the mountains in the background
The stores at the top of the hill are a mix of useful at twee – Trader Joes, other Grocery Stores, bookstores, ice cream shops, bars, etc. It is the closest thing I have seen to a Chicago town-style neighborhood in Seattle. Also, getting there feels like an accomplishment, since if you’re walking you’ll have burned one million calories walking up Everest, and if you’re driving you’ve managed not to flip your car over on the hill.
Foliage
I went to the local bookstore, which is one of those fantastic stores where they have personnel recommendations and can order in anything you want. I went to get a new Swiss travel book, since we’re planning a family trip there this summer.
Hank cannot come with us after his little accident on the plane.
Oh I also worked on the Christmas party invitations for the holiday party Kai and I are hosting at his house when I am home in December. They are construction paper and glitter, no expense spared! Although Henry ended up with a lot of glue and glitter on his tail, and we had to cut his fur.
Revenge!
Lee likes his photo taken