Part of a series from the travelog of my trip to Seattle in October 2022.
Flight from Austin Bergstrom International Airport was delayed 10 minutes because the ground captain failed to close the communications hatch on the fuselage after pushback. Had to hold on the taxiway for a mechanic.
Seatmates kept the window shade closed. Ugh. Exciting takeoff; I miss the thrill of getting pushed into my seat. Squeezed for elbow room in Coach class. Watched 2 episodes of “Sandman” and played some “The Room 2” on my tablet. No air meals, only pretzels, cookie, and coffee. Alaska Air requires preorder for lunches.
SEATAC International N-Terminal is confusing. No maps or kiosks — still under construction, so it looks like a dead mall, but filled with people. Found the central downstairs escalator to the train to A-Terminal, Ground Transportation. Inter-terminal trains are tunneled underground. Body now on “jet lead” to Pacific Daylight Time.
My friend “Joe” surprised me at the airport. Hah! I crossed the bridge from the terminal to the parking garage, then found the bridge to the SoundTransit #1 train. Saw some masked guy walking directly toward me from the side, I was about to freak. Oh shit, it’s Joe! Hugs! Thankfully he was there to navigate transit, since the train was shutdown in the middle for track maintenance, with connector buses between sections. I was too far gone to focus.
35 pounds of luggage on my back, carry-on and daybag (more than my Europe trip). Up 14th Ave from the station on Broadway to his apartment. Seattle is far too three-dimensional. And there are worse hills in this town. But, that view. That. View.
Dropped off luggage at his place since I couldn’t check-in until 3, then we went down to pickup lunch and coffee, Dingfelder’s Jewish deli — no dine-in, carry-out only (it’s a theme here in Seattle). And of course, heavy rain started as we hit the sidewalk. My backpack’s not as waterproof as my raincoat. Ugh. Lessons.
Found our way up to U-District on train, then over on the 44 bus to Ballard, uphill walk to my weird-ass AirBnB. Check-in, drop off, freshen, then off to meet “Jane” and friends at Gracia for dinner and drinks.
Still stuffed from lunch. Ate half, kept mostly quiet during conversation. Social scene was overwhelming in the restaurant; couldn’t hear well enough to focus, so I just gave up. We walked to Miro Tea for drinks and coffee, then on to Jane’s house to chill and chat. Homey, warm, creaking floors. Discussions about hikes and rocks and transit. Me phasing in and out. Travel fatigue.
Joe walked me home on his way to his bus, not very far. I unpacked, showered, slept. First day. Seattle. I’m in Seattle.