Amtrak Coast Starlight coach was 34 hours from Los Angeles Union Station to Seattle King Street Station. I was comfortable in the spacious front seat that could recline to 135 degrees. Three friends opted to experience this long ride with me. We brought along snacks and enjoyed each other’s company for miles of daylight scenery. Our Car #3 was all Seattle bound passengers, which was nice, because there were no coming and going at different stops. Two college-age young ladies, at our opposite aisle, both appeared to be traveling singly, each kept to herself the entire time. Is it easier to converse with strangers online, but not in person? A woman brought her chihuahua. Half way northbound in California, an inspector came to tell her she needed to leave the train at the next stop. The woman teared up and pleaded. A few stops later, she and her chihuahua returned to the same seats. The dog never did make any noise. To our surprise, we were allowed to pay for fine dining, which were normally reserved for sleeper passengers. For $45, it was a delicious 3 course meal with one alcoholic drink plus a variety of soft beverages. The trick to sleeping on coach was to cushion my lower back, wear a cupped eye mask, and pull up my flannel blanket.
Don’t bother to look for or buy the ORCA card as advised on websites. The King Street Station did not even have bus/metro ticket machines. In the dark hours of 8:30 pm, we just got on the bus. Passengers on Bus #1 toward Belltown were a few raggedy types, slumped over in their seats. The bus driver waived our fares. A standing fellow told us, “it’s ok.” At night, downtown’s prime intersections looked sad. Graffiti walls complemented the down and outs scattered against storefronts or plopped face down on sidewalks. No tents in view was unusual for this visitor from Los Angeles.
Seattle's melancholy weather, people's calmer demeanors, and the city's high-tech legacy enhanced the city’s sophisticated feel. There were fewer junk food franchises. Liquor with a meal was widely available. Highrises sustained elegance in form and function, showcasing an artistic and mindful architectural community. We stayed at an Airbnb near the Space Needle. Our unit was 600+/- square feet, but it had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with spacious living and window views. The Space Needle was “Star Trek’s” version of a futuristic cityscape. Frank Gehry’s Museum of Pop Culture may be his best work. The University of Washington campus looked “ivy league.” Amazon, UPS, Starbucks, REI, Bill Gates all made prominent landmarks to commemorate their success.
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Metro 1 Line (not to be confused with Bus #1) for a $3 adult ticket was the public transportation to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Long walks to and inside the terminal, and then a train connection were necessary to reach Gate S6. Security check was tough, I went through it 3 times. Second time because I forgot to place my cell phone in the bin. Third time was that my tablet was inside my carry-on. That's another reason to take the train.
