Seattle June 2019 cont.

I have a long history with Seattle.  I lived there for a time in the 60s on my way to Canada and in the mid 70s we moved there as a family so I've gotten to know the city to a degree and have seen it grow and change over a few decades.  
Slow to adopt rapid transit, Seattle now has a nice light rail system that is being expanded on, a pretty good bus system and lots of share bikes, mostly electric. 

On the train

 Underground train station

One of the major tourist attractions in Seattle is the Underground Tour.  In all the years that I lived in Seattle I never did it so it was good to finally get the opportunity.  For a variety of reasons I won't go into here, the old town part of Seattle (Pioneer Square) is built on top of what was originally the downtown and now you can go down into the original city.  

 Wooden pipe

End of an era, the destruction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a two level freeway that dominated Seattle's waterfront for decades.

Views around town

A visit to Seattle would not be complete without a shot of Mt Rainier should it be visible.

 And off into the sunset!

Seattle June 2019

In June of this year shortly after I got back from Mexico I went to Seattle to connect with the family and celebrate me and Lucien's birthdays.  He and his mom came and so did Lily so we had all the immediate family together with the exception of Ryan who had to work.  I learned that a visit to the space needle was at the top of Lucien's list of wishes for his birthday in Seattle so I booked at visit there for the two of us.  Unfortunately it was a cloudy, drizzly day but still, it was a fun trip and the views were pretty spectacular.  

What a great perspective for viewing Seattle from way up there 184m (603') high.  

Looking down into Seattle Center - Chihuly glass

 Frank Gehry architecture

Stay tuned for more Seattle 2019

Mexico 2019 - San Augustin part 2 (forgotten)

I was just looking through my posts and noticed that I never published this one.  So back to Oaxaca we go briefly.

San Augustin de Etla is a pretty, quiet little town nestled in the hills just north of Oaxaca with greenery all around.  

There were a lot of these reflecting pools around the facility.

 

The only activity going on was a felting workshop.  I wanted to learn more about it but the women working there were not very forthcoming.  They did allow this one photo.

Here are some of the felt products that they made for sale in the gift shop.

I don't know if it was just an slow day but there were no other visitors there.  I'm sure it gets busier on the weekends and when there are events, but I enjoyed having the place to myself. 

Mexico 2019* - Lago (Lake) de Tequesquitengo

For some time Alfonso had been talking about the world famous Jardines de Mexico (Gardens of Mexico) and promising a trip there one day.  That day finally came not long before I was to return home to Canada.  I'd never heard of these gardens but learned that they are the largest floral park in the world.  The park is located about an hour and a half south of Mexico City, just outside of Cuernavaca in the state of Morelos. I was excited to see these gardens and it was also a perfect opportunity for Alfonso to ride his motorcycle.  He recently fulfilled a dream and got a BMW and loves to get a bunch of motorcycle buddies together and go for rides.  So he and his friends rode their bikes and the rest of us went in the car.

 The car contingent, except for Alfonso.

When we got to the gardens and were approaching the ticket booth we discovered that the whole park had been taken over for a big rock concert and it wasn't possible to just go in and look at the gardens.  I wondered why it was mostly young people and most of them carrying coolers and sleeping bags.  So it was time for plan B which was go to the nearby lake and hang out at a lakeside resort for the afternoon.  

Sylvia and Alfonso - other members of the group behind
 

Lago de Tequesquitengo is quite large and not just a recreation spot but is also the principal water storage for the state of Morelos. 

It is also a weekend getaway spot for Cuernavacans and Mexico City residents many of whom own luxury lakeside homes.

A boat cruise along the shore

 Sylvia and Alfonso

Erwin, Alfonso's lifetime friend
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceDZ3zKlfBA

 

And for the less well heeled

That brings us to the end of Mexico 2019.  I hope you've enjoyed the journey half as much as I did.  Come visit me in Mexico City where I'll be doing Mexico 2020!