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| me and lovely roommate HG |
I'm focussing my post on food and shopping. It seems that our trip has been well chronicled by Twitarded, Twired Jen, Honolulu Girl, MusingBella, and Mama Cougar to name just a few.
Pike Place Market
(eg. we get lost as I have no sense of direction)
After meeting up at Seatac and then picking up our rental car, we ventured into Seattle. Pike Place Market was our first destination. We followed the directions given from the market to the attached parking garage. Crap if that place wasn't scary. We ended up lining up for "elevator to market" but it felt like we were in a soup kitchen lineup. Homeless crazy people to be frank. Quickly escaping we found our way outside but inadvertently went up the Pike Hill Climb instead. By this time I'm thinking that HG is going to leave me in Seattle after knowing me for only two hours because I've gotten us completely lost. She is lovely of course and doesn't think anything of it.
Favourite things in Pike Place
- lovely french bakery Le Panier - felt strange that this was the first place I took HG to in Seattle - not really Pacific Northwest cuisine
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| yum eclair for breakfast |
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| HG's apple fritter |
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| my favourite macaroons to save for later |
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| voted America's best New England clam chowder |
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| very good seafood bisque |
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| HG really liked these peppers |
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| champagne grapes |
Next stop
Escala
As you know there's a little fanfic called Master of the Universe that I sort of like. Enough to dedicate a whole week of posts and help make a tribute site to. Well, Edward from that story happens to live in a palatial penthouse in Seattle in a building called Escala.
HG and I ventured north a few blocks from Pike Place and there we were. Seriously adrenaline rushing through me just thinking that perhaps Edward was going to come home and zoom past us on the street.
17foreverlisa and Twired Jen were lucky enough to actually go inside to an open house and see the Penthouse. So jealous!
After that we walked a couple blocks to the Nordstrom flagship store and best malls in Seattle - Pacific Place (home of Tiffany's) and Westlake Centre (home of Hot Topic - which had virtually no twilight stuff at all!)
By late afternoon we realized it was time to head towards the town of Forks, a place with only two traffic lights but good potential for Twilight shopping.
Forks
Food
There's the local Forks diner that I've been to before but after passing by one of their windows that was permanently filled with flies we decided to never go in there.
We spent almost every meal at The Lodge - a Twilight restaurant run by the Dazzled by Twilight crew. It's attached to the Twilight Lounge (place with a bar and dancefloor) and The Dungeon (small bar area).
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| Can't you picture Charlie drinking from this? |
Yes if you click on the menus below you can see what kind of
Twilight food names they came up with
Thank you to TT for the wonderful surprise card that awaited us at breakfast lovingly transported by 17foreverlisa.
Breakfast
- variable portions, regular diner fare
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| wish that every diner had these glasses |
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| I know she comes off hardcore but Mrs. P and her awesome Long Island accent are too adorable for words |
I'll quickly add in that we had a nice gloomy cold trip to Rialto Beach. And Lisa, despite her fear of all things aquatic, actually came down to the beach to take photos with us.
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| LtoR: TwiLoveSue, StarlitViolets, 17ForeverLisa, me, HG, Twired Jen, Cullenary Curser, Mrs.P |
Also what you don't see is Lisa and I cursing at our phones since we have no cell service and can't get a hold of Dangrdafne, Dangrdonna, and LivingWithEdward to join us. Don't they know us Twitards can't survive without cell service?
Twilight Sites
As stated above there are too many blogs to name that have already written there Twilight tour posts. Hence I'll just include my favourite pics.
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| The Miller Tree Inn aka The Cullen House |
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| HG and I at La Push |
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| Edward trying to force Bella to leave La Push |
Port Angeles
Bella Italia
Take note that it takes at least an hour to get here from Forks. Thank goodness the restaurant was only a little snarky when Twired Jen graciously called to alert them of our tardiness.
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| super suave Edward belonging to Mrs. Fashion, friend of MusingBella |
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| happy sharing a meal with Twired Jen and 17foreverLisa |
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| couldn't stop eating this sourdough |
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| obligatory mushroom ravioli |
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| tasty crabcakes - don't ask what market price was though |
Almost talked HG into going next door to Lincoln Theatre to watch Eclipse with me. Wouldn't watching Twilight in Port Angeles have been cool? Oh well, food wins everytime.
Shopping
If there is one selling point for Forks it is a mecca for a Twilight shopoholic. Who needs the Hoh forest when you could be submersed into twi merchandise heaven?
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| Red Edition from UK |
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| Team Edward ornament - they made me one on the spot then gave it to me for FREE because it was so wet - score! |
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| can't find these at home |
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| yes I caved in and bought one - and I LOVE IT! |
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| a present for Mr. TC? Had to get him something to open in Forks |
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| pretend version of their wedding invite |
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| have never seen the Cullen crest on nailpolish before Rosalie would be proud |
The store that used to be 98331 Gear is now listed as a cosmetics place across the street and just one block over from Dazzled by Twilight. They sell autographed merchandise and you can reach the owner at ForksChick. This is one time I did not go back home and look up the certificate of authenticity on every item before purchase.
Why? I couldn't leave the store without buying this:
And to my amazement the owner even included the frame.
Also bought this at the same time - my favourite photo of Rob and Kristen
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| excuse the reflection off the protective cover |
Last thoughts
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| Dangrdafne channelling Bella |
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| fellow city girls - me, Mrs. P, HG |
Lastly a quick 10 second video of the view from La Push Beach
La Push Beach video
Next post will be to finish off the Italy Trip - Montepulciano and Volterra - finally!