No Seattle visit is complete without a trip to Pike Place Market; "the Market," as locals refer to it.
To Europeans, the Market neighborhood feels familiar, yet remains uniquely American.
Born in August 1907 and aiming to connect farmers directly to consumers, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continually operated public farmer's markets in the United States. Complete with over 200 year-round businesses, craftspeople and street performers, the Market welcomes over 10 million visitors a year. Only the Space Needle can compete as a major local landmark!
It seemed natural for the Frenchies to return this week, between two downpours. Four years had gone by since their last visit, yet nothing much had changed...
Downtown Seattle is still a hodgepodge of architectural styles... "To each his own" seems to be the city's motto as far as city planning is concerned...
The original Starbucks store is still there, a tourist attraction in its own right. French Dad was even talked into walking around while holding his coffee in a paper cup! Revolution!
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Rachel the Pig still welcomes visitors to the Market...
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Under the Market, miles of corridors, known as "DownUnder," offer a quirky and often fascinating collection of antiques, collectibles, and strange finds...
The Gum Wall was a surprise to the Frenchies... "Beurk!" (Yuck!) commented French Mom, a street art fan...
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After our morning stroll, we enjoyed a tasty and affordable lunch at Lowell's, a Market institution. The unbeatable Puget Sound views rival the terraces of the most exclusive local restaurants... Unfortunately, Tom Hanks (who once visited Lowell's in an iconic Sleepless in Seattle scene,) was nowhere to be found...
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One can't visit the Market without perusing the wares and investing in fresh local produce. The Frenchies lucked out: It is tulip season, and the market stalls overflowed with colorful flowers from the neighboring Skagit Valley. This is as close to Holland (a.k.a. tulip country) as Seattleites will ever get!
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When it was time to leave, the Frenchies and their Americanized daughter and grandson enjoyed glorious Puget Sound views one last time from the iconic Victor Steinbrueck park...
We returned to our side of the bridge, but all that sightseeing had made us very thirsty. We dropped off Junior and headed to a favorite local winery (and outdoor summer concert venue,) le Château Ste Michelle, where some of us indulged in a wine-tasting session before heading home...
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A bientôt...
It seemed natural for the Frenchies to return this week, between two downpours. Four years had gone by since their last visit, yet nothing much had changed...
Downtown Seattle is still a hodgepodge of architectural styles... "To each his own" seems to be the city's motto as far as city planning is concerned...
 |
| Looking up Pike street from the Market |
The original Starbucks store is still there, a tourist attraction in its own right. French Dad was even talked into walking around while holding his coffee in a paper cup! Revolution!
 |
| Bizarre... but when in Seattle, do as the Seattleites do... |
Rachel the Pig still welcomes visitors to the Market...
Under the Market, miles of corridors, known as "DownUnder," offer a quirky and often fascinating collection of antiques, collectibles, and strange finds...
 |
| In the "belly" of the Market... |
The Gum Wall was a surprise to the Frenchies... "Beurk!" (Yuck!) commented French Mom, a street art fan...
 |
| Sometimes, one is just very grateful for the Lumix LX5's awesome zoom! |
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| Oooppsss! |
After our morning stroll, we enjoyed a tasty and affordable lunch at Lowell's, a Market institution. The unbeatable Puget Sound views rival the terraces of the most exclusive local restaurants... Unfortunately, Tom Hanks (who once visited Lowell's in an iconic Sleepless in Seattle scene,) was nowhere to be found...
 |
| A window with a [Seattle] view: Puget Sound. WA state ferry. Ferris wheel. |
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| Sleepless in Seattle, 1993 (yikes!) Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin) and Rob Reiner (his friend) head down to the Market for lunch |
One can't visit the Market without perusing the wares and investing in fresh local produce. The Frenchies lucked out: It is tulip season, and the market stalls overflowed with colorful flowers from the neighboring Skagit Valley. This is as close to Holland (a.k.a. tulip country) as Seattleites will ever get!
 |
| Seattle is a city where fish actuallyflies! |
When it was time to leave, the Frenchies and their Americanized daughter and grandson enjoyed glorious Puget Sound views one last time from the iconic Victor Steinbrueck park...
 |
| Local teenager doing what teenagers do best: texting... |
We returned to our side of the bridge, but all that sightseeing had made us very thirsty. We dropped off Junior and headed to a favorite local winery (and outdoor summer concert venue,) le Château Ste Michelle, where some of us indulged in a wine-tasting session before heading home...
 |
| "Santé!" |
A bientôt...
All photos by French Girl in Seattle
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