Pike Place Market

Day 293 – Seattle, USA

As I said in my previous post, I arrived late last night in Seattle. I had quite a few to-and-froes with the front desk renting a towel and asking for an extra sheet (to put between me and the blanket that is not washed between guests). Nothing like unpacking and making your bed when the lights are off and everyone is already abed.

Today, I went to a free (tip-based) tour of Pike Place Market, a market with a history -the longest running continuously in the States. 

The tour guide was witty, knowledgeable, and interesting, so I enjoyed it greatly. He also has agreements with some stalls to give us free samples (the sugar bee apple is not bad).

Pike Place Market – Fruit stall

The market is run by a non-profit organization, and they accept vendors on a few select criteria. 

Pike Place Market – Piggy bank

Sellers have to produce their wares. That started because the first market wanted to cut the middle-men out.

No chains allowed in the brick-and-mortar shops. There is a Starbucks here, but because their first shop was in the market! They started here so their place is permanent (as long as they don’t wish to leave).

And there are flying fish.

More exactly, Pike Place Market (named for the street it started on) fishmongers started the habit to throw the fish at each other to gain time, instead of walking around their stands or from one end to the other.

Today they still do that (well, I think maybe only one specific fishmonger stand), but you have to buy fish to see it. So some people buy fish… but don’t want the fish! So it is given away to a senior retirement centre. 

One of the last stop of the tour was the gum wall, where people stick their gum in a disgusting (but colourful) display.

Pike Place Market – Gum wall

After the tour, I went back to buy a few apples (since the honey bee was supposed ro be compared to the honey crisp) and some salmon fish and chips, which I went to eat on a park overlooking the Puget Sound (the sound that separate Seattle from Bainbridge Island).

Seattle – Totem pole

I found some warm apple cider, and I’ll have to explore the definition of apple cider, hard cider and what we French people call cider, because there are some obvious differences! I suspect that the hard cider is the alcoholic one, but in that case, what is apple cider versus apple juice?

I came back to the hotel for some thorough hand washing, some rest, and some laundry!

I found the magic machine that starts without me putting any coins in it, and the broken machine that decide once my money is in to become out of order. (It was a quick fix from the staff, obviously they are used to its temperamental behaviour.)