Of course, I won't write a blog every day. Is there anybody on this planet who would be interested in reading "went to have coffee with Marc today", "worked on that article today", "reviewed this paper", "went to the library for some lit search"...? You get the drift! Boooring! Thus, I decided to have this blog and use it for "general" impressions and things I think are worthy to write. In addition, I will have separate blogs of trips I do, such as whale watching, Mt Rainier National Park, etc... Sounds like a plan?
Well, general impressions....: Marc is the perfect host! And so is his family! He makes my stay here such a wonderful experience! He shows me around, we chat about work we are doing almost daily, I was invited to an absolutely outstanding Mexican dinner (cooked by Candyce and Carina, his wife and daughter, respectively) at his family's place, etc... He also organised a nice office for me (just 2 doors down from his office), and within minutes I even had keys to the building and the office, so I can come in any time. I even have a view towards the water, and beautiful house boats across the lake. Amazing! I truly enjoy my time here! More about work further down in this blog...
I am staying at the University Motel Suites, on 12th Street, just outside campus. I have a whole apartment, with a kitchen, dining area, lounge with two leather couches, a desk and TV, a bath with tub and shower, and separate bedroom. Very spacious, and all is stuck in the 70s! The tub, sink and fridge are pink/rose. I can easily walk to the office in about 15-20 minutes. A supermarket is around the corner, so is University Way, commonly referred to as "The Ave", where you have plenty of shops, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. Great!
The Troll and the Tourist. Or two trolls?
btw: The VW beetle in the troll's hand is a REAL VW beetle!
Well, general impressions....: Marc is the perfect host! And so is his family! He makes my stay here such a wonderful experience! He shows me around, we chat about work we are doing almost daily, I was invited to an absolutely outstanding Mexican dinner (cooked by Candyce and Carina, his wife and daughter, respectively) at his family's place, etc... He also organised a nice office for me (just 2 doors down from his office), and within minutes I even had keys to the building and the office, so I can come in any time. I even have a view towards the water, and beautiful house boats across the lake. Amazing! I truly enjoy my time here! More about work further down in this blog...
View out of my office (on a rainy day)
I am staying at the University Motel Suites, on 12th Street, just outside campus. I have a whole apartment, with a kitchen, dining area, lounge with two leather couches, a desk and TV, a bath with tub and shower, and separate bedroom. Very spacious, and all is stuck in the 70s! The tub, sink and fridge are pink/rose. I can easily walk to the office in about 15-20 minutes. A supermarket is around the corner, so is University Way, commonly referred to as "The Ave", where you have plenty of shops, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. Great!
The Troll and the Tourist. Or two trolls?
btw: The VW beetle in the troll's hand is a REAL VW beetle!
Dinosaur Lamppost on University Ave
Table at Johnny Rocket's, a classic diner in University Village
(the burgers there are yum, too ;-)
(the burgers there are yum, too ;-)
View on the I-5, just 3 minutes walk from my apartment.
The city in the background.
The city in the background.
View from the same bridge: University behind the trees,
and Mt Rainier in the far distance.
and Mt Rainier in the far distance.
Downtown at the piers. After a rain shower the sun
came out and the wooden pier is steaming.
came out and the wooden pier is steaming.
The following pictures are of Pike Place Market, a traditional market downtown. It became a major tourist attraction, but is also a still funtioning market, especially for seafood. A place buzzing with atmosphere.
I went there particularly for the Market Spice Tea shop. Exactly 25 years ago on my very first trip to the USA, I stayed with a host in Spokane, WA. Sam always made "sun tea", i.e. filled a huge glass jar with water, dropped in some tea, and let it "brew" outside in the sun for a few days. The tea tasted absolutely amazing, hot or cold. Whenever I came to Spokane after words, I went to the shop in the old Flower Mill and bought that tea. More recently, I googled the shop to see if they would do mail orders. They didn't have the option for international mailing, and I e-mailed them to ask for it. I never got a reply. I also knew that they actually have their main shop in Seattle, at Pike Place Market. So, I did indeed find it and bought tea for $US45! Well, I'll just have to mail it home, but I am a VERY happy boy now!
The other day I was quite surprised when I heard a knock (or more a scratch) at my door, and when I opened, in walked Stella, our cat. She decided she had enough of Auckland, and wanted to see what I am doing here in Seattle. Of course, she was hungry as always - her life revolves around food and sleep, and, now doubt, ruling the house. I managed to take a photo of her, just before she had dinner:
These are two massive arenas south of the city centre.
They are Safeco Field and the Qwest Field.
They don't look as big in the photo, but when you drive
past them on the I-5 you can see how huge they are...
They are Safeco Field and the Qwest Field.
They don't look as big in the photo, but when you drive
past them on the I-5 you can see how huge they are...
Seattle Aquarium - another place I must visit while I am here.
A view to downtown from the waterfront. On the photo below
you can even see the Space Needle peek out behind the other buildings.
you can even see the Space Needle peek out behind the other buildings.
A couple of days ago, Sue and Heather from Cairns were here for a day. They are on holidays, visiting Sue's family on Vancouver Island. They decided to take a couple of days off and spend a day in Seattle, and one in the San Juan Islands, where Sue did her PhD research a few years ago. We went out and had a nice dinner at a Thai restaurant in Capital Hill. Very good food, and very nice catching up with Sue and Heather!
Marc, moi, Heather Sue
One thing I really enjoy being here at UoW with Marc are my daily discussions and brain storms we two have. Every day at around 9 or 10am we walk over to the coffee place, get a cup and then sit down outside on the waterfront, talking about our work and what we are doing, and plan to do together. We have equal "sessions" back at the office almost daily. It is such an enriching environment, and - in my opinion - the true value of my Sabbatical time here. Marc has such a wealth of knowledge, and I admire his breadth and depth of philosophic and historic knowledge - this man is a walking book (or, better, library!). And well, have a look at his office, car, and home: All full of books! His office is so stuffed with shelves and boxes full of books that he literally can't work in there - he is working in a meeting room or a coffee shop! With all the things he is doing, his significant output, his teaching and supervision, I just wonder when he finds the time to read. And yes, he DOES read the books, because if you ask him for anything, he immediately knows books, runs to his office and picks not one or two, but a pile of books relating to the topic you asked him about! Fascinating!!!
Yesterday, I was at Lake Union, sitting in the sun and just enjoying life. There were plenty of people pursuing all sorts of water activities. This one was particularly interesting. Even the doggie seemed to enjoy it!
Here is a photo the the Space Needle, Seattle's main icon! It was actually built for the World Fair in 1962. At the Museum of Flight (separate blog) there are some TV clips from that time, and it looks fascinating. People in the 60s really had the feeling that in the year 2000, we would fly in space craft, ride on monorails, etc...
I love the 60s design of the Monorail - both inside and out!
The downtown station is right in the main shopping district.
I bet the tower in the back (actually, it is a twin tower - the other one
is just hidden by the Monorail column/track - see previous photo) was also very futuristic in its time...
School of Marine Affairs
Visitors in front of the building
Marc in his "office" (the meeting room)
Good choice of journal you have there, Marc!
Our coffee place right across the street...
...and our second office. Over a cup of coffee we discuss many things,
from publications to CMTs, here almost every morning
One thing I really enjoy being here at UoW with Marc are my daily discussions and brain storms we two have. Every day at around 9 or 10am we walk over to the coffee place, get a cup and then sit down outside on the waterfront, talking about our work and what we are doing, and plan to do together. We have equal "sessions" back at the office almost daily. It is such an enriching environment, and - in my opinion - the true value of my Sabbatical time here. Marc has such a wealth of knowledge, and I admire his breadth and depth of philosophic and historic knowledge - this man is a walking book (or, better, library!). And well, have a look at his office, car, and home: All full of books! His office is so stuffed with shelves and boxes full of books that he literally can't work in there - he is working in a meeting room or a coffee shop! With all the things he is doing, his significant output, his teaching and supervision, I just wonder when he finds the time to read. And yes, he DOES read the books, because if you ask him for anything, he immediately knows books, runs to his office and picks not one or two, but a pile of books relating to the topic you asked him about! Fascinating!!!
Yesterday, I was at Lake Union, sitting in the sun and just enjoying life. There were plenty of people pursuing all sorts of water activities. This one was particularly interesting. Even the doggie seemed to enjoy it!
Here is a photo the the Space Needle, Seattle's main icon! It was actually built for the World Fair in 1962. At the Museum of Flight (separate blog) there are some TV clips from that time, and it looks fascinating. People in the 60s really had the feeling that in the year 2000, we would fly in space craft, ride on monorails, etc...
At the bottom of the Space Needle is the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, a colourful futuristic building.
The Monorail was also built for the 1962 World Fair, and was America's first commercial monorail. The track goes right through the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame building, i.e. the latter was built around the Monorail. The current fare is $2 on way.
I love the 60s design of the Monorail - both inside and out!
The downtown station is right in the main shopping district.
I bet the tower in the back (actually, it is a twin tower - the other one
is just hidden by the Monorail column/track - see previous photo) was also very futuristic in its time...
This is across Lake Union. The bridge is the I-5, and the tall building on the right belongs to the University of Washington. My apartment is just around the corner. In fact, I can see it out of my window. I can also see the Space Needle in the distance...
Work:
School of Marine Affairs
Visitors in front of the building
Marc in his "office" (the meeting room)
Good choice of journal you have there, Marc!
This is Marc and myself working on a journal article - brain storming for content and structure...
Our coffee place right across the street...
...and our second office. Over a cup of coffee we discuss many things,
from publications to CMTs, here almost every morning
Today, I was over in West Seattle to have lunch with Toni Frohoff. It was a little Fish&Chips place with a beautiful view over to Seattle:
I was great to meet Toni in person, and have a good time to chat about this and that. Thanks for taking the time, Toni, and thanks for the beautiful book! (Toni gave me a signed copy of one of her books:
Toni Frohoff and Brenda Peterson (eds., 2003). Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco.
I had a look at the table of contents, and it looks really good. Can't wait to start reading it... You can order it at Amazon - click on the title above and you will be forwarded to it.
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