Honeymoon Road Trip - Day 2: Seattle
- Marquis Chester
- Nov 5, 2025
- 4 min read
Our first stop on Day 2 was Anchorhead Coffee, which was nestled in the corner of a vast office space far off the sidewalk. Camille and I walked right past it. Apparently, we were the only blokes in town who couldn't find it, seeing as how the queue was in constant flux. The baristas didn't stutter for a second. We had our drinks out almost as quickly as we could find our seats. Camille got... something, and I ordered a classic "Honey Bunches of Cold Brew." We shared a pesto mozzarella sandwich for breakfast.
Sitting by the window, watching all the well-dressed professionals stroll by, helped me realize that it was indeed Monday. I was, in fact, in Seattle, not sitting at my desk at work or lying in bed at home. Do I have the time or the money to afford what I am doing right now? I love that it's too late to ask. Now is the time to put aside my concerns and live while I'm alive.
The Amazon Spheres are closed on Sundays and Mondays, which we found out the hard way. No worries, though. They look incredible from the outside. As does the Space Needle, our next attraction. It looks great from almost every perspective. The ride to the top showed me something I've never seen before: the separation of the hills. Let's explain what I mean here.
Usually, I see rolling hills from the ground's perspective. This view almost flattens them, portraying them in nearly a single plane. Rising into the air in slow motion (compared to taking off for a flight, for example) gives my eyes and brain time to process how the hills sit as far from one another as they do from me. As one remains stationary, the other cascades, flows, or evolves. It's like reading your first pop-up book as a child, but on a life-sized scale.
There are several incredible spots to capture the perfect photo. I have several here. I would like to draw your attention to this astonishing rooftop mural by Marlin Peterson, which features two giant spiders. This truly scared the hell out of me at first glance. For the sake of the reader, I'll omit this image. I'm a rather gullible individual. I can get on board with almost anything, so I was fully prepared to believe 8 Legged Freaks was a lost documentary. (It's an historic, profound, immaculate piece of American media regardless. I'm sure you agree.)
Chihuly Garden was similarly spectacular. The endless twisting tendrils of glass this artist is know for make me deeply uncomfortable in a way that I rather enjoy. It's creatively off-putting, not unlike Chihuly himself, according to the documentary at the end of the exhibit. Watching footage of him at work, as he explains his chaotic yet earnest methodology, was a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of a craftsman whose works have been deemed worthy of adoration. Admittedly, I share that perspective. These works are as eccentric and unique as their creator, and not in a cliche, pretentious way. Chihuly feels like the real-world artist that fictional eccentrics are based on. Or perhaps he's styled himself after earlier, more original figures, influences upon which we still draw. This is worth its own separate inquiry.
The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) might be the most fascinating museum I have ever visited. Not necessarily the best, the most interesting, the most accurate, etc. But it is easily the coolest. Exhibits based on society's most famous icons in gaming, cinema, television, and music just sounds like a winning idea, and victory was certainly achieved here. I hold a particular appreciation for all of the Star Wars memorabilia. MOPOP has an entire room dedicated to indie gaming, complete with console and desktop setups with controllers, mice, and keyboards. I could have spent the whole afternoon in that arcade, perfecting my problem solving silks and honing my manual dexterity. But there was still so much to see and do, including taking the most terrifying photo of myself I've ever seen in a screaming booth. Happy Halloween!
I can't believe it, but Grey's Anatomy was added to my watchlist earlier this year. I generally do not care for medical dramas. They trigger my tendency to catastrophize non-existent situations. But the Pit is a great show. Even the Emmy's think so. The impressive long-take they accomplish in each episode-
Wait, wrong show.
Grey's Anatomy is a charming time capsule of professional adult life for Americans in the early 2000s. I have no idea what happens past Season 2, but the episodes I've seen so far construct a fun narrative to follow. I also have no idea how they managed to last this long, but I understand why they have the community they have, and I am now part of it. As such, I could not visit Seattle and NOT see Meredith's house. Fun fact: the owner literally pulled up and walked inside just as we started taking pictures.
Around the corner was this stunning view of Seattle from atop the hill at Kerry Park. This is one of my favorite vantage points across all of my travels. Rarely do I get such a comprehensive perspective of a city. I'm always struggling to find a decent angle distinct from the most cliche skyline. This delivered.
Dinner was downtown at Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese eatery popular for their noodles, bao buns, and wontons. Their story and the life of their founder, Mr. Bing Yi-Yang, are illustrated on their website. It features a timeline of his life and how his Xiao Long Bao became so world famous. Amateur historians such as myself love this type of thing.
What I loved even more was the food. We ordered four items, and not a single one missed: Spicy wontons, crab & Kurobuta pork xiao long bao, braised beef noodle soup, and noodles with diced beef and Szechuan peppers. Again, not a single miss among them. They taste every bit as good as they look.
We finished the evening with a pleasant stroll along the waterfront. That was all for Seattle Day 2. Please find the full gallery here and check back again next week for our trip to Portland!
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