A random walk through Seattle with my point-and-click
A few months back, my car was threatening to be difficult. It hadn’t really acted up, but the “check engine” light kept going off, and it struck me that I wish everything in life were kind enough to inform you of its impending break down.
In a panic, I brought my car into a repair shop. I have no idea what they did, or what was wrong with my vehicle in the first place. They ended up charging me $300, and I am okay with that being the price of my ignorance. It also required me to get home from Fremont without a car. Since I figured I’d be doing a lot of walking and taking multiple buses (some of which had me sitting next to nose-picking guy – we’ll later explore why this always happens) I decided to take my point-and-click with me.
Now, I rarely have my point-and-click on me. I generally travel with my huge Canon EOS, which I barely know how to use (also, for the record, I don’t know what EOS stands for. Please don’t tell me. I like mystery). Its size often causes me to leave it at home (make up your own joke). This time, though, I thought ahead, had my tiny camera on hand, and took photos of my walk through Fremont …
![Mustachioed mural Mustachioed mural](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/001-1024x768.jpg)
What's interesting isn't so much the mural itself, but that it's painted on the side of my friend's store, and I've never noticed it before.
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![Flowers I saw these two months ago, and believed them to be a sign of an early spring. They were not. Stupid, misleading flowers.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/002-1024x768.jpg)
I saw these two months ago, and believed them to be a sign of an early spring. They were not. Stupid, misleading flowers.
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![World cup poster There is an Italian cafe in Fremont, which I didn't realize until I walked past it.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/003-1024x768.jpg)
There is an Italian cafe in Fremont. I assume lots of hand-gesturing and screaming goes on inside, just like at my mom's house.
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![Professional engravers This place is so weird to me. Never seen it open. No hours or phone number listed anywhere.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/005-1024x768.jpg)
This place is so weird to me. Never seen it open. No hours or phone number listed anywhere.
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Many years ago, the Rainier Brewery was located in south Seattle and a huge red “R” sat atop it. It produced horrible beer. It eventually closed down, and everyone was duly devastated – we, apparently, loved our crappy beer (you can still find it, but it’s made by a different brewer). The huge red R was removed and sent to the Museum of History and Industry. The brewery turned into Tully’s coffee headquarters, and the giant red R was replaced with a big green T. My cousin describes that as the day Seattle died.
This giant red “R” in Fremont is a replica of the beloved Rainier logo. It makes me a little sad to see it …
![Huge red "R" fremont Huge red "R" fremont](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/007-768x1024.jpg)
Sigh - we get sentimental about our booze ... and our branding.
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I also spotted this sign in downtown Fremont. I absolutely loved it, because you’ll note the restricted hours are only during the daytime. Translation: if you want to loiter at night and sleep on the sidewalk, we won’t harass you. Way to go, Seattle, by not picking on the homeless.
![No loitering sign Fremont Seattle It just means you have to get up early, is all.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/010-768x1024.jpg)
It just means you have to get up early, is all.
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I was able to catch a bus from Fremont back to the U-district, during which I managed to sit next to a man so enthusiastically picking his nose, you’d have thought he was paid by-the-booger. This always happens to me. I’m trying to figure out ways around it but have yet to discover any (if I’m the crazy person picking my nose, then I won’t end up sitting next to another crazy person, right?). Having hopped onto the next available bus, and not really sure where it was headed, I ended up underneath the bridge I needed to be crossing. It wasn’t a total loss, since I discovered a graveyard of wrecking balls …
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![Inside of wrecking ball Inside of wrecking ball](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/011-768x1024.jpg)
The inside is apparently not solid, but consists of hollow pipes (held together with concrete).
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Near the collection of wrecking balls, and underneath the University bridge is the Wall of Death. I struggle to explain it, so I’ll simply leave it up to the folks at the Seattle Weekly, who do a superb job.
![Wall of Death, Seattle It used to make more sense, I swear.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/013-1024x768.jpg)
It used to make more sense, I swear.
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Not far away I noticed this mural. I have never seen it before in my life. It was kind of a nice realization, since even potholes and panhandlers become familiar in your hometown …
![Mural near University Bridge It actually wasn't horrific, either.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/015-1024x768.jpg)
It actually wasn't horrific, either. Though it has the sort of peace-filled bullshit you'd expect from Seattle.
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As I walked, I encountered this little guy.
![Yoga bear Why a bear would do yoga, I have no idea. Or why, for that matter, it would wear clothing to do yoga. Stupid Starbucks.](https://www.everywhereist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/018-768x1024.jpg)
Somtimes it's nice to stop and smell the teddy bears.
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I left him where he was on the sidewalk. I assume someone else came by and took him, because a few days later, he wasn’t there.
And, that was it, really. I eventually made it home, though I ended up walking further, and taking more time, than I had intended. Still, it was nice. I got to see parts of the city I usually don’t notice. Things I tend to simply pass by without a second thought. I highly recommend it.
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