We got up bright and early on Sunday morning, since it was a Holiday weekend, Dr. M wanted a headstart at the border because you never know how long it is going to take. We left the hotel at 7:30 AM and were at the border by 8:00. It took over an hour to get through even though there was not a lot of traffic ahead of us. They are much more thorough at this border and did have us get down with our carry on only. There were different lines and depending on which line you got in, decided your wait time. Speedy and I got lucky and got a nice young guard. He pretty much waved us through. (I think the younger, the friendlier.) Tianna and Teresa got an older gentleman and he asked Tianna a lot of questions and I was worried he wasn't going to let her through.
Once we got through we headed to Pike Place and had about an hour to walk around and see all the cool things. We could have easily stayed there longer, but we had reservations at the EMP museum.
The Original Starbucks is at Pike Place and the line goes around the corner. There are also musicians outside entertaining the crowd.
There were so many beautiful flowers and we wanted to buy some and take them home, but we knew they would die since our flight wasn't until 6:30.
The EMP museum is also referred to as the Jimi Hendrix museum and it is really cool! It has so many hands on things for the kids to do and they can also make a dvd of their performance. It was really neat and I wish LA had something similar.
We were there for a good two hours and the kids had a great time seeing and doing everything. When we walked out we had this cool view of the Space Needle.
We then had two hours to spend at the No Folk Art Festival, Now that was interesting! There was a lot of good food and Dr. M said the kids could be on there own. We chaperons got to hang out together and eat. There was a lot of good food and Lynne and I shared so we could try twice as much. I kept telling everyone that we needed to get a group picture of just us, but I did manage to get this one of them. These were chocolate dipped fruit and they were to die for!
The Festival was very Bohemian and free. There are performers everywhere you turn and they had a name for them, but I don't have a chance to ask Speedy right now. All the performers had a hat to ask for money. Some were interesting and some were pretty good. I wouldn't mind going again to this, but not have to worry about 25 middle schoolers. After the chaperons ate we split up into groups to try to monitor the kids, but it was not easy.
Afterwards it was time to get on the bus and go to the airport. The picture below is of Gary, our busdriver. He really was the sweetest guy and at the end of the trip the kids sang a song for him to thank him. He got all choked up and thanked the kids for being one of the best groups he has had the pleasure of driving around.
We also had to say goodbye to tourguide Leslie, but we will see her next year in DC and I'm pretty sure that I am going to get to go because Dr. M really likes one parent from this year to go next year too. Now I just have to save my pennies!
We are home and my honey and the Squiggler were waiting for us! It was a fantastic trip and I am so glad that I went. I was really scared to travel without my honey, but I really got to know the kids in those 3 days and saw what a great guy Dr. M is and his wife is the sweetest human being on the planet!
