Space Needle Spectacle

For most years of the 25 that we've lived on the west coast, Jim and I have tucked in to watch television on New Year's Eve, specifically the fireworks at the Space Needle in Seattle. I don't know when, but some time in the distant past I said I'd like to be there some year to see it in person and in November this year, Jim said let's do it. Here's the record of that happy decision and our two days in the Emerald City.

It was crazy busy on the ferries and highways but we know enough to make a ferry reservation leaving the Island and the 80 minute backlog at the Peace Arch was less than 5 minutes for us thanks to our Nexus cards.  

New Year's Eve day we went to the top of the Needle because it was such a beautiful day, had lunch on a sunny patio near Pike Market, and watched so many interesting people doing just what we were.

belly dancer at the Petra

looking north to Mt Baker

dusk in Belltown

a spider 3-D mural on a rooftop

That's how close our hotel was

The wedding photo shoot was fun and typical west coast fare. No limo for the bride; she picked up her skirts and marched across the traffic with mother and child in tow and set herself up on the lawn just beside the market. Later she just let the dress drag on the street. Uber casual.
Dinner was at the Petra on the corner of 4th and Wall, my favorite restaurant in Seattle. LOVE the prawns.

We stayed in Belltown last February so had a sense of the area and booked 2 nights at the Holiday Inn, about 5 minutes on foot to the Needle. Traffic was ridiculous and walking was the only workable option. Even that was wall to wall, but friendly and happy with no overt drunkenness or attitude.

As often happens we were dead lucky with the weather. It could have been raining, foggy, howling wind, snow even; we've watched it all over the years. But for 2014, the gods smiled and it was perfect. It was about 0C, clear and still. Wow. By the forecast I was expecting to test-run my winter gear for Whitehorse (that story in about 2 months) but it wasn't really cold and we were overdressed for the day. I was very happy to be so toasty warm. It was quite funny to see some of the outfits: stiletto bar shoes with bare legs and micro minis being the least sensible.
We were  in the wrong place to make a TV appearance because we didn't see any sign of the crew and hosts. It's a pretty big site so we didn't go looking despite having promised to wave at you all.

The rest of the story is all fireworks!

Was it worth the trip? You betcha!!!