The entire Columbia Center experience left me feeling a bit dizzy.
So this is what “the most obscene erection of ego edifice on the Pacific Coast” looks like.
Eat your heart out Trump!
Alas, even the late Victor Steinbrueck, former dean of the University of Washington School of Architecture, couldn’t save Seattle from this “flat-out symbol of greed and egoism.”
Would it be gauche of me to report that from the top of Seattle’s ‘obscene’ Columbia Center the views of Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, and Mount Rainier were to die-for?
Okay, so sophistication isn’t my strong suit; but I do have a knack for composition when it comes to photography.
And I do have some obscenely scenic pictures to share!
Eat your heart out Trump!
Alas, even the late Victor Steinbrueck, former dean of the University of Washington School of Architecture, couldn’t save Seattle from this “flat-out symbol of greed and egoism.”
Would it be gauche of me to report that from the top of Seattle’s ‘obscene’ Columbia Center the views of Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, and Mount Rainier were to die-for?
Okay, so sophistication isn’t my strong suit; but I do have a knack for composition when it comes to photography.
And I do have some obscenely scenic pictures to share!
 Seattle's Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. |  Seattle's Port is the 3rd largest container gateway in North America. |
 Seattle's Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. |  I could almost read the scoreboard at MBL’s Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field. |
It was all about the big picture 73 stories above Elliott Bay, which is home to the Port of Seattle and almost a million cruise passengers a year (well, at least that many in 2015) headed for Alaska, including yours truly (and Jimmy and travel buddies Diane and Alan).
 These two bookends help to highlight Columbia Center. |  This is so me and Diane; I'm all decorum, Diane is all fun when it comes to the camera. |
With a single afternoon and evening to make the most of our Seattle experience, we’d planned to visit the official City of Seattle Landmark Space Needle, an obvious sophisticated choice. Alas, we succumbed to serendipity, to the tallest building west of the Mississippi, and to peer pressure.
Holy happenstance!
Imagine one hotel shuttle, one opinionated driver, and a handful of passengers. As I remember the moment, when our hotel shuttle stopped at the ‘obscene' location to drop off the other passengers sharing the ride we learned Columbia Center had almost 300 more feet of views of Seattle to offer (the Space Needle is 605 feet high, Columbia Center 902 feet high). We quickly abandoned our Space Needle plans and followed said passengers up 73 stories to Columbia Center’s Sky View Observatory.
In hindsight, I think the driver was looking to eliminate a trip across town to the Space Needle.
Why should I have to take responsibility for my choices?
I’m not sure what we were looking for that night; obviously nothing of historical significance. We certainly could have used more time.
Regret can be extremely educational once one gets past the disappointment.
Holy happenstance!
Imagine one hotel shuttle, one opinionated driver, and a handful of passengers. As I remember the moment, when our hotel shuttle stopped at the ‘obscene' location to drop off the other passengers sharing the ride we learned Columbia Center had almost 300 more feet of views of Seattle to offer (the Space Needle is 605 feet high, Columbia Center 902 feet high). We quickly abandoned our Space Needle plans and followed said passengers up 73 stories to Columbia Center’s Sky View Observatory.
In hindsight, I think the driver was looking to eliminate a trip across town to the Space Needle.
Why should I have to take responsibility for my choices?
I’m not sure what we were looking for that night; obviously nothing of historical significance. We certainly could have used more time.
Regret can be extremely educational once one gets past the disappointment.
At 3 o'clock, the #1 tourist attraction in Seattle, the Space Needle.
Forget the 1962 World’s Fair and a significant piece of Seattle's history; history is so old school.
Forget the "Best Place to Get Engaged" (Seattle Weekly); I'm married.
Forget one of the 'Best Places to Shop for Northwest Souvenirs' (Seattle Magazine); no time to shop.
Forget the '2009 Restaurant of the Year' (Washington Wine Commission); we'd already eaten.
And forget the home to the West Coast's premier New Year's Eve celebration. Not much celebrating going on in July, unless of course one considers it wasn't raining the day of our Seattle visit.
Besides, there's always next time!
The 21st century had obviously chosen to transport us to this place and this moment for a reason, even if that reason might be little more than a lesson on less-is-more.
Forget the "Best Place to Get Engaged" (Seattle Weekly); I'm married.
Forget one of the 'Best Places to Shop for Northwest Souvenirs' (Seattle Magazine); no time to shop.
Forget the '2009 Restaurant of the Year' (Washington Wine Commission); we'd already eaten.
And forget the home to the West Coast's premier New Year's Eve celebration. Not much celebrating going on in July, unless of course one considers it wasn't raining the day of our Seattle visit.
Besides, there's always next time!
The 21st century had obviously chosen to transport us to this place and this moment for a reason, even if that reason might be little more than a lesson on less-is-more.
At the end of the day, we created our own history and some very special Seattle memories.
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