Fri, 13:32: Belatedly starting to document my trip to Seattle for Pokemon GO Fest 2022. Direct flight (5+ hours), somewhat delayed by storms in ATL/crew arrived late
Fri, 13:34: I’m planning to use transit as much as possible, starting with Link Light Rail from SeaTac to my hotel. It’s a bit of a hike from terminal to station but I was flagged down halfway by a cart driver and got a ride the rest of the way
Fri, 13:36: That was smooth, hotel is about 4 city blocks from the Westlake Station downtown. Hotel is fine, the Hyatt at Olive 8. Rooms not huge but pretty clean, reduced services including housekeeping. Also fine.
Fri, 13:40: Got settled in hotel around 3:30-4 pm, decided to walk to Seattle Center to the Pokemon Store which opened Thurs. Much nicer than Chicago where you could only buy on your ticketed day taking time away from playing.
Fri, 13:45: Google did not give me a great route, or maybe there isn’t one, several closed sidewalks due to construction and pretty warm for a hike on unshaded streets. But I got there and started running into other players scoping out the event layout and/or shopping
Fri, 13:47: Forgot to mention the futile search for an Orca card for my trip, so I could use the multiple forms of transit run by 2 (or more?) different agencies. Theoretically you can get theses from the ticket machines but they were all out at the airport. And at Westlake.
Fri, 13:49: No orca cards at the monorail station or today at Westlake again. The places I’ve googled as selling them aren’t there anymore or don’t have the cards. Making do with one ticket at a time.
Fri, 13:51: Anyway , found the store yesterday , smites and resisted all the plushies, and bought a t shirt. Thought I could try a local’s Rex for a place in the Armory but all were closed-it was just after 6-except a place were I got mediocre chicken fingers. https://t.co/1W3IK9Zahb
Fri, 13:54: Took the monorail back to Westlake then back to my hotel. Just like I remember at the Chicago GO Fest, the Pokestops around seem to stay lured most of the time.
Fri, 13:57: Didn’t get started fast this morning despit the time change, but full at headdd put to a bagel shop that was #1 on someone’s list. Very good bacon-egg-cheese on cacio e pepe bagel, and an ok iced latte. Rubinsteins Bagels https://t.co/2kMQegTvEU
Fri, 13:58: Made one more pass at the Orca card covering all machines in the Westlake transit tunnel, and a walk looking for a drug store that isn’t there anymore. Inadvertently ended up in the spot of urban decay at Pike and 3rd, left quickly.
Fri, 14:08: Decided to check out Lake Union Park, which the locals say is a good place to play. Found the streetcar end of@like near Westlake, bought a day pass ticket, and took the speedy ride to the park.
Fri, 14:10: Now I’m mostly caught up, about to put on some incense and loop around some of the paths in Lake Union Park. Weather is cool (63) and cloudy though the sun came out briefly while I sat here and tweeted. Back to clouds now
Fri, 16:00: Spent a couple of hours exploring Lake Union park, cool exhibits of old boats and ships. Not really great Pokemon spawns despite lots of stops, all lured. Headed back to hotel via streetcar
Fri, 18:29: From Lake Union-quiet spot sheltered by a boat hull which creates a sound trap for water sounds below, and 3 of the historic ships: a wooden steamer, a long distance tugboat, and a lightship https://t.co/OPxwzdgWhu
Fri, 18:32: Chilled in my room with an iced latte from Anchorhead Coffee, catching Pokemon from lures nearby, doing a few raids remotely, and cleaning out the account. Finished the Oasis Collection Challenge which I think shouldn’t have dropped until tomorrow when my ticket is live
Fri, 18:32: About to head out again to go to the Aquarium area to check out the quality of play there
Fri, 23:40: I walked to the waterfront down Olive and Stewart, then to the Pike St Hillclimb (a set of stairs in Pike Place Mkt), then missed that I could cross Alaskan Way right there despite the construction fencing and went a few blocks S before reaching the piers.
Fri, 23:43: Walked N along the waterfront spinning stops and catching Pokemon-not really many cluster spawns spotted until I got to Pier 66 I think it was. Saw lots of players with todays ticket headed S, they would have a much better experience with enhanced spawns and shiny rate
Fri, 23:45: Stopped when I got to the Olympic Sculpture Park, stared at the hill to get to it and said, tomorrow. When I can come at it from the high side, or at least be fresher when walking up from the water. Called a Lyft to my hotel, see above re: hill
Fri, 23:48: Decided on takeout and went with Dough Zone Dumpling House, 2 min from my hotel. Close, yes, and food was ready 20 min ahead of the estimated 50, but it was rather meh.
Sat, 01:58: Q-Bao ( bao with a crispy bottom) was a nice concept but filling had a layer of goo where it wasn’t well filled, spicy beef sandwich was really a bao of the foldover type with w not-spicy and gristly beef, and pork/shrimp potstickers were pretty good 😀 https://t.co/sSQfUtOnVu
Sat, 02:00: Have procured restaurant suggestions from niece who lives here to try to improve my dining choices the rest of the trip 😄