…Next morning it was time to know each other well downtown de Seattle! As explained above, Seattle é um istmo. (see previous post here ) With the proximity of the estuary of the Pacific Ocean (the east of the city) aos lagos Washington e Union (west of the city), no ano de 1911 was built in the channel connecting the lake to the ocean, a complex of locks (or locks English), called: “Ballard Locks”.

Seattle map showing the Pacific (Left) e o Lago Washington (right), hair tied channel where the Ballard Locks

Movable bridge for the passage of boats in Ballard Locks

Besides avoiding the seawater invades the freshwater lakes, the locks also allow the passage of boats in the region. So, so the locks do not prevent the traditional route of salmon on site (that the end of life migrate back to the ocean to freshwater, to spawn) built a kind of ladder beside the locks, keeping, so, o ciclo natural dos peixes.

Boat passing ocean to Lake Washignton, through the sluice

It's really cool to see the salmon rising above channel! Only it's strange to think that in a few hours we would be seeing the "relatives" of those pets exposed in Pike Place Market, and then being deliciously served on our plates! (Excuse us vegetarians)

Salmões "subindo" back to freshwater at Ballard Locks

Salmões no Pike Place Market (o Public Market in Seattle)

And there was us know Pike Place Market, the famous Public Market Seattle is by far the most visited tourist attraction in the city! (receives up to 9 million visitors a year!). The market is the oldest public market in the U.S. and received a more modern reform as a result of the fall of Boeing, in the early 1970, as a stimulus to tourism (Boeing looks around again!). The huge market sells fruits, legumes, flowers, meat, peixes e conta com restaurantes e lojas de antiquário e outras coisas mais “hippies”.

Pike non traditional restaurant almoçamos num, o Athenian Inn, with views of the bay and where, at the end of comermos, found that one of the banks in the restaurant, had sat actor Tom Hanks in movie recording Sleepless in Seattle (Sleepless in Seatle), with actress Meg Ryan! Another curiosity is that the region, ali no Pike Place Market, is the first Starbucks! The city that has the headquarters of giants like Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon, is also the birthplace of the famous coffee chain!

Tourists queuing to enter the 1st Starbucks

Another attraction of downtown Seattle's Space Needle. With the crisis of the postwar causing huge losses for Boeing (again it) and consequentemente for city, rulers were in search of a new "revitalization" of his downtown. Therewith, in 1962 the city hosts the World's Fair (World Fair) e Seattle, following the trend Futuristic Friday, solves then build the tower, and current city landmark, chamada Space Needle. That same "wave" is released in the same period monotrem (this same, that of Levy Fidelix! ). Saindo of the, já to noite, were behind the musical center of the city. Seattle has a remarkable musical history, because it is the birthplace of rock legend Jimi Hendrix and the movement "grunge", in which arose from local bands, nothing more nothing less, as Nirvana and Pearl Jam!! It is also the place where career did Ray Charles and Quincy Jones!! Not bad hein?!?! We noted that the classic style of rock and a little grunge movement are still present in some bars in the neighborhood Capitol Hill.

Space Needle – Postcard from Seattle

Monotrilho e a Space Needle ao fundo

Yes…so much history!!! And to think that in our initial script was just a Seattle city support to sleep on our way to Alaska…

But on 17 September came the big day! It's like the saying goes: "God helps those early madruga". And so it was. At 5:50 a.m. Rebecca wakes us up to go with her on a jog through the neighborhood. After much effort were only André, Gabriel s Nandes. Most mornings Rebecca raises early, even with very cold and dark, for a run. In one of the routes Rebecca always takes an apple to give a horse a farm near, que vem correndo comer a fruta e sai feliz galopando de volta para sua baia.

And that was our route. We went home and raises the 7:30 news with Gustavo: "Came the email from Ronald EPA! A Tanajura is released!"We packed up and left in a hurry for Customs. Procedures here, papelada of laser, hours and hours and finally the reunion! She was perfect! Not a small scratch. Hugged her like she was a relative. It was a piece of the group that returned! We returned the rental car and at the end of the day we came home and…

Taking the Tanajura Port of Tacoma, WA

Arrival of the house of Valentine Tanajura – Expedition 4×1 and Rebecca!

More surprising: Rebecca had prepared us 'fish tacos'. The traditional Mexican tacos, but even more delicious because they were stuffed with fish and prawns in! But the surprise did not stop there… As 20h00, IN POINT, (Brazil was not 0h00), which neither desconfiássemos, James and Rebecca appear with a cake and candles lit to celebrate the birthday of André!!! (in Brazil was finally the day 18)! Neither knew they distrusted birthday because Andrew had not commented anything (they must have seen on Facebook). And besides the cake gave him a T-shirt 'Seattle Seahwaks', The football team of the city!! Foir something really amazing!! We finished the evening watching the Monday Night Footbal (football game that is nationally broadcast on Mondays, more or less as liberators of our games on Wednesday night).

Andre with Jaimie in her Birthday surprise done by Valentine!

James, Rebecca and small Jaimie giving the shirt to the Seattle Seahawks André

The next day was marked by check-ups and reviews in Tanajura before departure to Alaska. Brakes and oil changed, rotate the tires and anti-freeze to the radiator; the Tanajura was ready to start the climb towards the north of the continent! And we also bought some things we needed to face the cold in the amazing REI store - which is focused on adventure sports and even has a ranger to give directions within each national park american! James returned home and took us for a few beers in typical local bars to celebrate the birthday of André! The tequilas left us more "loose". The conversation went until the wee hours, muitas risadas e jogo de dardos.

One of the dinners at the house along with the Valentine's cousin Rebecca, a Kelli

We woke up late and the least we could do to repay all that they did to us was trying to play a Brazilian meal. The Brazilian market in Seattle, as expected, there was not many options. And so Gustavo cooked a potato stroganoff accompanied straw and as dessert: the traditional Brigadier, paçoca and foot-boy!

Thursday, on the 20. It was our last day before departure to Alaska. We were excited and eager. Finally we managed to visit the Boeing factory, after having to reschedule due to the withdrawal of Tanajura. O Gabriel, passionate about commercial aviation, was very anxious for the visit - it was a childhood dream being realized. Boeing still has its main factories in Seattle and visit comes within the largest of which are manufactured models 747, 777 and the brand new model 787 Dreamliner - The newest concept of commercial jets with greater fuel efficiency and range, but that has not been ordered by any Brazilian company,,pt,The visit is very detailed and we could even see a,,pt,We went on a common keychain that had a van "technological" and right there,,pt,Gaston,,en,this is Gabriel and I was the one that wrote the journal,,en,not Gustavo,,en,And we all agree on what was written in this post,,en,We as Expedition 4,,en,not only Gabriel or Gustavo,,en,That said,,en,I’d like to point that I chose not to go much on details on the post because I did not want to argue about the whole situation anymore,,en,since I believe those mistakes happen and so life goes on,,en,There were no hard feelings about it until the mean e-mail you sent to us,,en,which I briefly mentioned on the post,,en,And now this comment,,en. A visita é muito detalhada e pudemos até ver um 777 commissioned by TAM in the final stages of construction, but now with the logo painted. Infelizmente não temos fotos da fábrica pois era proibido câmeras e celulares.

We left enraptured with such complexity and enormity of the factory. But it was time to re-focus in Alaska. We needed to make an extra copy of the keys Tanajura that Gabriel had lost one of police stops in Venezuela. After trying in Nissan (that the U.S. could do nothing, as the codes vary in each country) fomos em um chaveiro comum que possuía uma van “tecnológica” e ali mesmo, in his van, was able to do the unexpected! They were able to reproduce the code and voilá Tana: we had a new spare key! Compramos correntes para os pneus em caso de alguma emergência em nevasca e estávamos finalmente prontos.

We returned home. Arrumamos as bad, bathed in silence and each of us left for the comfortable sleep that would last for a long time. The silence of each seizure and showed our respect for what we were about to experience in the coming days. It would be the beginning of a new stage in the Expedition. We were about to achieve one of our main goals after listening over many miles (and hitherto USA) amazed faces as they said: "Alaska?! You are going to drive pro Alaska?! What great adventure! You guys are crazy!"And in various places in Seattle alerted: "Best you go soon because the cold is coming and, face, there cold is no joke!”

Rebecca woke up early and we had prepared an upgraded breakfast. The Valentine are even people out of series. We arrange things in Tanajura and began the toughest part of the day: a farewell. Under cries and photos, Jaimie, Rebecca James and the American flag stuck in Tanajura. Hugs and more hugs and it was time to departure…next stop would already be at the entrance of the Alaska Highway…

Rebecca, James Jaimie and pasting the U.S. flag in Tanajura!

And so was our stay in Seattle, the city which today lies in our hearts. Seattle is also our home today, pois lá temos pessoas que aprendemos a chamar de família.

For more photos of Seattle, click here!

The post New surprises good and the Downtown Seattle! (Seattle: part 2) appeared first on 4x1.

Date: 11/09/2012 a 20/09/2012

Saímos of: Portland, OR – USA

Final destiny: Seattle, WA - EUA

Total distance: little more than 275 km

Travel time: 3 horas e meia.

Path: We follow the main road: I-5N.

Where to sleep: na casa da família Valentine.

What we eat good: Salmon! Both in the home and in restaurants on Valentine Public Market. Moreover, the dish with hamburger sandwich, accompanied by a salad of quinoa and shrimp, no barco dos Valentine.

Filled Tire : Undoubtedly the experience of living in a typical American home at the family home Valentine! Also worth mentioning a visit to Museum of Flight.

Tire murcho: Again being deceived by the rental car and the error of our customs agent who forced us to stay more days than we should, sem a Tanajura.

If we took for the first hour in Seattle, experience that there would be nothing friendly. We went there with a focus: Tanajura withdraw and move to Alaska. But a mistake of our customs agent and a loving family transformed the experience in Seattle in one of the most enjoyable expedition today!

It was a Tuesday. And at 10am the first time we could see Mount Hood, Seated east of Portland, Oregon State do not. On our way out of town we were crowned with an open sky that allowed us to, for the first time, sighting the majestic volcanic mountain that is one of the city's postcards. We start empolgados rumo the North, how to get to Seattle before, in neighboring Washington state (more specifically to the Port of Tacoma). We had a goal: Tanajura withdraw from the port and from the earliest to Alaska! Or why? Amigos expedicionários e alguns americanos que encontráramos no caminho nos alertavam que o verão estava acabando e o frio chegara mais cedo no extremo norte do continente.

Region by ship from the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, WA

Tacoma is a city in the south of metropolitan Seattle. Within hours after leaving Portland we were in Customs (customs) the port with all the paperwork, as directed by our customs agent (treated the same as the entire process from Cartagena Tanajura) when, suddenly: tchan tchan tchan!! According to the customs officer, lacked the most important roles : umaa letter of authorization from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)… “Ok, and where we can fix it?"- Asked. "Easy, you will have to call the Ronald EPA, em Michigan, and asked to send a letter. He sends, you come back here and retire the car. "- said the official. And we link… ”…between 7 the 10 business days to send the letter "- warned that the Ronald. We did not believe! This could cost us between 10 the 14 days in Seattle and cold in Alaska would not expect. If the snow came hard to lose the visit to Denali Park. We did not understand how it was possible the country considered the most practical, unbureaucratic and organized in the continent almost attach 15 days in a process that took less than 5 para fazer na Colômbia.

Documentation for withdrawal of Tanajura

We rushed to send an email to our agent (em Miami) to see if it was right. If there was nothing we could do to speed this up. And we question why this has not been alerted before, once he knew of our design goals. After all, beyond time lost, lose money with rates stay in the car port and in our food these days more. Well, his response? Mal created, disrespectful and offensive. It's not worth going into detail, it is now our turn and quite upset. We were now in their hands (Gaston Etchart - Miami agent; and Ronald - EPA agent in Michigan). That left us waiting. The Tuesday had been long. We take a soup and left farther north, rumo à Seattle, para conhecer os Valentine.

Não knew, but that all turbulence, and hopes to peel Tanajura longa, would bring us a great privilege later. It's like they say: “há males que vem para o bem”.

Then, foi.

Coincidence or not the destination, I get home from Valentine at the same time em Rebecca (mother), Alexa (eldest daughter) Jaimie has e (youngest daughter) touched the car. Rebecca is the niece of the lady who hosted the Geyza (tia do Bruno) when in their exchange in the U.S.. So, Rebecca and Geyza became friends and, years after Rebecca would spend a few months with Geyza in Brazil. In an exchange of e-mails recently, Rebecca spoke for the Geyza and Bruno that we could stay at their house during the em Seattle. And so we got there, na casa da família Valentine.

After the initial introductions, within minutes we felt at home already, size affection and freedom they gave us. Até o Rilley (Labrador family) was already familiar with us. And later, then, James arrived (Rebecca's husband and father of her child)! Cheerful, espontâneo e comunicativo era a peça que completava aquele harmônico ambiente familiar.

Rebecca owns a company that makes changes and international, then, customs activities were commonplace in their day-to-day. She gave us some tips and suggestions on how we might accelerate our process. We left the next morning after another and even passed customs office of the EPA in Seattle. It did not help. We would also expect the time that Ronald would take to send a letter. And so we set off to the airport to return the 'Beetle' - as it was ending its lease period - and we would rent a new car. After all, home dos Valentine ficava to uns 25 miles from downtown Seattle and over 40 km from the port of Tacoma. There we were again to face the old problem of car rentals in the U.S. (as mentioned in the post Los Angeles) The novel began: different price negotiated by phone, Misleading information, annoyance, threat of changing rental, negotiation with another rental, dropped in price, offering better car, hours, hours, and more hours and finally got a great price and a nice car (it was the least importava).

It was time to enjoy it and relax a few days in Seattle…

We reached the house and the first big surprise: Rebecca had made us a wonderful dinner: Grilled Salmon, com arroz quinoa, salad and wine! A Alexa (eldest daughter) was no longer in the house, it had returned to California, where does college. But beyond us, Rebecca had invited his partner, We Bonissima a miner named Caesar. And the conversation went until the wee hours!

Rebecca Caesar and dinner too had commented on Caesar's house by Lake Washington. And after the invitation of Caesar, we spend the morning and early afternoon at his home, even if he was not there. A gorgeous home built in environments with different levels and a magnificent view of the lake. We sat on the deck facing the lake for a few hours chatting and enjoying the sun (which apparently is rare in Seattle, but we courted almost every day we were in town)

Located within the isthmus (strip of land) between an estuary (strait formed by bays, basins and channels) do Oceano Pacífico e o lago Washington, Seattle has always been an important port city. The city, that had its beginning in logging (from 1852), grew haphazardly and without much planning. Production flowed through vessel, basically to San Francisco - CA and, thus became prostitutes barn, drinks and gambling - for being "attractive" for sailors and loggers. But from the discovery of gold in the Yukon Territories (Canada not) and Alaska, began a frenzied gold rush in the region. So, from 1987, the city took advantage of the moment and its waters served, also, springboard for explorers who went, pincipalmente, for Alaska! (are seeing! It was not just us ) This period brought major investment and the first steps towards the development of an infrastructure planned over the port and city, the late 20…

Ship leaving the Port of Seattle and the Space Needle in the background

And the Expedition 4×1 also would have their moment on that historic bay! We left the house of Caesar and continue to the pier K, Seattle Marine na, where we were hoping James, Rebecca and Jamie to take us on a ride through the waters of Seattle in the family boat. Incredible!!!

Pier K – at the marina where the boat of Valentine

We start. In afastarmos the coast of Seattle, Sun deitava slowly behind the hills at bay and its pintavam rays of golden arranha-céus City, a roda-giant and a Space Needle (one of the city's postcards). Tudo parecia como feito de ouro! We hours chatting with a view of the bay around us (and that was on a Thursday!!!)

Until Rebecca prepared us the most delicious sandwich plate of our lives! A juicy burger served with melted cheese and served on a plate with a salad of quinoa topped with shrimp and accompanied by tomatoes and black olives! Perfect!!

The Expedition 4×1 with the small Jaimie

A pity that the city had a thin haze of smoke which prevented us from seeing the Mount Rainier, ao fundo daquele magnífico visual.

Resuming the story of Seattle… Years after economic growth with the Gold Rush - and his subsequent fall after this cycle - the Atlantic was at war, due to the onset of World War 1. This enables the Pacific envision an increase in its trade and great development of the shipbuilding industry. Seattle comes into play once again being the main port on the west coast in trade with Asia. But a strong strike 1934, indirectly caused by the stock market crash in 1929, generates a new chaos in Seattle and the city loses the rank of major commercial port with Asia, for at Cidade de Los Angeles. The city, then, would envision a new economic growth when a millionaire businessman boat industry, de nome William “Bill” Boeing, decides to invest in one of his passions: aviation. Then, in the midst of World War 1, came a major aircraft industries of modern times: a Boeing. With its main factories today in Seattle area, the city would then be, in later years, development or decline closely linked to the company; and aviation has become today a topic of great importance in the city…

It, so, the morning after the boat trip, we went to visit one of the main attractions in Seattle: the Museum of Flight (Museum of Flight, in a translation free). The museum seeks to portray the main landmarks of man's attempt to fly, highlighting important figures in aviation history, desde seus pioneiros – que encaixavam asas ao seu corpo – até a aviação em seus dias atuais com foguetes e caças supersônicos.

The museum also owns the shed where the first aircraft were built by Boeing and is told within it the entire history of the company. There is also an outdoor patio, enormous, where are some special aircraft from Boeing, as the first 747 to voar! e o 707 used as Air Force One (name given to the aircraft carrying U.S. presidents) by former presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson E Nixon, being there today and open for visitation. There is also a retired Concorde, usado pela British Airways, também para visitação.

Boeing 707 used as Air Force One for Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson E Nixon

We rent the audio guide and we were more than 4 hours inside the museum - and would stay up for longer so interesting was that the whole history of Boeing and Aviation. The sad and disappointing, entanto not, the museum is not to mention NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, on Santos Dumont or the 14-bis. We ask one of the guides on the early history of aviation and questioned about the absence of Brazilian. But the guide itself said nothing about it and had to be believed by issues "parochial", a fim de reforçar o destaque aos irmãos Wright – os quais os americanos acreditam serem os primeiros a terem voado.

Boeing is now the largest manufacturer of passenger aircraft, but although we thought the story did not start so well. It happened that 'Bill Boeing' besides an aviation enthusiast believed that America should be prepared for a possible air attack during World War II. Numa curious passagem, 'Bill' flew over crowded football stadium - in his private plane - dropping "bombs" of cardboard on the stadium, a way to alert the U.S. vulnerability to an eventual air attack! Certainly not for this event, but years later with the onset of World War II the U.S. government would order several military aircraft business and, so, Seattle came back to a huge economic growth. Is the question of how did the influence (if there was) Boeing for the U.S. entered the War. Fact is that after the fall in sales of military aircraft at the end of the Vietnam War, added to the debt with the project 747 and a recession in the country in the late 60, Boeing suffered a major impact. From this period the company will focus on the emerging market for commercial jets, through success with the model '707 ', and becoming what is to this day!

After visiting the aviation museum headed for home to put things in day. We washed clothes and ordered a pizza…

…CONTINUED…

The post A turbulent start, a home and the history of aviation (Seattle: Part 1) appeared first on 4x1.