Back in 1962 at a cost of $4.5 million this 602 foot tower was completed. The tower just managed to open in time for the city's World Fair that made the front cover of LIFE magazine. With inspirations from Stuttgart's soaring broadcasting tower, also topped by a restaurant, Seattle had thoughts that the building of such a tower could do what the Eiffel Tower had done for Paris. Each morning during the World Fair delegates would ride to the top of the tower for breakfast all served in the revolving restaurant, which still exists to this day, now known as the 'O' deck. All served up by hostesses in gold coveralls. Sadly, though the gold coveralls no longer exist.
Following hearty, warm, stew like fodder we walked, dressed like mummies, in single figure temperatures, the 9 blocks East to the Safeco Field. The home of The Seattle Mariners major league baseball team. This was their home opener of the new season. We had no clue of the rules but figured it flowed something like cricket but in way way colder conditions. Oh how I can see the sunset over the Countryground now. Spectators even bring their own blankets (Oh Fe was jealous), Seattle Marrier team coloured blankets of course. Us, we'd packed the trusty flask and some good chocolate.
Three-story foundations support this mega structure measuring 30 feet deep 120 feet wide. Labourers worked continuously for 11 days to dig it out which was then loaded with steel and concrete. A concrete pour that even to this very day goes down as is the worlds longest pour where 467 concrete trucks worked for 12 hours, solid, excuse the pun, to fill the mass hole with 5,800 tons of the stuff.
This is a high calorie intake spectator sport at it's very best. Hot dogs, garlic chips and all you can drink soda being the fav order of the night. We bought a 3 buck bag (more like a bin bag) of popcorn. It was clear that this bin bag size of p'corn was going to last us at least a week. However we did tried to make a dent in but it just stayed full! The locals though seemed to have nailed it in the first hour and then moved on to h'dogs and fries. The waft of garlic from the stand was pretty high especially when the cheering really got going.
At some point in the game the pitch, we think that's what it's called, was overhauled by a dozen or so guys and girls that ran out and swept it clear of what, who knows. Then mid-clearance session, on comes a dance track, and they were off, brooms tossed aside, straight into a well rehearsed dance routine. The crowd went absolutely crazy and that's pretty damn crazy as tonight's a sell out at the Safeco a cool 47,500 all up off their very cold seats all going absolutely nuts for it.
When the ball is actually hit by the thin round sticky bat thing it more than flies, well it would with the average bowl speed being around 95mph, and if the batsman gets it on that sweet spot it's crowd destined for sure. The hit of the night went to the visitors, The Clevedan Indians, pulling off a hit that resulted in a three-run homer! The hit nearly reached the upper third-deck of the stands. Around a 650ft hit the graphics informed us. This well struck hit was by a guy that was probably more than happy that the kit these guys were wearing weren't on the close fitting side. Let's just say he was carrying a few extra pounds for a 'sportsman'. Luckily not many batsman were goofy hitters so we were pretty safe from having a big hit land in our direction ! With every big-hit the tunes fire-off as again the crowd try to compete with seeing who can be the loudest. If you catch the ball in the stands it seems it's yours to keep as most of the balls are only used for five hits.
The Seattle folk we discussed baseball with seemed to think the pace of the game is paired with that of test cricket but with names like Chone, Travis, Carlos and Milton that was where the baseball/cricket similarities ended. These team sheets were no ECC team sheets!
I had never seen such neat ball-grabbing grass at a ball sports venue before. The field seemed to keep it's shape throughout the entire game. But I guess you could say it doesn't get used much during the game!
What we couldn't work out was that come the end of the night the Mariners hadn't played well for their first opening game of the season, but that didn't seem to stop the Friday night party atmosphere infecting the entire ground. But like with most live winter sport viewing back home the pub becomes a bigger draw than the actual game itself and people start to file out early to head to a far warmer seat near the bar. As we filed out of the ground it was great to hear die-hard fans, ever optimistic, giving comments like 'you never know tomorrow maybe our day'. These matches are much like cricket and play over a number of days. One cold night was certainly enough for us!!
Mariners, we bid you farewell and all the best for the rest of the season. May your bags of popcorn always stay over sized.
We jumped on the back of a trike to get home. This Eco green warrior had set up his own business. Pevcab is bringing pedal and electric vehicle transportation to the people of Seattle. The trikes are motor powered by a 21st-century green chemistry battery! We even got a blanket to protect us from the chilly breeze.
At some point in the game the pitch, we think that's what it's called, was overhauled by a dozen or so guys and girls that ran out and swept it clear of what, who knows. Then mid-clearance session, on comes a dance track, and they were off, brooms tossed aside, straight into a well rehearsed dance routine. The crowd went absolutely crazy and that's pretty damn crazy as tonight's a sell out at the Safeco a cool 47,500 all up off their very cold seats all going absolutely nuts for it.
The Seattle folk we discussed baseball with seemed to think the pace of the game is paired with that of test cricket but with names like Chone, Travis, Carlos and Milton that was where the baseball/cricket similarities ended. These team sheets were no ECC team sheets!
I had never seen such neat ball-grabbing grass at a ball sports venue before. The field seemed to keep it's shape throughout the entire game. But I guess you could say it doesn't get used much during the game!
What we couldn't work out was that come the end of the night the Mariners hadn't played well for their first opening game of the season, but that didn't seem to stop the Friday night party atmosphere infecting the entire ground. But like with most live winter sport viewing back home the pub becomes a bigger draw than the actual game itself and people start to file out early to head to a far warmer seat near the bar. As we filed out of the ground it was great to hear die-hard fans, ever optimistic, giving comments like 'you never know tomorrow maybe our day'. These matches are much like cricket and play over a number of days. One cold night was certainly enough for us!!
We jumped on the back of a trike to get home. This Eco green warrior had set up his own business. Pevcab is bringing pedal and electric vehicle transportation to the people of Seattle. The trikes are motor powered by a 21st-century green chemistry battery! We even got a blanket to protect us from the chilly breeze.
Even after just 6 days we have a list....
Miss/won't miss:
Miss:
D- the city hostel, the distant sound of American train horns, urban coolness
F- the hostel bed (sooooo comfy), drinking coffee in the original Starbucks, Pike Market
Won't miss:
D-dodging elks in the road, village police
F-the rain
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