JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 8

Well Travelled Uke
Because my husband has been taking uke lessons, I wanted to have a go as well (don't like to be outdone if I can help it) SO I bought a uke in Chch after putting him on the plane back to the North Island after Easter. I took my new wooden friend to the coast and tried to get a daily practise session in amid the other tasks I had set myself before leave NZ.
Now this uke is certainly well travelled! It has been carted from Christchurch to Whataroa and then ventured to Aussie. After the Aussie wedding it jumped on a plane to LA and ended up in San Leandro. After tripping down memory lane it zoomed off to Seattle and Puyallup followed by a train trip to Eugene. Then because its a bit of a gad-about it went North to Alaska before boomerang-ing back to Washington and ending up in Bellevue.
Well travelled but seldom played (this blogging takes a lot of time you know!)
When I got to my cousin's place, his wife was quite taken with my uke. So the uke was delighted to meet Peg who was determined to remember how to play and she certainly did.
(turn your head to watch this one)

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 7

Kavana

I had the privilege of a night out with the Seattle Croatian community which was not only an annual event but also a milestone celebration to mark 40 years that their children had been dancing as Junior Tamburitzans. (click and go to their facebook fanclub page)

We had a great meal prepared by the children's parents as a fundraiser and there was a polished performance followed by lots of dancing with all ages joining in.

The circle dancing looked tremendous fun - going so fast that the dancers seemed almost airborne!

One dance was like a mixture of musical chairs (without the chairs) AND polka AND 'tin can' the kids play in New Zealand (with a broom instead of a can or drink bottle) Couples polka and change partners but there's one extra boy dancing with a broom - on one partner change he throws the broom down and grabs a partner so someone else gets to partner the broom. The great thing is that everyone seems to get a turn at dancing with the broom and some do it with great humour AND most importantly no one feels left out.

What I loved was the obvious family nature of this event with several generations enjoying each others' company.

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 6

Polish Hall

Did you know that Polish Home Association in Seattle serves authentic Polish meals at the Hall on Friday nights? Well I went out for dinner (tea) with my cousin and had a lovely meal of galumpki, kielbasa and pierogi. One of the nicest meals I've had out yet - and no it has nothing to do with being Polish!!!

We also got to talking with a fella who immigated about 25 years ago because we wanted to know more about the place my Grandfather came from. My cousin had a summary of Grandad's life written by another cousin who has been the family historian. So we talked and talked.

Then we got a grand tour of the new premises and a chance to see a group of children practising Polish dances. Partway through I realised they were dancing a Krakowiak and confirmed that with my guide.

The new library was just getting it's shelves assembled and the whole place is a real credit to the hard work of the Seattle Polish community.

JOURNEY: Seattle Sights - 2

OLYMPIC SCULPTURE PARK (click title to go to thier webpage)
This is an amazing community resource for people of all ages. There are signs all over the park asking people to refrain from 'touching' artworks which is understandable but hard to do as many evoke interaction.
I really liked the giant eraser/rubber which I first saw from a car travelling on the freeway. Now if that would fit in my suitcase ... mmmmm ...

Turn your head to watch this!

Needless to say this is a great place to see on a fine day. My day was so fine that I had to go and purchase a lighter shirt to survive the day! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 9

SUNDAY TOGETHER
Church
Sunday starts with Mass of course and this time I was singing with the All Saints' choir which meant being there an hour ahead of time to run through the music. Hooray this time there were 2 hymns I actually knew - thank goodness as sight reading is not a current personal strength anymore. It's amazing how the music is so different from one country to another. However I've been really impressed with the quality of music in each church - big or small. Close harmonies and good instramental work is commonplace under the supervision of choir directors who really know their stuff.All Saints is a pretty church and the interior has the layout I've seen in most American Catholic churches with a square shaped altar in the middle of the church and pews arranged facing to the middle. The icons in this church (and there are a lot of them) were all painted by a local artist (don't know the name) and are arranged down both sides of the church. There are certainly a treasure for this faith community.Brunch
Then we all went out to brunch together - really more of a lunch as we'd attended 11 am mass! We went to "Ma's Place" (Auntie's shout) which has been there for donkey's years according to the good humoured waitress. The food was inexpensive and everyone seemed to enjoy their selection. The old choking thing was an issue for me today and the french dip sandwich turned out to be a gloggy choice! Seattle Bound
So home to pack and after borrowing another suitcase to hold all the stuff I've accumulated over the past 6 weeks. We set off, later than expected, but really the lateness should have been anticipated. Procrastination is so very easy when you don't really want to leave.We met up with Brenz and frenz - then ate and talked our way through several hours before the cousins headed homeward. It's so special to spend time together and more precious when it is such a finite commodity.

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 8

LAST DAYS IN PUYALLUP
Somehow no matter how long you have while on ‘holiday’, it seems all too short as the end of your trip draws near. Tonight is my last official day in Puyallup and it’s really all a bit sad in many ways. I know we have a family gathering planned in Puyallup just before we head back to New Zealand – but I leave my cousin’s home after Mass on Sunday and that means the finish of this Sabbath time. It’s hard not to imagine this point as a moment of farewell.

Tonight we sat for ages in the hot tub and solved the problems of the world, gazed at the stars and laughed a lot. I should have packed but instead we scanned photos and watched movies and talked and talked and talked.

Anyway who wants to pack when you’ve got to try and fit in all the stuff people have given you during your travels AND of course the odd souvenir you’ve purchased!
Besides who wouldn’t rather scope out the big dipper and contemplate the destination of planes overhead or listen to frog song punctuated by the sound of premature fireworks (the fourth is nearly upon us)

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 7

POLISH COOKING
Don’t you just love Polish cooking? If you don’t, then you just don’t know what you’re missing. I have spent the past 2 days making over 80 galumpki and 60-ish pierogi and a number of blini which my auntie calls “books” because when they’re folded they look a bit like a book.

My cousin helped make the galumpki which took a leap of faith because I make it differently from her mother. Mine is made the way my dad made it – or at least the way I remember my dad making it. It’s funny how the little differences are so important – to sauerkraut or not to sauerkraut becomes when you’re in the middle of a galumpki-a-thon!

Then of course there’s pierogi and the variations on folding and sealing – fork or crimp now that’s an interesting question. But the choice of filling is a real quandary:
*Potato OR
*Potato and cheese OR
*Mushroom-onion-garlic OR
*Sauerkraut-bacon-dill (which is by the way the most unexpectedly wonderful choice)
OR
*Prunes-cheese OR
*Shredded cabbage-onion-bacon
OMGoodness – which one do YOU choose?

But the blinis were an absolute sideline as none of us had eaten any lunch and all our other efforts were waiting for a family party scheduled a fortnight away. Now blinis made this way are not exactly a diet choice for the calorie savings made by using cottage cheese in the filling are definitely overwhelmed by the amount of butter needed to fry them into books.

If there was time I’d whip up some Chrusciki or Hunter Stew but I’ve simply run out of time and Seattle beckons.

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 6

My cousin is so good to me. Today we went to the Museum of Glass where we spent ages exploring.
Chilhuly Bridge of Glass
Our exploration began by traversing the famous 'Bridge of Glass'. This on it's own is well worth a visit. I don't think I've ever-EVER seen anything like it.

Seaform Pavillion
First you walk through a covered way and it's the cover that is so amazing. So many different shapes swirling with colour seem to float alongside each other. Apparently there are more than 2000 of these sea critters and they certainly have a real sense of movement for around 50ish feet.

Venitian Wall

Kids Design Glass
The one thing that was absolutely hoony was the collection of glass art designed by kids and produced by some of the museum craftsmen.

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 5

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

This area holds such powerful memories for all of our extended family. This particular house is the place where my dad grew up and where my auntie learned to cook and where I played a krakowiak on my cello for my grandfather.

But of course going to visit my cousins was always a treat - being on the farm when we were pretty much city kids was fantastic and so very different from life in San Leandro.

However spending time with my Auntie/Godmother was the best part of any trip especially after my mother died. And I'm so glad to say that spending time with her today is just as special as it was when I was a kid.

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 4

The Puyallup people are the native American tribe in the Puget Sound area.
Did you know that the original name of the tribe was "spwiya'laphabsh" which means generous or welcoming?
And I think this is so appropriate for the Puyallup branch of our family - because that is all I've ever known from them. Their sense joy in family connection is absolutely wonderful and makes it so easy to be here. They laughingly talk about 'fighting over me' meaning that they each want to have quality time with me before I have to head back to New Zealand.

It's nice to be loved.

JOURNEY: Puyallup Sojourn - 3

PUYALLUP RIVER
Well I'm back in Puyallup with my Auntie for a few days before my cousin and her family kidnap me for the last bit of my time in Puyallup.

It's so restful being in the old house. I know where everything goes. I can cook for just the two of us. I can listen to the old stories and drink too much coffee. I can laugh and cry to my heart's content with someone who has known me all my life. This is a treasure without equal and will too soon be a memory.

We went for a walk down by the Puyallup River which is something I've never done before. There's a paved path that winds along parallel to the river with lots of little tracks the lead to the water's edge. This river links me with all the Puyallup clan who grew up here and connects me to the Puget Sound that runs into the Pacific Ocean and mingles with the water that touches both the Californian and New Zealand coastlines.

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 5

FREMONT SUMMER SOLSTICE PARADE

A random comment saw us head out for this very interesting parade. We actually got away a bit late and had to park what seemed like miles away! Well it certainly din on the way back as it was pretty much all up hill!

The parade is a people's event free from political or commercial interests - which in itself makes it delightful. I got into what I thought would be a good place on the corner because I envisaged the parade coming from one direction. However I was wrong and my view was pretty much blocked by a fella quite a bit taller than me with a massive camera who appeared oblivious to the rest of us. So I did a lot of 'hold the camera up and shoot' in the hope that I would capture some of the positive energy coming down the street.

Even though it was quite cold, a few hardy souls were wearing nothing but a smile while a great many were creatively covered in paint which certainly appeared to give them confidence if not warmth! There were also some absolutely fantastic and creative costumes

The number of energetic dancers was impressive ... I don't know how they kept going for so longA wide variety of musicians kept everything moving right along

I want to personally give a vote of thanks to the fella who kept the crowds moving at our corner and challenged those who tried to push in front of others who had been waiting for hours for the parade to begin. He got quite a hard time from some people - but it's hard for most of us to ask someone to move who is arrogant enought to just rock up and stand in front of you.

So thank you - whoever you are - I think you were fantastic.

If you want to see more go to this website

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 4

GIG HARBOR
We picked up our Auntie in Puyallup and went to visit my cousin's sister. I don't really remember her as a child but her smile is so much like her mother's that it was easy to feel at home. After our visit we went out for lunch to the Tide's Tavern in Gig Harbor. I'd never been there and it was quite a lovely place. My cousin tells me that a Croatian fisherman called Samuel Jerisich came to Gig Harbor in the mid 1800s and helped build a thriving community with other immigrants from Sweden, Norway, and Croatia. Today the boats docked in the harbor appear to be primarily recreational and tourism is certainly flourishing.
After lunch we went for a little walk to the Jerisich Dock/Park (and don't ask me to pronounce it) which looks ideal for outdoor community gatherings. However it was the Fisherman Memorial that caught both my eye and my imagination. My uncle was the image of this bronze fisherman hauling in his catch - so strong and purposeful. It is a memorial to all those who lost their lives at sea.
The blue shed you can see behind us is where the fishermen apparently mended their nets - and there's some talk of restoring it as a museum. Sometimes when you're on tiki tour you get a glimpse into the heart of a place - this bronze fella did that for me.

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 3

BELLEVUE SQUARE
I've had a great time in an enormous mall - didn't think I could say that after my Pacific High disenchantment, but it's true. Bellevue Square has to be seen to believed.

The artwork is impressive with the David Chihuly piece absolutely top of the pops.

And you can lay your hands on absolutely anything your little heart desires from jillion dollar designer dresses to cinnamon candy - my personal favourite! There was one place called 'Impress Rubber Stamps' that just had stamps - you know the kind teachers put on kid's good work - YES - I'm not kidding a whole shop absolutely chocka with different stamps of all sizes for every possible ocassion.

But then there was the LEGO Store with more LEGO than I've ever seen in one place.

I had such a good time there - WELL WHO WOULDN'T ???Then tucked away in a little corner with a most unpretentious entrance was guess who???I'm told that this part of the world is home to these guys in a big way.


The crowds trying to check out the i-Pad (No - not at Microsoft) were enough to put me off so I just looked in the window - hey now that's a funny play on words of I do say so myself.

The we spent some time outdoors in a part a stones' throw away from all the mallrats.

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 2

SEEING THE SIGHTS
My cousin and his wife just love Seattle and couldn't wait to show me around some of the sights. This probably means that I will end up partial tour guide when the rest of the family get to Seattle for the wedding!

You will all know about the space needle which is world famous

I remember going up in the Space Needle at the world's fair and being absolutely terrified by the wooshing feeling in my stomach as it zoomed to the top - so much so - that it took a lot of coaxing to get me back inside for the journey down. A random thought is that I had my first experience of broiled grapefruit at the top of the Space Needle.

One of the things I love about the folks here is their sense of humour - this postcard reminds me of the story they told in Whataroa about the tourist who came into the pub and asked the bartender how long it had been raining. The bartender replied, "Not really sure, I've only been here 5 years."The caption on the back says, "The seasons of Seattle. When you can see it, it's breathtaking."

The Pike Street Market is definitely worth a visit. We had lunch in the Athenian Seafood Restaurant (yes the one you that they used in "Sleepless in Seattle")

The 'Seafood Saute' was fabulous and really inexpensive.

We saw the flying fish.

AND walked for miles around the endless stalls.

AND experienced some great music...What more could you ask for in a day out???

JOURNEY: Bellevue Visit - 1

Back in Washington again and staying with another cousin. It's great to have familiy when you're travelling. Lots of different places to stay and lots of new and old stories to share. This cousin is very much into family history and our ethnic roots - so there is a richness as we get reacquainted with who we are in relation to one another. He is also very interested in New Zealand so our conversations cover a lot of ground in so many ways. We share the same Polish grandmother but his grandfather was her first husband and my grandfather was her second husband. My dad was his favorite uncle - probably because dad was only 10 or so years older than him and a lot of fun for a young fella to hang out with.

So we are first cousins who have only seen each other a couple of times in the past 45 years.

THEN - OMGosh - I hear those fateful words, "Why don't we go for a bit of a walk?"
And no the walking sandles won't do - so I know it's more serious than a stroll!
So on with the sneaky sneakers and off to the walk around Lake Washington. Unfortunately there had been a lot of rain recently and the track was very, VERY, VERY - m u d d y

But undeterred we plodded along and saw evidence of beavers being hard at work
Absolutely lovely and serene once you filtered out the traffic noise.

JOURNEY: North to Alaska - 7

EXIT GLACIER
When we left Seward my cousin was really keen for me to see some Alaskan Glaciers. I told him that my legs still hadn’t recovered from our Flat Top Adventure and while I was prepared to walk quite a ways on the flat I was definitely not doing any mountain goat stuff!

So we did a little detour to Exit Glacier which was very accessible. The 1951 sign indicated the glacier face when I was born – an ideal photo op if I ever saw one.

This sign was outside the visitors’ centre and my cousin delighted in telling me that bears are definitely all around. Really instills confidence in the novice tramper. I especially love the “play dead unless the bear starts to eat you” bit. Pretty much a classic understatement if I ever heard one. I did made a few movies of the surrounding forest and got some good examples of bird song – fortunately no bear or moose or anything too exciting.

Initially we walked along an asphalt path with wooden bridges which was quite reassuring after my Flat Top saga. Then the paved area gave way to a dirt/gravel track with a definite upward grade and I got a little nervous especially as Julius did his trick of walking effortlessly ahead with me bring up the rear. He definitely got to the glacier before I did. I was struck by how blue the glacial ice was – don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.