Sleeping in Seattle

Everything started out well. The weather was looking glorious. We had breakfast, a cab took us to the station and we got on the bus without any problems. The coach set off and the roads were clear. But things were about to change. It was nearly a tale of "Sleeping Elsewhere".
At the boarder the bus pulled into the checking area and we all decamped with our luggage and joined the queue for the customs and security. When our turn came we both went up. I was first and after answering a few questions my passport was stamped. Then the customs officer checked Rita's documents. He was looking at the monitor funnily, and then he called out. Suddenly four other officers appeared and crowded in around us. One officer asked if there was a match. Things were getting tense. 'Nope,' said the first officer and things relaxed. After that Rita had her passport stamped. I'm convinced that it was her reply to one of the questions. When asked 'What is your reason for visiting the United States?' Rita replied 'To get my daughter a Starbucks' Mug.
The rest of the journey was uneventful.' After a short taxi drive we booked into the Holiday Inn at noon.
Seattle is quite small, not much bigger than the City of London. After dropping off our bags we set off from the hotel and walked the 200 mts to the Seattle Centre where the Space Needle is located. There we got on the Central Monorail to Pine Street. We then walked, downhill to Pike Place.
What a wonderful place. Vibrant and full of colours and smells. The display of flowers, fruit and vegetable competed with the smell of the fish shops, chocolate shops and the restaurants. There were plenty free samples on offer and you could have eaten your fill on them. We found Starbucks shop and bought a mug. I bought a pen made from maple and then we had fish and chips at Lowells Restaurant.
Next we walked along 1st Avenue to Pioneer Square, the oldest part of Seattle. Here we bought tickets to the Underground Tour. Basically Seattle is built on itself. Because of flooding and sewage problems the roads were raised by roughly one storey so that today's pavement level is actually the first storey. The tour took us around the spaces below the current pavements and introduced us to the interesting history of Seattle.
By this time we were feeling tired so we caught the free bus back across town and then a short walk to the hotel.