Sunny Seattle and Family Rounds!

 Hiya... from the Wandering Berkmans!  

Seems like everyone here in the wee burgh of Burntisland (pronounced like "burnt island"-- because of the volcano on the mountain above us??)) in Scotland has a friendly "hiya" for us, inevitably followed by a "where ya from?".  Are our accents that obvious?? 

We arrived just last week and are already feeling quite comfortable in our new "home" and town.  We'll be here until September 9, when we head to Madrid briefly and then to Lyon for 2 months! But more on that next time-- we're here to fill you in on our doings in Seattle, Washington.  

Our youngest kid now goes by the name Javi (soft J) and planned gender affirming surgery this summer had us in Seattle to support Javi and be there for the important recovery time.  We're happy to say that all went very well (thanks Harborview Medical Center!) and we ended up having a great family reunion in the process, eating our way through foodie Seattle.  And enjoying the sun in the process!  Seattle is a big city and has its issues as big cities do but here are some highlights we think will make you love visiting Seattle as much as we do--

Reason #1-- the smiley patient, 4 days post surgery! Overlooking the beautiful Lake Washington Ship Canal and Fremont beyond, Javi and DB were inspired to devise a plan for an underground tunnel as an alternative to the Fremont Bridge.  Kids pay double-- how's that for a marketing strategy!

The Polish Festival was one of many fun events at the Seattle Center.    These beauties in all their finery were the belles of the ball. 

The Seattle chapter of PFLAG embraced us with open arms and a ton of sweet merch for the Pride Parade in Capital Hill.  I'd like to say we held the banner for the group (as my friend Marissa and I did in high school- one day we'll share the pic of us in our snazzy Summit High band outfits!) but that would be a wee lie as they say here in Scotland.  

Go Stoooooorrrrrrmmmmm!  The Seattle Storm Women's Basketball was so much fun we went twice, this time Javi, friend Jasira and I bringing DB along to cheer, dance (horrifying the offspring) and represent Joisey. 

Seattle may have rain but they make the most of the sun when they do have it with great outdoor spaces.  Fritz Hedges Waterway Park boasts comfortable Adirondack chairs facing Portage Bay along with a small beach and boat launches.  Don is a sucker for a good Adirondack in the sun-- I lost him for hours.  

Reminiscent of the Stanley Bridge in Prince Edward Island and our Ireland experience (see our last blog post), seems kids just can't resist jumping off a bridge or platform.  Seattle youth took on Lake Union Park Bridge with flips and screams just like their compatriots around the world.  

Fancy a cha-cha?  No need to go to a dance studio when Capital Hill literally gives you step by step lessons on the sidewalk.  Don had to drag me away from here-- Ginger Rogers, step aside!

First Hill is home to a crop of stunning homes that stopped us in our tracks.  Interested?  Save up those pennies-- median housing price here hovers around 560K, cheap for Seattle!

Javi played tourist with us as we lunched magnificently in the the International District (more on that below) and had a mad Jenga competition in Occidental Square. Our screams had spectators quietly chewing their fingernails in anxious anticipation until the whole tower came crashing down with a roar.  We love a good drama!

More drama as the US played valiantly but lost to the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup match shown here in Westlake Park.  The Dutch fans (all two of them) cheered wildly and walked away strutting, leaving the US fans in the dust.  (Today Las Rojas  of Spain routed the Lionesses of England in a fantastic match to win the World Cup!   We would have loved to have seen the game in a bar here in Scotland but none of the Spanish bars we called were showing the game. whaaaattt????)

Our strolls in Cap Hill where Javi lives brought us to Twice Sold Tales (a used book store full of languishing resident cats!) where the kids found one volume of the available 25 or so of this beloved recipe book series from late 70's.  Some kids read cereal boxes at the breakfast table-- ours always had these sacred tomes on hand.  Anyone else live for The Good Cook series?? 

A visit to Seattle isn't complete without a ride on a donut boat on Lake Union!  Putt-putting about at the lofty speed of 3 mph, we munched on Korean snacks procured at H-Mart and marveled at the sunset and seaplanes taking off and landing mere yards from us.  

We should all have friends as great as Javi has!  To celebrate their successful surgery, Javi's friends came by to serenade via tenor sax (beautiful, Jasira!).... 

... and make us laugh all night long, fortified by a delicious cake from HMart (we loooove that place!) brought in by Solana and Brooke and an equally tasty homemade pandan cake from Anton.  We love you, friends, for being such amazing friends to our Javi! <333

Speaking of friends, we made some new ones and reconnected with some Jersey friends.  

Teresa and Don worked together in Pennsylvania at DnB for years.  She and husband Dan now live on the road as well and our paths happen to cross-- lucky us!  

When we hit a new city we like to reach out to the nomad or travel community to see if anyone would like to meet up for coffee.  Henry was game and we shared a brew at the iconic (and sadly now closed) Kaladi Brothers cafe.  We hit it off like a charm, so much so that Don met up with Henry again for lunch the next week to talk travel, food, finance... and getting  engaged in Venice!  shhhhhh.... 

Our Seattle eats centered largely around Asian food, as Zach can't get as much as he would like in Mexico City and we're all big fans.  Fortunately Javi knows all the best haunts!

Korean BBQ is a staple Berkman meal.   Javi Suggestions-- bbq brisket wrapped in cabbage leaves with ssamjang sauce.

While not Asian food, we had to try traditional Seattle Storm pre-game grunts-- a Seattle dog with cream cheese, sauerkraut pickles and onions from Deez Dogz .

Chiang Mai curry noodles made me the happiest of campers.

Korean bibimbap and spicy soft tofu stew were just the ticket for the one rainy day we had in Seattle.  

Indian Buffet while the cat's away!  With Don safely ensconced in NM, we indulged with gusto!  

Biang Biang Noodles gave us life with Mapo Tofu Dry Mix with pulled noodles and Spicy Chicken Soup (lower dish).  

A quick break from Asian food and I went straight to Ethiopian, which is my wont.  Thank you, Cap Hill Farmers Market, for this blissful meal of lentils, potatoes and a green sauce I'm sorry I don't know the name of-- it was delicious!  

We tried for the first time tsukemen ramen at Menya Musashi Tsukemen & Ramen,  where the broth is more like a sauce and you dip in the (hot or cold) noodles.  O.M.G

In the International District we tucked into Szechuan food at Chengdu Taste and left crying with happiness.  Zach and I swooned over the wontons and sliced fish and tofu in hot sauce while Javi and DB  couldn't get enough of the sautéed green beans and eggplant in garlic sauce.  A definite meal highlight for us all!

Ice coffee with pandan or ube-- why not?? Made complete with a side of coconut pandan cheese cake at Hood Famous Cafe & Bar.

We bid the kids an "hasta luego!" until we meet again in New Mexico in November for Thanksgiving but what a special family time we had together!  

Keeping the family fun rolling along, we headed for WI and OH.   The Skype call we had just prior to our WI visit proved just how much my family loooooooves Barbie!  ok, maybe not but pink is def our color.  

Whitnall Park Beer Garden in Muskego is a great place to try a local brew, let the dogs and kids run around and hear some music.  We missed you,  Susan and Ma!

Our Ohio peeps-- my dad, partner Ron (Beverly and Frank camera shy)- kept us smiling.

Just prior to coming to Seattle, Don made his way to NM to visit his family.  He and mom Patsy Tran painted the town red! 

Scotland has been a terrific surprise for us--- the scenery is stunning and the people very happy to lend a hand to lost Americans.    Having a grand reunion here with some very good Varela friends from our days in Taiwan in the 70's is the icing on the cake.  More on all that next time!  

Here's a little something to wet your whistle-- this post's SOL from the streets of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe  Not shown-- Don kicking up his heels as well.  Still on the lookout for just the right kilt for him!

Thanks for following along! 

Don and Monica 

 Washington, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin