#7 Renton & Seattle

Arrived to Seattle, an hour less behind from home again so 9hours! I was picked up by a friend I met a few years back in Belize! She lives close to Seattle in Renton and I was able to stay with her! We chatted for a bit and watched a match, and she also made me one of her homemade Margaritas :-)! Heard some fireworks that night around 11pm since it was 4th of July the next day. She told me that it wasn't allowed anymore, but people don't care. 

They showed the weather forecast just before landing, looks great!

#6 Majestic Mountains and Bear Country in Alaska

After security I was straight away welcomed into the United States! Finished watching the movie Pizza Movie, which was suppose to be my Chicago movie cause of the 'pizza'! Weird movie but also hilarious haha! 

I am about halfway through this first part of my sabbatical, even though it feels like I've been away so much longer. It always does, even on day one if it's a good one :-)! And so it is also time to think about what's next but not yet!

I was seated in seat 25D, 25 lucky birthday number :-). The flight was fine. I watched a movie called 'Good luck. Have fun. Don't die.' Great movie, kind of 'Black Mirror' like. After that I had an hour or so left and started a show but was also pretty tired so I closed my eyes for a bit.

#5 Vancouver, back to Canada!

Toronto and Chicago were last added to my itinerary because they were closer to fly to then Vancouver or Alaska or Seattle and seemed like fun cities to also visit (Chicago was however always one of the cities I wanted to visit). Anyways, it's now time to go to the places I originally had on my list, Vancouver first and then Anchorage, Alaska and Seattle after. I picked Vancouver to see orcas/killerwhales! My tour is booked for tomorrow, so fingers crossed!! 

Went back 2hours again (so 9 behind of home) and it was a 4 hour flight. We had a lot of turbulence but I thought to myself, if I go, at least it'll be with a Dr. Pepper in hand as that was what I picked for my complimentary drink 🤭! I watched 3 movies (last one was a documentary and I didn't get to finish it unfortunately):

- Strangers Chapter 3, weird..

- Solo mio, fun! Recognized some of the culture haha

- The secret of me, very interesting!

I did have to go through customs this time, but again only took me 10min or so to get through. The guy did ask me a few questions on what I was doing and where I was staying but he didn't seem to care much as to what my answers were haha. Walked to the skytrain and was suppose to take a bus after but decided to walk the 2nd part which was about 30minutes. And I'm glad I did, what a lovely neigborhood. Lots of 'swap houses', for books, and even dvds and plantseeds! And I caught my first glimpse of the mountains!! I'm staying in a house this timenand have a private room with a private bathroom! 

Arrived at the airport!

#4 Chicago two of my faves True Crime & Pizza

Went another hour back in time and so instead of 6 hours behind home, it was now 7 (and more to come!)

The planes get smaller each time. Only a 2x2 and 20 rows. Weird use of letters though A-C and D-F, I understand not using E but why not B then instead of A 🤷🏽‍♀️. Anyways, flight was delayed for about 30minutes but we caught up some of that during flight. It was only about an hour and a half flight in the end. Got to the airport and I was ready to go through customs. I received an email a few days ago to download an app and fill in my arrival card to go trough a fastlane but I couldn't be bothered. Didn't know how busy it would get but decided to wing it. And so, I got off the plane, followed the Exit signs and found myself in baggage claim within 5minutes or so. No customs, no security, I guess it doesn't matter from Canada haha. And I remembered I did go to US departures (so maybe they did the check there already, no questions asked though). But alright, made my way to the Blue line train to get to my hostel. And yes, I checked this morning what I booked, private room with shared bathroom and no breakfast so back to my intermittent fasting :-)!

#3-2 Toronto Dutch match & 356m high hangout

So I had a few things planned for today but the order changed when I went out for my first stop: getting a stamp. Turns out that on saturday a lot of post offices are closed. And so I ended up walking over 2km to one that was open haha. I saw a lot of German people on my way and also during breakfast, their match was at 3pm. I also saw a lot of Japanese restaurants throughout the city and so it wasn't just limited to Little Tokyo. I even saw a mini version of the Shibuya crossing (which is the most known crossing in Tokyo but you can find crossings like that throughout the city as well and I also saw two smaller ones here). And so I finally found my stamp and made my way back the same way. As said, it took a lot longer than anticipated and it was close to 1pm which was when the Dutch match would be on. And so I figured I would watch the match first. But not without a visit to their Dollarshop, Dollarama. 

Look-a-like Shibuya crossing