A&J's Travels: I LOVE BEING A TOURIST IN MY OWN HOMETOWN

Last night was the kick off of Jim's Birthday Month festivities. As a surprise I got tickets to the Seattle Opera (Tales of Hoffman) and booked a room near the Seattle Center. We got into Seattle early so set out to visit some of our favorite haunts.

Jim figures he has been coming to the "VI," as it is affectionately known, for over 40 years. It used to be a dive tavern, the bar stools full of regulars first thing in the morning. I first started going there right after the current owner bought it (some 30 years ago) and slowly but subtly changed it adding really good food and premium local brews,

along with an ever changing tableau of local art work. Sometime in the last 15 years or so, the owner bought the building next door and expanded the small original footprint, while retaining all the original funky character, even matching this fabulous old-time Seattle tile floor:

This is looking toward the new part where they moved the old bar.

We tend to always sit in the front corner where there is an excellent view of Elliott Bay and fabulous people-watching potential. Jim ALWAYS orders the Gumbo. This is probably because it is ALWAYS outstanding.

We were absolutely stuffed after this excellent meal so by-passed the Crumpet Shop at the Pike Place Market and went on to do our shopping.

Our main goal was DeLaurenti, the fabulous Italian food market/deli which has been an institution at the corner of 1st Avenue and Pike Street in Seattle for as long as I can remember. We were successful in our mission to find bresaola, an air-dried salted and aged beef, as well as some excellent prosciutto and luque olives.

It was a rare hot day in Seattle with the temperatures reaching 85 degrees! I was so happy to get to see the Olympic Mountain range which is often obscured by clouds.

Another great view from the Pike Place Market looking southwest to the mouth of the Duwamish River.

With purchases taken care of we wandered up Post Alley past some of our favorite landmarks:

* The Kells, an institution amongst Irish Pubs in Seattle -

* One of our favorite restaurants, The Pink Door -

* A place where you can get a really good cup of tea and real English tea biscuits -

* And of course, the original Sur La Table, which we didn't dare go in -

It's so fun to be in the middle of the "vibe" in the Pike Place Market. Everyone all around is having a good time and enjoying the food, coffee, music and ambiance. I had to look twice at this musician to realize that she is a statue.

After a little rest in our room we set out for the opera by walking through the Seattle Center. Seattle in May is the best because all the Rhododendrons are out in full force. More on that later. As always, the opera was an excellent performance and a good time was had by all. Afterward, Jim and I went to our usual post-opera place for a nosh, McMenamins http://www.mcmenamins.com/308-mcmenamins-queen-anne-home which is the perfect late-night place to be. After a short walk around the lower Queen Anne neighborhood we were back at our hotel but not ready for bed. We decided to give the rooftop garden a try. Even though it was well after midnight the evening was still nice and warm. Here was our view:

This morning we decided to head back home at a leisurely pace, but not before we met a woman from Sonoma County (Petaluma) in the Starbucks. I am continually amazed at what a small world it can be.

We decided to take the scenic route via Highland Drive on upper Queen Anne hill. This is why