I visited the Pacific Northwest recently and my friend & host seemed most excited about visiting Bainbridge Island. I’m not sure if it was the ferry ride or the promise of yummy quiche or the art museum that had her pulse racing, but I was game to go see what was so exciting about the islands across from Seattle.
We had a lovely time wandering around the downtown area and later, visiting with my friend Anahata, but I was unprepared to be swept off my feet by another island town, Port Townsend.
If I had to say what woo’ed me the most about Port Townsend it would have to be the inspired imperfection. The city itself seemed so comfortable with itself that it was open to being who it was without the need to spit-polish or pretend or strut around like the emperor with “new clothes.”
We started our exploration with a photo bomb of public art followed by everyone but me - I had a momentary shot of self control - getting ice cream. I was able to sit on a ledge and take stock of this new-to-me environment.
The buildings didn’t fake their 19th century storefronts. Some were crumbly and showing their age. They are old - this is natural. They don’t necessarily need architectural botox or juviderm.
As Samuel and my friends licked their odd-flavored cones, I noticed an odd looking kiosk selling lemonade and had to get a closer look.
It was a 19th century elevator that had been taken from a building that was being demolished. The elevator was now a mini-storefront that changed product lines regular. The owner told me it would more than likely be the cornerstone of an out door art show within the next week.
How cool is this?
- Go to an almost destroyed building.
- Buy a functional architectural element.
- Figure out how to use it to create a livelihood (or several.)
Ingenuity at its finest.
Oh, and my friends loved to shop. And look. And meander.
One of the attractions to Port Townsend was the rumor of a lighthouse.
I love lighthouses.
We didn’t know exactly how to get there, but when we found it I was so excited I scrambled out of the car, so excited to be there and started off on one of the paths toward it.
It wasn’t until I was standing in front of the lighthouse itself that I realized I had left my notebook in the car. If you have been reading me for any length of time you will know how much I love taking writing photos of myself in a variety of spaces. This was a perfect new place, hands down.
Now if only I had my notebook!
Instead, I made a video about creativity amidst forgetful faux pas and smiled all the way home.
A bonus from this mini-adventure? A random conversation while driving through Vashon Island uncovered a brand new to me literary granny: Betty MacDonald. She is the author of Egg and I and the Miss Piggle Wiggle series, among others, and when we drove past a street with the name Egg and I, Jennie brought her up.
I bought several of her books later in the week on my Powell's books adventure in Portland.
Discovering these places and this author and forgiving myself my forgetfulness all create another big check in the win column for the islands near Seattle!
Do you have a photo blog post you would like to feature? Link up with Pierced Wonder's Photo Friday.
Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world. She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in September 2015 and beyond.
To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.
Check out the links below to follow her on a bunch of different social media channels, especially if you find the idea of a Word-Love Party bus particularly enticing.
Please stay in touch: Follow me on Twitter: @JulieJordanScot
Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook. (Thank you!)
Follow on Instagram And naturally, on Pinterest, too!
© 2015
Recent Comments