Going on a cruise!

This is a mini post-vacation blog since we didn't have wifi on the cruise (too cheap to pay $20/day).

This vacation started at Christmas when my mom (Muriel) gave me a 'promise' gift to take me on a three day weekend later in the year.  We were thinking a long weekend on the island or one of the Gulf Islands.  But then in the spring, mom called and said, why don't we go on an Alaskan Cruise.  As she put it, "so you never need to go on a cruise again".  She is not in sales by the way.

We found a deal on Cruise.com for an Alaska cruise round trip from Seattle.  Leaves Seattle on Friday, returns the following Friday but with a last stop in Victoria on Thursday.  We decided to get off in Victoria and skip the last night.

We booked it, booked the Clipper and a hotel in Seattle.  The Clipper got into Seattle at 2:15, we had to be on the cruise ship by 2:30 so we had to spend the night.

Clipper

It was super smokey in Victoria when we left so everything had a cool hazy look (not so good for breathing though).


We left on Thursday and there was our very ship on it's last stop in Victoria.

Proof - too bad we couldn't board on day early

Breakwater lighthouse from the Clipper

Coming into Seattle




I used my old favourite hotel finder from when we were in Costa Rica, Booking.com.  Found a cheap hotel in downtown Seattle, the Panama Hotel.  I use the term 'downtown' loosely.  It is in the south end and a bit of a hike to get anyway good but it was over $100 less than anywhere close to the stores/restaurants so it was worth the hike(s).  BTW:  Seattle is one hilly city.  Plus, it was the middle of a heat wave.

Panama Hotel

Reception?

Panama is a historic building and pretty cool.  Shared bathroom though

Up two flights of stairs to get to reception and our room.


We forgot to ask for separate beds.  It was sweltering in the city so we did not need that quilt.













































Room secured, we went into the city.



















We had dinner at Dahlia's.  I have been here before for breakfast (the best bacon ever!) and lunch (a not great grilled cheese sandwich) but never for dinner.  As luck would have it (for us penny pinchers) we showed up during happy hour (4:30-6).  We were supposed to sit at the bar for the cheap eats but the restaurant was empty so we got a window seat.

We ordered four happy hour appies and a couple of happy hour drinks.


Dahlia's dining room

Blueberry Mule and Gin and Tonic (with cucumber)

Grilled Apricots and Lamb Tartar


Cheese plate and something delicious that I can't remember
I do remember it was actually the best plate,
I think it was a pate on crustini.





























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