Solstice in Fremont

So, one thing I did not know about Seattle before moving here is just how weird it is.  And apparently I live in the epicenter of a certain bohemian, artsy type of Seattle weirdness.  For example, on the longest day of the year, they have a neighborhood parade with Goth/steampunk/hippie/swing bands and naked, painted cyclists....

Best parade-viewing spot:  beneath the troll bridge

Most people paint themselves.  Some, well, couldn't be bothered.

Middle aged white people dancing with flags

Middle aged white people dong enthusiastic, jazzy marching band stuff

Maybe a polar bear . . . maybe a yak.  Who knows?

Kayakers, I think

To be honest, as strange as it was, the Solstice Festival was one of the funnest things I've seen in Seattle so far.  Totally unique, and lots of great, festive summer energy.  Plus, it was fun to have this going through my neighborhood.  We ran into a group of friends, and so once we'd had our fill of the parade, we went back to my house for an impromptu afternoon party on my roof.  It was delightful.  Happy summer!

China!

Guess where I'm going tomorrow morning!

Amanda landed in Seattle tonight, and we leave first thing in the morning for China.  We start with a short jump up to Vancouver, then the long haul to Beijing, where we'll land around 2:30pm on Thursday.  We will have spent roughly one million hours in the plane.  I have 42 new ebooks on my Kindle and two paper-copy design magazines; plus a bunch of granola bars and nuts.  At least I won't get bored or starve to death.

Normally I'd say "stay tuned" for stories and photos of our adventures in the great Red State -- only the censors appear to have barred Internet access to most of the websites I use for blogging.  So there's a good chance it'll be radio silence until I get back to the US in ten days.  

What will you miss?  Well, we'll be staying with Quynh-Nhu and Nikolas, my Franco-German friends who are living the glamorous life of German diplomats in Beijing.  They've offered to let us use their place as a landing pad while we explore the city:  the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, street food tours, Michelin-starred restaurants, French theatre, shopping.  On Sunday night we'll take an overnight train to X'ian to see the famous terra cotta warriors before continuing on to Shanghai.  After a couple of days in Shanghai, we'll hop back up to Beijing for a couple more days there before flying home.  

It's going to be quick and fun and only a mere scratch in the surface of all there is to experience in China.  And if I never find a way through the firewall, stay tuned for after-the-fact posts with photos and stories.

More soon!