I’m standing at the foot of Jimi Hendrix’s grave…well if you can call it just a grave. Its more like a mausoleum, a national monument in Renton, Washington just minutes from downtown Seattle. I’m trying to find one inch of stone that isn’t covered in lipstick but I can’t. There are red lips, pinks lips, even fuchsia lips and lets be honest – when was it last time acceptable to wear fuchsia coloured lipstick? Thirty minutes ago I didn’t even know this was here, a potential point of interest to those visiting Seattle but here I am, standing near the entrance of the Greenwood Memorial Park mesmerized by gloss – admiring the final resting spot of a musical legend.
The first 24 hours
Underground Tour Seattle
TOUR: Walk the equivalent of 3 city blocks – underground on Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour $16 per adult ticket departs daily on the hour. Below the streets of modern day Seattle are the subterranean lanes of old Seattle.
EAT: New Orleans Creole Restaurant- Live Blues and Jazz bands every night of the week. Mains from under $15 USD.
DRINK: The Central Salon- this 100 year plus bar has seen Seattle’s best in “grunge” play on its stage. Open 365 days a year.
48 hours later
Pike Market Place
VISIT: Pike Place Market. Also known as the “Soul of Seattle” first opened its doors on August 17th, 1907. Today you can find the first ever Starbucks, the world famous Pike Place Fish Market and Piroshky Russian Bakery.
EAT: A piroshky – a stuffed pie with a variety fillings such as Bavarian sausage, Sauerkraut carrot cabbage and onion or fresh rhubarb from Piroshky Russian Bakery.
LOCAL: Just below Pike Place Market in post alley – The Market Theater Gum Wall was started by one bored patron followed by another disposing of their gum on the bricks as they waited their turn to enter.
Jimi Hendrix Memorial
VISIT: EMP Museum The Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound, Guitar Gallery and The Roots & Branches Sculpture made of over 700 instruments has computer controlled self playing guitars with complimentary head phones.
VISIT: The Jimi Hendrix Memorial Project at the Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton Washington. In the words of Mr. Al Hendrix “A resting-place for a loved one is almost always a private issue dealt with quietly by family members. However, I have always understood that Jimi in some way belongs to his fans and the world”
Loved reading Sherry Ott’s : travels with my father. It is a detailed narrative of their trip to Antartica. How can I e mail Sherry / get in touch with Sherry ? I want her to know that I loved reading her blog. Antartica has been on my bucket list for a long time