Being fairly unfamiliar with the Seattle area, I didn’t know anything about the Ballard suburb in which I’d be temporarily residing. To be honest, I was a little disappointed I wasn’t able to book a sit in downtown Seattle because in my mind, that was the spot to be. But boy oh boy was I pleasantly surprised!!
Ballard is simply adorable. It’s filled with amazing shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Every Sunday year-round, there is a farmers market with every type of locally made good you could want. The buildings are historic, the people are friendly, and the scenery is breathtaking.
The neighborhood is located north of Seattle along Salmon Bay. As indicated by the name, salmon make their way up this waterway to return to their native stream to spawn. At the Ballard Locks, there’s a fish ladder where you can watch the fish as they migrate during late Summer and early Fall.
On the weekends, I explored the area as much as I could. I walked over 10 miles (which included a hike out to the Discover Park lighthouse) and bicycled about 25 miles (which included a ride all the way to downtown Seattle). But there is still so much more to see and do that I have already decided I MUST come back; especially to see the salmon in action.
I spent my weekdays at the apartment working and hanging out with two of the sweetest cats I’ve had the pleasure of sitting. I’ve been lucky to sit very friendly cats in the past but no cats have been this cuddly. The very first night I had a cat cuddled up in my armpit in bed – the same cat that insisted on laying on my lap when I was trying to work 🙂 The other cat loved to play and seemed to enjoy it when I smothered him in kisses. I happily obliged. Needless to say, I was smitten and really hope I get to watch them again in the future.
Duties:
– Care for 2 cats
– Gather mail
Unexpected Benefits and/or Realizations:
– Accessibility!! It was wonderful to be able to walk a couple blocks in either direction and have everything I needed at my fingertips. Restaurants, groceries, pharmacy, entertainment, banking, mailing, etc were just outside my door. And when I had a late night ice cream craving, I just had to look out the window to see if the shop across the street was still open; it was!
– This city is so bicycle-friendly. Not only was I able to rent a bicycle online that was delivered to my doorstep, but I was able to safely and easily ride the 7 miles to downtown Seattle almost entirely on a dedicated bike path. And when I did have to navigate around cars, I noticed the drivers here seemed much more patience and courteous when it comes to bicycles (compared to what I have seen and heard in California).
– LOTS of much needed kitty cuddles!!!
Unexpected Events and/or Challenges:
– Nothing! This was a WONDERFUL, carefree sit!
