Reporting from foreign lands

[annwfyn]

Well, I'm now in Seattle, typing very slowly and painfully on a mac at the Green Tortoise Youth Hostel. It's 5.15 am, which is an unholy time to be awake. I blame the jet lag and the fact I'm catching a train at 7 am, which will take me to Vancouver. Only in a different time zone would I chose to go to bed at 9.30 pm (which was when I hit central Seattle in the end, due to my plane landing early) and then get up at 5 am.

So far I fear I have limited Cool Adventures to tell. I have discovered that despite the Word on the Street being that all US Immigration were getting uber harsh and I'd be dragged into a small room and beaten with sticks to talk. In reality, I got through Immigration in less than a minute, with the nice man on the desk cheerily telling me to have a nice time at my wedding. Maybe my habit of babbling incessantly when I get off flights helps? I have also discovered that Made of Honour is an awful film. Truly, truly dire. Don't see it. No matter what. I suffered so that you might escape my terrible fate!

OK. Train now. Hopefully I will be able to get into Canada today. More adventures will follow...

Comments

[ebq.livejournal.com]

Why the stop in Seattle?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Because I'm mostly visiting Seattle - I'm here for a wedding in Seattle, so I got plane tickets here, then had a bout of spontaneity and decided to go spend a few days in Vancouver whilst wandering.

I've actually had a lovely lovely morning in Seattle so far - it's one of my favourite places on earth and I'm remembering why I like it so much.

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

I've not had a problems with immigration or customs anywhere - generally if you're polite and friendly all things work out (though Ireland was the easiest by far). I'm sure part of that is being white, middle-class and English...but by the same tag i've not seen anyone who wasn't being a proper pain have any problems!

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

I understand from autopope that Seattle is an excellent choice for coming into the US, for exactly that reason. TSA and immigration tend to mirror local culture for obvious reasons.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

If anything goes wrong in Vancouver - I have cousins there who I am sure would be happy to help out a wayward Sally.

Otherwise have fun - Victoria Island (across from Vancouver) has the highest number of registered Satanists in Northern America.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

Oh and... what the hell was with Made of honour? he wasn't made of honour, he was sneaky. And it was awful stereotyping, and they had to find some way to drag down the perfectly nice scottish man who was much more interesting than Mr Grey's Anatomy. awful film.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

It was one of the worst films I have ever had the misfortune to see. I don't know where half that film was set, but I swear to god it wasn't Scotland. What the hell was with this 'duke' needing to ask permission of 'the council' to marry an American? The Queen's bloody grandson is married to a Canadian, and the only thing anyone blinked twice about was her being Catholic! And that's just due to the line of succession.

I've never heard of 'special highland games held to win the bride' and I really really felt that Patrick Dempsey deserved a kicking for trashing that poor guy's wedding.

If I wasn't trapped on a plane, I'd have walked out. However, when midway across the Atlantic, walking out of a film becomes a rather special kind of statement.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

*nods*, At least you never gave them any money for watching it! that's why I waited until i was flying back from New York to watch The Dark is Rising.

[jeckcrow.livejournal.com]

Glad you made it in safely. Feel free to give me a call if you have phone access while you're here, or e-mail me. I know I'm supposed to get together with you on Friday for the big dinner with everyone. Did you want to hang out individually at any other point?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I do have phone access, although it's my normal cell phone on roaming so it's going to cost the earth! Still, I can text, and I'm checking email.

Would love to hang out one on one as well.

I'm in Vancouver now until early Thursday evening, when I'll get back into Seattle. Can do dinner Thursday, or lunch Friday (can probably travel if you give me directions to somewhere near your place of work) and I'm free for chunks of Saturday until I meet up with Brian at some point. I believe I'm busy Sunday. Or rather, I think blatherbits would be a bit peeved if I totally missed his wedding!

Monday I'm hanging out with Melsner in Portland and Tuesday I'm hunting down Tiffany.

The good news is that this trip is reminding me how much I love Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and how I need to never go for as long as five years without turning up here again.

I'll e mail you with my cell phone number, rather than stick it up on a public post, and if you bounce me details for your phone then I can call.

[vireton.livejournal.com]

have fun in the... not so sun-ny parts of the world ;)

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I'm sure we can arrange for you to be beaten with sticks at some point.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Canadian immigration did that.

You know how everyone says Canadians are nice and polite? Not the man who talked to me!

[melsner.livejournal.com]

Did you have it coming?