Tat’s Bizarre Travels

Fremont, WA - You may wonder, as you walk through the streets of the free and democratic Fremont Washington what on earth is a statue of Lenin is doing there. And I don’t mean the Beatles Lenin (which may seem a bit more likely in this odd Seattle neighborhood), I mean the father of the Soviet Union. The man who helped to tear down the tyranny of the Russian monarchy and brought rise to even more tyranny, and a cold war, and now misplaced nuclear war heads. And why, you may wonder, is he standing in front of the Taco Del Mar in Fremont, WA? Well, as with all of the other awesomely bizarre treasures on the Fremont walking tour, you can read all about it.

Apparently Lenin was brought over by a Seattle resident who happened to be teaching English in the former Soviet republic. The statue was on the verge of being melted into scrap when he rescued it from becoming any number of classy Russian chachkies. After spending a whopping $13,000 for the statue and an even more impressive $41,000 for the shipping Lenin finally came to America. The owner passed away before he could enjoy the artwork he spent a small fortune on and so now the statue is on exhibit (and sale by the former owner’s estate for $250,000) on the corner of North 36^th Street.

Seattle, WA - If you enter Pike Place Market by the big sign by the clock you’re bound to see her. She’s bronze, she’s big and she’s the donation hub of Seattle’s most famous market. Pike Place Market may be know for the fish throwers, the flowers, or even the odds and ends, but the reason it’s all still around is Rachel. She’s a big bronze pig. Weighing something like 600 lbs. she may just be the heaviest pig, and piggy bank, in the world. I’m pretty sure there are larger pig and banks out there because she doesn’t boast her enormity, but I love her girth. Kids and tourists love her too. Snapping photos and climbing on top of the life sized pig make great photo ops and fun for the whole family. While she was originally cast to bring in funds to keep the market going and you can see the bronze tracks of the more liberal donnor with there names on them in the area. Don’t fret if you don’t have a handful of change, the money slot is plenty big enough to bills…maybe one day she’ll be equip to take plastic.

Uniontown, PA - I’m really beginning to dig the muffler men. They’re an easy attraction to spot, which is just fantastic. All you have to do is turn a bend that there they are, larger than life and with a steely grin. This time the muffler man I sought stood guard at a tire store. Seems kinka apropos…too bad they weren’t a muffler shop.

The Paul Bunyan style giant hangs out in front of Import Export Tire and is dressed in a burly red and blue. It doesn’t appear to phase the tire guys that there’s somebody outside snapping pictures, they just continue on with their work. I don’t think they’re rude, just used to it. I imagine they get that everyday.

The best part of the tire shop is the sign above the office door:

The Men Who Know Tires Best

I’m fairly certain that the muffler man knows tires best of all.