Tat’s Bizarre Travels

Seattle, WA - I’ve seen the AWESOMENESS of gum art before. Having lived in Philadelphia I became acquainted with the strange revolution and attraction that comes from seeing gum donnors cover a surface with gum…but never like this. In Philly we have gum trees, but in Seattle they have a gum wall. And WOW what a gum wall it is. Almost every square inch of the brick from the reach of a person’s arm down is covered in gum. And not just globs of gum, but words and symbols written in gum, items stuck to gum, gum icicles, gum phrases, gum memories. One of the chef’s of a nearby restaurant was taking a rare Seattle smoke break staring at the wall and the select groups of tourists the took pictures and added their mark. I asked him how many of the pieces were his, he said none, he tries to stay as far away from the wall as possible…but his mom had left more than a few pieces behind. This gum wall has history.

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.

Seattle, WA - Deep within the bowels of Pike Place Market is the Giant Shoe Museum. It’s a little unassuming museum that costs a max of 75¢, only you must have quarters. There are no tickets or docents, just a storefront converted into what is now the Giant Shoe Museum. It’s very reminiscent of an old side show, complete with a tease that reals you in. For the astounding cost of free you can peep at the story of Robert Wadlow’s shoes (a sideshow wonder in his own right) as well as a genuine pair of clown shoes. And then for the admission price of 25¢ you can see other enormous shoes, including what I’d guess is the biggest pair of chucks ever made (if there’s a bigger pair let me know and I’ll jump at the chance to visit). As I dropped a quarter into each machine to see curtains pulled back to lights come up to reveal the shoes inside I loved every moment of it. The best was the moment when I was hanging back taking photos that I heard a group of teenagers complain that the show wasn’t worth it…seriously? Not worth the quarter you just paid? I’m sure I could come up with a list of things that weren’t worth the $150 they spent on it. But just like a good sideshow blow off I’m always willing to pay a little extra to have not to miss a little bit of weird. Of course I also have a soft spot for coin operated entertainment.