For the first time this week in Seattle, it wasn't raining! Almost 50 degrees in sunny, I had to get out of my little studio and into the sunshine. There is a park in the area I have been meaning to check out, so I figure today was the day. Ravenna Park, as it turns out, is a forested ravine. I got this depressing little quote from the Seattle Parks and Rec website in regards to the park, "If Ravenna seems a leafy paradise now, it is only a weed patch compared with the magnificent forest it once was."
Having lived in actual forests, I understand, but having this amount of foliage in the middle of a city is nothing to turn your nose up at either! There are certain cities I could think of...not naming any names....that could benefit from green space like this.
There were tons of people with their dogs there. One man and his German Shepard walked by and he said to me "Isn't it wonderful having all this nature in the city?" It really is. Plus any opportunity for me to stalk other people's dogs is awesome.
It is the middle of January, and although there are no leaves on the plants, massive ferns and bright green moss was growing everywhere. I thought winter in England didn't feel real, this was another world!
The few bridges that went over the ravine were pretty impressive. I really enjoyed this large green one. It had that old time feel that had character; not some giant concrete monstrosity.
And of course, RUNNING WATER. I love visiting places like Utah or Texas, but I could never live somewhere where running water like this is not abundant. I grew up in a flood basin where streams, bonds, creeks, and rivers were everywhere. Back home you cannot go 400m without running into a body of water it seems. In England I lived in the city with the most canals in the world. I am glad Seattle has so much water around, and it is one of the many reasons I wanted to live here.
Although there was plenty of people wandering the paths, there was a delicious feeling of solitude. You couldn't really hear the street traffic, and the air was so fresh and cool. It is a great place to be alone with yourself, and just listen to the stream trickle along. I expect to be spending a lot of time there in the future. A little haven in the midst of my crazy life!
