We're on a Mission For...

There is a Famous wall in an alley, in Seattle! Many people travel great distances to reach it. We are no exception. We have heard of this famous wall for years and had never found it. So, on Sunday, September 16, 2012, we left the safety of our home and ventured out. Out into the Asphalt Jungle that is Seattle. We are on a Mission. A Mission of great proportions! We seek to be enlightened at this famous wall!

We begin in a location traveled by millions. We walk into the Pike Place Public Market.


We begin exploring, looking for the wall. We stumble upon the very FIRST Starbucks, ever opened! I don't drink coffee, never have. But my favorite flavor of ice cream is Cappuccino Chip! That has to count for something!


We continue on, walking on the cobblestone streets, hoping we are headed in the right direction. Sammye and Rick stop to wait for me. For some reason they kept losing me. I was deeply distracted ... "Ooooh, Shinies"!


Rick stopped and asked directions from a random pig on the sidewalk. He advised us to search for a great staircase that leads to the upper regions!


Just as the pig said, we found the great stairs to the top. We looked up, stairs everywhere!


Oh my! Do we really have to climb up there? Ok, let's Git R Dun!


Someone was distracted by a bench when we reached the top. No, really, I wasn't tired, I really liked this bench.


My trusty tracking lion, Icey, started sensing a sickly, sweet smell in the air. He led me to this alley. Could this be the alley we are seeking?


The walls are covered with Playbills, Graffiti and other unusual substances.


We continue. More wall art!


Strange colorful globs start appearing. What medium is this?


We see the object of our quest! The wall we seek.


We get closer. Eureka! This is it! We found it! Tears of joy well up in my eyes!


The incredible, Famous Seattle Gum Wall!

The Market Theater Gum Wall is a local landmark in downtown Seattle, in Post Alley under Pike Place Market. The Market Theater Gum Wall is a brick alleyway wall now covered in used chewing gum! Parts of the wall are covered several inches thick, 15 feet high for 50 feet. The wall is by the box office for the Market Theater, and the tradition began around 1993 when patrons of the theater stuck gum to the wall and placed coins in the gum blobs. Theater workers scraped the gum away twice, but eventually gave up after market officials deemed the gum wall a tourist attraction around 1999. It was named one of the top 5 germiest tourist attractions in 2009, second to the Blarney Stone!


Of course, I had gum in my mouth, ready in case we found it! If I hadn't, it would have been fine. There was a girl there, offering bubble gum to anyone who needed it. I found that hilarious!


My gum was losing it's flavor fast. So, I decided to blow one last, farewell bubble.


Pop! I wonder where I can dispose of this wad of stale gum? Hey, Stef...Duh!


I do not want to just stick my hunk of gum on the wall, indistinguishable from all the other unknown wads of gum. I shall create something I will recognize, if I ever see it again.


It signifies, Stef Was Here! She came. She chewed. She Conquered!


Rick then placed his small token gum offering near mine.


He is pretty proud of his little white spec of gum. Ok, I'll take your picture. We will never forget this day!


I'm told that our paid parking is about to run out and we still have quite a hike to get back to our car. I refuse to leave. I love it here. You can't make me leave! I will not go! I throw myself on the wall, hoping to be melded to the sticky landmark forever! Then Rick says "Stop being so melodramatic and come on, silly!" I peel myself off my wall and grab my trusty tracking lion, Icey. We hike back to reality with our tails tucked between our legs.


We will be back someday! We will never forget our Gum Adventure. It changed my life! =D We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

-Originally posted on September 17, 2012, by Stef-