Welcome to Cindy and David's 2014 Adventures
Seattle - Boeing Tour
It was indeed a sad farewell to Lori and Jeff. Our time with them was very special and we have vowed to meet again for another holiday in future ( a week in Las Vegas!!!)
We flew on to Seattle and spent our first afternoon exploring the waterfront.
Our shuttle bus driver informed us that plans are afoot to completely remove the expressway next to the waterfront due the very real possibility of an earthquake causing it to collapse (also it is rather ugly)and replace it with a tunnel. I wonder if this grand plan will eventuate. It does remind me of the Sydney plan to remove the Cahill Expressway. Not gonna happen.
We flew on to Seattle and spent our first afternoon exploring the waterfront.
Our shuttle bus driver informed us that plans are afoot to completely remove the expressway next to the waterfront due the very real possibility of an earthquake causing it to collapse (also it is rather ugly)and replace it with a tunnel. I wonder if this grand plan will eventuate. It does remind me of the Sydney plan to remove the Cahill Expressway. Not gonna happen.
Above right, we walked down to the Pike Street Markets from our hotel and spent some happy hours exploring the amazing food options including some fabulous but very expensive fish. We ended up at a fish restaurant overlooking this rather interesting sunset.
Then came the highlight and the reason for our visit to Seattle - the Boeing factory. We were collected from our hotel and regaled with a very interesting history of Boeing from our driver. He had worked for North West Airlines for nearly 30 years and knew a great deal about the industry.
He delivered us to our guide for the official tour of the factory which unfortunately does not allow photos at all for obvious security reasons. Pity really because it was absolutely fascinating. The building which houses the making of all the Boeing aircraft is one building. It covers nearly 100 acres of ground and is the largest covered building in the world. We had a detailed tour of each of the sections covering the 747, 777, and the Dreamliner (which is mind-blowingly magnificent in every aspect).
Above is the factory taken from the "Future of Flight" building (where we were able to take photos). We were delivered there by bus and walked in underground tunnels to lifts to take us up 4 floors to look down on the manufacturing floors. It is a progressive process with each plane moving down the line as it comes together.
We were lucky enough to see the take-off of the enormous aircraft that flies around the world picking up the various parts made in various countries, including the wings from Japan. Altogether an amazing tour and well worth the effort of coming up here.