Garden d'Lights in Bellevue Botanical Gardens

To many people Garden d'Lights has become a tradition. More and more people are visiting this light extravaganza at the Botanical Gardens in Bellevue each year. A lot of volunteers and more than 10,000 hours have been put into decorating this garden with lights for the holidays. And it is well worth a visit.

Have a stroll in the garden and then have some hot cocoa before you head back to your car. Garden d'Lights is open until the end of the year and cost $5.00 per person.

For more pictures, check out the Garden d'Lights' gallery.

A visit to World Market

I sometimes visit World Market which is a retail store that sells imported products such as food, wine, and furniture.

This store was founded in San Francisco in 1958 and today has 259 stores in the US.

The main reason that I visit World Market is for its food and to buy gifts. Here I can buy salty licorice for my husband and Swedish Christmas soda.

The other day I brought the little one with me and she was fascinated by some of the things that they were selling. Well, which kid wouldn't like to lay their hands on one yard of bubblegum:)

Have you seen the troll?

In the neighborhood of Fremont in Seattle, a troll has captured a Volkswagen Beetle and won't let go.

The troll is a piece of art that was made in 1990, and it was intended to revive the then run-down area of Fremont.

And at least all Scandinavians know about the troll living under the bridge from the folk tale "Three Billy Goats Gruff."

Sights in Seattle: Ballard Locks

Having friends visiting is not only fun, but can be educational. This summer I spent a few days sightseeing in Seattle while we had friends visiting.

One of the places we went to was Hiram M. Chittenden Locks or Ballard Locks to which they are more frequently referred.

Ballard Locks are situated in the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle. Apart from the locks, Ballard is also known for its Scandinavian inheritance. Many Scandinavians came to Ballard to settle and fish salmon and work in the milling industry. Ballard has several Scandinavian food stores and bakeries, although some has closed since the recession in 2008. The Nordic Heritage Museum is located here, and Ballard still celebrates the Norwegian Constitution Day (May 17).

The locks were built in the beginning of the 1900s and named after one of Seattle’s district engineers.

Hiram M. Chittenden:

The locks are being built:

The locks are ready for boats and fish:

The three main purposes of the locks are:

1. To maintain the fresh water level at 20-22 feet above the sea water level.
2. To prevent the mixing of sea water from the ocean and fresh water of the lakes.
3. To move boats between the ocean and the lakes in Seattle.

What I found most interesting is the fish ladder. The fish ladder is built for the pacific salmon. This salmon hatch in lakes, rivers, and streams, migrate to sea, and then return to fresh water to spawn at the end of their life. Can you imagine what a challenge it must be for a fish to go from fresh water to sea water and then back again. The fish ladder serves the purpose of helping the fish to adjust to the change of water.

If you want more information about locks, see Ballard Locks.

Ballard Locks also has a Visitors Center with an exhibition and a store, and you go for a pleasant stroll or have a picnic in the botanical garden within the locks surroundings.