Blog du Wren

On Being a Tourist in Your Own Town

I've lived in Anacortes a long time now and I feel that I know it pretty well. I can tell you where the best pizza is (Village, of course), how many stop lights there are (13), and the best hike (depends on the weather). But it isn't often that I get to play tourist in my own town.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to do just that. A friend was visiting from the East Coast who had never properly seen Fidalgo Island. (Passing through to the ferry totally doesn't count.) We got to see Deception Pass, Cap Sante, Burrows Island lookout on the WaPa loop, the funny house down by Matt Kanarr's old house, Whistle Lake (with so many new downed trees!), Causland Park, and much more. Some of these I happen upon in my daily life. Others I rarely visit. All of them take on new dimensions when seen through non-resident's eyes.

Being exposed to the beauty that is Fidalgo Island on a daily basis can sometimes cause me to forget how spectacular it is here. Anne's frequent "This is so beautiful!" helped remind me to take a step back and appreciate this beautiful place in which we live.

Wednesday January 24 2007

File under: Anacortes, pics

Toggle Comments (15)

comment?

on Thu 25th Jan, 2007 01:30 am UTC Jule said:
Wait, you live in Anacortes? That is where I am from!
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on Thu 25th Jan, 2007 02:28 am UTC Andrew said:
Blake lives on Fidooooglio Island.
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on Thu 25th Jan, 2007 03:46 am UTC hannah said:
Isn't there a legend that if you spend a night on Fidalgo Island you will constantly return to visit?
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on Thu 25th Jan, 2007 08:33 pm UTC Trista said:
I'm with Anne~ It's SO beautiful!
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on Thu 25th Jan, 2007 10:23 pm UTC Wren said:
Note: In response to the request of someone who shall remain nameless, one of the pictures that was originally posted has been changed.
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on Thu 25th Jan, 2007 10:32 pm UTC Sara said:
I remember going to Acadia with you freshman year and your "This looks like my island back home" comments. Sigh. Acadia definitely didn't look like home for me.
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on Fri 26th Jan, 2007 12:25 am UTC Saxtor said:
Wren, this comment is coming from inside the internet!
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on Fri 26th Jan, 2007 01:44 am UTC Ryan Walters said:
Have you seen the castle house down around 10th street?
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on Fri 26th Jan, 2007 04:19 pm UTC Chris said:
You seem to be forgetting some very important historical landmarks on your list; just to name a few: The Outback: Home of the only people who ever actually drank OK Cola The Shed: Site of over 1,000,000 games of Goldeneye played Commercial Market: Originator of the Schlong-Pop The Brown Lantern: Anacortes' premier higher education facility Plus, on top of all that you can always change up the pace and take one of our many tours like "VW Vanagons Throughout the Ages". Honestly, I'm surprised we haven't been approached by the History Channel yet to host a documentery!
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on Fri 26th Jan, 2007 04:23 pm UTC Chris said:
Disclaimer: The previous comment was intended as an attempt at humor and not Anacortes bashing; please do not revoke my passport privilages to A-Town, I wouldn't trade it for any city I've ever been to (Except for maybe Paris, they had really good cheese)
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on Sat 27th Jan, 2007 04:14 pm UTC cardboard said:
oi oi oi a photo op at the expense of an endangered serpentine grassland....stay on the train turbofeet.
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on Mon 29th Jan, 2007 06:12 am UTC tee said:
I have a very dear little friend that comes to visit twice a month. I take her to only one different special spot on the island and we enjoy it to the fullest. Her dose of nature lasts in mind and body and in magical photos. I always look forward to her visits so I can explore my backyard in wonder and awe...
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on Tue 30th Jan, 2007 06:52 pm UTC Quag said:
Wait, wait, wait. Villige pizza the best?!?! You must be smoking one of A-trains (and more specifically gweeeemas's) most prominent exports.
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on Tue 30th Jan, 2007 06:58 pm UTC Wren said:
Blake, I was wondering how long it would take someone to take issue with that.
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on Mon 12th Feb, 2007 02:24 am UTC amanda said:
ok, i still say the "funny house" has issues. i mean, they must not have used a real architect because look at those supports!! i can't even write the sound i make when i see it, sorry, that's me being an engineer, we are supposed to hide those sorts of things from the general public.
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