I had been to the Capitol Complex, three years ago, but that was by night.  The edifice looks just as imposing in daylight.

I drove up to Washington’s capital, from Chehalis, after enjoying a vanilla latte, bowl of oatmeal, and cranberry scone for breakfast.  The last time I was in Olympia was a rush job, in between two attempts at visiting cyber-friends.  Neither was available this year, so I focused on becoming more familiar with this delightful little city, at the southern tip of Puget Sound.

I get the feeling it was trying to become more familiar with me.  I could swear the capitol dome was watching.

The people of Washington honour their veterans as well as anyone.  This imposing sculpture spells Gratitude.

                                           The men shown represent our troops of World War I.

                                     The Hall of Justice evokes its counterpart in Paris.

All is not gray and staid, however.

                                                    The Capitol grounds are well-tended.

         A lone fir tree stands sentinel, at the east end of the grounds.

                   On the far eastern end of the Capitol Complex, there is this inspiring poem.

                   I sought more colour, on this rather overcast day, and found it in downtown Olympia.

This is the old state Capitol, now the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  It was the Capitol until 1928.

                           The present Capitol had its eye on me, even down at the harbour!

                                                 There is a calm at the south end of Puget Sound.

I dropped in at Druid’s Nook, out of curiosity and picked up their last copy of Alice Walker’s “Hard Times Require Furious Dancing”.  The proprietor and I agreed that people can come up with some very strange notions.  Ms. Walker would probably concur, as well.

                                      This is an eclectic supernatural and spiritual shop.

I spotted this spoof of “Hot Tub Time Machine”, while on the way to lunch.  Hot fudge was indeed a fun part of my childhood.

Lunch, however, had to be more substantial, sooo:

                                                                           Cafe Love, it was.

This little safe haven offers paninis, all manner of espresso and lattes, and vegan cupcakes.  The Northwest is downright Texan, when it comes to cupcakes.  It seems I’ve spotted them on every other corner, In Portland and in Olympia.

I did not stop in Seattle.  It was beginning rush hour, when I passed the exit to Pike Place, and I wanted to take in at least one of the public gardens in the north Puget city of Everett.  Legion Park, and Everett’s north waterfront, will take up the next post, along with the border town of Blaine.