Hey Trippers,

As promised, over the weekend, I checked out the Pike Place Market’s “Gum Wall” in Seattle, WA, USA.  CNN listed it as one of the world’s “Germiest” tourist attractions.  Read the article HERE.  I’d been to three of the top five.  The “Gum Wall” is the closest attraction to me.  I’ve been to Pike Place Market 100′s of times over the years and I had not even heard of it – let alone see it.

Yesterday, I went to Seattle and hit a couple of the Farmer’s Markets (Ballard and Capital Hill), The Ballard SeaFest, checked out the new Starbucks Coffee Company concept store (15th Avenue Coffee & Tea by Starbucks), and swung by the “Summer Farm Days” at Pike Place Market.

The wall, or shall I say area, is larger than expected, but none-the-less disgusting.  There were about a dozen or so tourists there having their picture taken with it.  It is located in a rather dank, otherwise graffiti-filled alley way, not far from the iconic Pike Place Bronze Pig “Rachel” located in the market center.

I can only gather that it was started by people waiting to get into The Market Theatre because it is on both sides of the entrance.  It’s yet another reason to love the Pike Place Market – warts and all.

Happy Tripping,

Carter