From pasta to jam, nuts, truffles, chocolate and baked goods, Girlawhirl found herself eating her way through the market first with a sample here and there, and then, when she saw lines forming in front of well known shops like Beecher's Handmade Cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese – which is not to be missed – or Piroshky Piroshky – a shop that makes Russian pastries with either savory or sweet fillings – she just lined up and joined in the fun.

Luckily, the lower levels of the marketplace provided an opportunity to walk it all off, with all kinds of shops to check out: from curiosities and magic paraphernalia to handmade pottery. And across the street, just past the Piroshkies, one of the busiest shops, filled with tourists from all over the world, is the original Starbucks… the one that started it all.

Pike Place Market is open daily, but the hours vary and some of the stores, especially the restaurants, open early and close late. For more information go to pikeplacemarket.org