The first Starbucks store in the world

The Starbucks store was tiny, no seating and as expected, quite crowded with tourists.

It is in the historic Pike Street Market area, which is on the waterside. Because its a heritage area, Starbucks couldn’t change the logo of it, which is why it is brown.

They were selling all the usual Starbucks stuff but it was too late in the arvo for me to have a coffee – maybe next time.

Amazon’s global HQ is in an old medical centre on top of a hill overlooking Seattle. We didn’t visit this building but we spent two days in their other building which is near Union Station and Seattle’s soccer stadium.

That is where Amazon Enterprise Services are – you know, the services they provide for merchants, affiliates and re-sellers. There’s not a lot to indicate its “Amazon” apart from some really good posters on the wall, which illustrated their processes.

If I get to go back to see them again, I’ve been promised that I will get to meet some of the developers working on our web site, which would be excellent. This time around, I got to meet various Amazon project managers that I will be working with.

Oh, and a bit of work.

Yes, work – I’m off to Seattle next week with M&S to meet some Amazon guys and talk process, plans and progress. So I have a bit of research and planning to do, which means I will be working on a bank holiday. But I don’t actually see it as “work” so its cool,  as its really very interesting, understanding the sorts of things that are planned for the web site and doing some thinking about how they could be delivered quicker.

And so amazing to be meeting with Amazon in their home town. Another experience to add to my collection of wonderful things I’ve done courtesy of working in the UK. I feel honoured to have been considered for the trip and really excited about it all. But I need to prepare – hence the weekend working.

Its a very short trip – literally a flying visit as I will be out of the UK for less than 72 hours. I just hope I can get it together for the main day as I am due to give a presentation and provide various updates on things.

Life is sweet and I’m making the most of it coz you never know when things might unexpectedly go pear shaped (reflecting back on the past 12 months and the rocky road its been.)

Right, off the watch The Bee Movie.