First, a little background on the 358

I wanted to start this blog by putting a little context into Seattle Metro Transit's 358 line. It starts on 3rd and Union which is at the epicenter of downtown Seattle, just a few blocks from the Pike Place Market. The end of the line is in the northern suburb of Seattle, Shoreline. Aurora Ave. (aka Highway 99) is the millieu of the 358 and was the original conduit between all of Seattle. This is where you'll find a bevy of people and places of all sorts of social and cultural distinctions. For instance, between 85th ave. and 135th ave. you'll find a sign on every street corner that reads "Prostitution and drug watch. Liscense plates are being recorded." And ironically enough, usually a pimp, prostitute or drug dealer can be found not far from said signs. Adult stores, hourly rate motels, pawn shops and methadone clinics can also be found clustered within those same blocks. To the south you'll find many of the commuters to be business professionals going through their daily routine, to and fro. As you travel farther north you'll find a more international flare. Korean markets, Pho restaurants (I love Pho btw) and Asian specialty markets. I guess what I'm getting at here is that this particular bus line is a melting pot of people. And what I've found over the past 7 years that I have frequented this bus line is that they all come together on the 358 in what I have affectionately dubbed "People Soup". It really is a rare opportunity to study how different classes and ethnicities of people try to co-exist with one another. Even if it is only for a 45 minute bus ride. I've seen, heard and experienced many things during my tenure on the 358. I've gone from observer to participant under varying circumstances. This blog will serve as a window to those observations and participations. Long story short: This bus can be a an asylum on wheels and thoroughly entertaining. So please join me in my on-going anthropological study of the Seattle Metro's 358.