Did you know Friday was National Bubble Gum Day? I posted a snap on my Instagram in honor of the day, but thought I would share a few more related pics in a blog post. While I haven't shared much from our west coast trip from last year (me being lazy, like usual), I did get some of my pictures sorted to finally start sharing with you all. On the last morning of our road trip, we woke in Seattle. We had a few early hours to kill before having to catch our flight, so we caught an Uber to Pike Place Market. We were just going to grab a Starbucks at the original store, but Allison mentioned maybe taking a short walk to The Great Gum Wall. Now, this was before Coronavirus was making news, so we didn't think much about walking this weird, but overall nasty little alleyway. Today, though, I'd probably need a hazmat suit just to go anywhere near it LOL.
People have been sticking their used chewing gum to the brick wall since the 1990's, and since it's only been cleaned once since, there is A LOT of gum accumulation on the walls! It is said that when it was cleaned in 2015, some sections of the wall were thick with several inches of gum, and 2,350 pounds were removed in total. They did try to keep it clean, but people were sticking gum to the wall at rates faster than it could be cleaned off, so they gave up on the effort. Allison and I did leave our own little mark, because when in Rome...
Yes, we did sanitize very well after leaving our mark. Seattle's Gum Wall made the list of top 5 germiest tourist attractions in 2009, right up there with
The Blarney Stone, which we did kiss on our visit to Ireland a few years back. I suppose we have a subconscious desire to tempt the fate of the germ gods while we travel.
Some people get creative with their chewing gum and draw pictures or spell out words. Others use it as a sticky tape to post messages to the wall.
I hear it gets to smelling really rank in the hot summer months. Thankfully, we were there in January, so there wasn't any heat to warm up the stench. It didn't smell bad during the short time we were there.
I did have to wonder what anyone from somewhere like Singapore would think of coming to Seattle and seeing the gum wall. They can't even have chewing gum there, confiscating it before you can bring it through customs, I'm told.
Once you get over the ick factor, it is a wild little area that makes for a colorful backdrop for pictures. Probably not something I'm keen to visit during a pandemic, but overall I'm glad we ventured over for a peek.
What's your favorite flavor of chewing gum?
I just knew about National Bubble Gum Day! I really like the photos and the creativity, it's just me somehow feeling so tickled when I see tons of bubble gums there, hehe. Anyway, my favorite bubble gum is cola!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
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Ewwwww, da eff would anyone make a tourist attraction out of vandalism?!? How nasty! Imagine working or living behind that window! How come they don't fall off when they dry?
ReplyDeleteWriggley has a monopoly on bubble gums here so we mostly have just their gums in the shops, I don't eat them, but we have apple, blueberry, cherry, lemon, melon, as a kid I loved their Juicy Fruit or Tutti Fruti gums, the same taste like that toothpaste you sent me.
It's a theater, so thankfully nobody lives behind that icky wall.
DeleteBlueberry and apple gum? Ooooh, that sounds delightful. We don't have those flavors here. Well, we had some that were cherry and banana flavored that I got from the dollar store, but they tasted like garbage and that's where the rest of the packs went. I usually just buy mint flavored for myself.
Remind me to send you a list of what gums we have next time we start preparing gifty gifts so that you can pick your faves :) I did not know that you use them :) I bought myself a brownish seethrough tea mug last week and wanted to buy you one as well, but I was like 'Nah, she wouldn't like it', I wasn't sure if it would be according to your taste :) I do often imagine whether you'd like something or not while I'm shopping LOL
DeleteSame, I am always on the hunt for gifts for you when I'm out and about shopping. Mariah did buy me a brown tea mug for Christmas, which worked out perfectly since I had just broke my favorite mug while making Christmas cookies. One day I will have a kitchen filled with nothing but tea mugs, I think.
DeleteI think that I have about 30 individual mugs currently and they take a whole shelf in the cupboard. I have them in three sizes, regular, middle size for when I want a bit more tea, and about ten big ones for morning black tea and for soups :) Half of all my mugs are see-through, navy or powder blue. And I also have a special drawer just for teas.
DeleteI have a bunch too, but I usually like the really big ones as I like a huge cup of tea in the mornings. The smaller ones I only use for blog photos, so they hardly ever get used.
DeleteI haven’t chewed gum since I was a kid, but I guess my fave was charms blow pop or double bubble grape. The gum wall is neat, but I have so many questions. Who started it and why? What exactly causes the smell, the gum or saliva? Lol, inquiring minds! Thanks for introducing me to a new tourist site.
ReplyDeleteThat gum from the Charms Blow Pops always stuck to my teeth. Idk why! I loved me some Bubbalicious Grape gum back in the day. I do still chew gum, but just mint these days. Maybe cinnamon if I'm feeling spicy.
DeleteI'm not sure what causes the stench. Could be a combination of both the gum and the saliva, or maybe it's just stinky the way alleys tend to be during hot summer months, though I didn't see any garbage bins there, so it's probably stinky from the human mouth mucking up the place.
Lovely photos! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteInfinitely Posh
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThat is so weird. I didn't even know something like that existed. I chew gum all the time but I like cinnamon Big Red.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite odd for a tourist attraction, but quite popular from what I can gather from all the Instagram pics up of the place. I also like cinnamon Big Red.
DeleteOh, I just understood if there is National Chewing Gum Day in Seattle ...
ReplyDeleteAt first glance, hearing the chewing gum of people there is a sense of disgust crossed the head ... but after being seen from the pasted on the wall cool too!.
Suitable as a selfie spot ..
Would Have Never Known That Yesterdays Was Gum Day - Way Cool - And My Gum Is On That Wall From 2007 - Portland Is A Way Cool Town
ReplyDeleteCheers
They cleaned it in 2015, so it looks like you'll have to go back and put another piece up since they scraped your original off a few years back.
DeleteWe loved Oregon and Washington while road tripping. Cali was cool, but there was something magical about those two states.
I rarely chew gum, so I don't even know my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThat was is cool, and gross at the same time.
I agree. Cool and gross. Humans are so freakin' weird LOL!
DeleteI would love to visit Seattle! Have you ever had a longer stay? The bubble gum wall is so gross, but I can see the appeal. I'd stand right in the middle for a pic while holding my breath. haha What is inside the gum filled buildings?
ReplyDeleteThat was our first time in Seattle, but I really want to go back and do some exploring. We were only there for a few morning hours, but the people were so nice and it seemed like a neat place to discover new things.
DeleteThere's a theater in the building. I believe that's what started the gum wall. People were waiting in line for the theater and while waiting thought sticking their gum to the wall would be a great idea.
No, I didn't know that "Friday was National Bubble Gum Day."
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing beautiful photos and story ....
Have a wonderful day
Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThat's kind of cool. And kind of gross. But mostly kind of cool.
ReplyDeleteAgreed LOL
DeleteThis gum wall is really curious and amazing Theresa I never saw something like this before!!!hugs
ReplyDeleteYes, it's quite odd, but in a fun sort of way. Hope you are well, my friend!
DeleteI haven't heard of this place. I'd love to head that way to see Seattle, and some places in Cali. I'd also love to get over to Antelope Canyon!
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt in my mind you'll do all those things, Rosey. You have a thirst for adventure and exploring new places, so I'm sure you'll make it happen some day.
DeleteYeah. I think the ick factor stuck with me and would stick with me for quite a while lol I can appreciate it from here though. But darn, that is a lot of gum to take off only to have people go and pile it back on. Never knew that about Singapore either.
ReplyDeleteI imagine you'd just turn right back around and go the other way if you came across this alleyway!
DeleteWow, that's a lot of gum! It's kinda gross but I'm actually impressed by it.
ReplyDeleteSame!
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