Portland, Oregon
Delta delivered me and my bag safely in Portland, Oregon where I was met at the airport by my daughter and her boyfriend. It's always a sweet thing, isn't it, to have someone waiting for you?
After freshening up we headed out for an ethnic treat I can't get in Charleston and enjoyed Ethiopian food. Yum, yum. Tasty bits of stews and veggie mashes are served on a giant spongy pancake that is torn to scoop up the mixtures so you share a large platter and dive in with your fingers trying not to appear too greedy.
My gal shares a nice little arts and craft style cottage with two friends and they have completely painted the inside themselves. Their landlady must be delighted at the improvements they've made.
Yesterday we wandered all day through streets filled with non-chain shops, boutiques, book stores, parks and coffee shops. She apologized for it being overcast but I don't leave the lowcountry seeking sunshine. When I leave Charleston I am desperate for cool crisp air, hills and preferably a waterfall or two. I believe I will hit the jackpot here.
Checking out the sidewalks for graffiti I see lots of it - in chalk! Some is even in dribbles of paint that will eventually wear off so no permanent harm done. Other impressions, houses are adorable and manageably sized where I am but the grass is dead and brown from the dry summer, bikes are everywhere and bike parking corals are popular and popping up everywhere, people here bus their own tables and restaurants have a tap for folks to refill their own water.
Telephone poles have so many layers of signs and event posters tacked to them that they are bulging and fat. Hungry for take out? I passed a waffle window where you could walk up and order your waffles to go.
We are heading out on a road trip this morning, down the coast towards the redwoods. It's lovely to be on an adventure and seeing new sites. Y'all take care and behave while I am gone.
We'll behave but Joan turned loose on Portland may mean newspaper headlines of a Charleston-type remaking the city.
ReplyDeleteHave a ton of fun. Don't behave. Eat. EAT. See everything. Takes cool pix!
Aren't visits to daughters just the best! I visited mine many times and then finally just moved here (Charleston).
ReplyDeleteYour writing of differences in cities reminded me of our recent trip to Nova Scotia. NO ONE goes to the grocery store without their own bags. I know we have them available here in the stores and people buy them but we don't USE them. Up there they charge for the plastic ones. I am now so aware and always take my bags with me into the store.
Enjoy your daughter and the love differences on the west coast.
Sounds like you are having a great time, say hi to Rani. And yes, up here in Canada we bring our bags to the store with us. In Bangaladesh, I hear that plastic bags are outlawed/illegal. Sally
ReplyDeletetownsendtales - visits to daughters are the best! We are having a grand time. We drove down the coast today and just checked into an old inn in the Redwoods. Wow.
ReplyDeleteSally - I will say hi to Rani! We are of course catching up on family chat.
Frank - I haven't been shy about eating :) We booked a cottage room in a vinyard for the way home!
I SO WISH that Charleston had an Ethiopian restaurant!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like Portland looks a bit like the Netherlands, with the biking I mean. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteAh, a vineyard? Now that does sound like there may be cause for real concern. That had better be a ton of pix fully documenting the "educational" tour of the winery.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like a fun visit - I have always wanted to go there so please take a lot of photos and make many of your wonderful comments about all - frankly, any place with a walk-up waffle window sounds terrific!
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