Planet of the Apes

Portland definitely has character. Lots of it. How many other places do you know where you'd see a man in a 'Planet of the Apes' themed van, playing 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds' with a dancing monkey hanging out the window all while sitting outside of a Starbucks on a Friday afternoon. I love Portland, all of her quirks and all.

On Thursday we left Portland behind for a little while and drove to Seattle. The day was mostly cloudy so any views from the space needle were pretty much completely obstructed. No worries though, we still made the most out of our day. We ate lunch at Salumi's, Mario Batalli's (the Italian chef with the orange crocks) father's deli. They house cure all their own meats and such. Good stuff. Good sandwiches. There is almost always a line so we were glad to be able to get in and get a seat. We walked through Pike Place Market. Lots of fresh veggies, local artisans and all around general touristy stuff. Very fun. One of the most unique things we had a chance to do was sample a Chinese tea tasting. We were able to sample a variety of teas from oolong to black tea.

Friday was spent back in Oregon. We drove the Columbia River Gorge Highway. Absolutely breathtaking. The highway was the first paved road in Oregon. It is a stretch of about 15 miles where visitors can see scenic overlooks of the Columbia River capped by views of rolling hills and, on a clear day, Mt Hood. Mt Hood has still not revealed herself while we've been here. I'm beginning to think it's all just a myth locals make up at the expense of tourists. Along the way we were able to get out and do some hiking. Lots of easy to moderate trails with spectacular views of waterfalls. We hiked to the top of one of the more famous falls called Multnomah Falls. The hike was a mile to the top. Straight up. With a total of 11 switchbacks. The view was impressive, I suppose, just as long as you aren't hanging on to the edge of the railing like I was. Definitely not the ideal location for those scared of heights like myself.

Last night we went to a local comedy show at the Baghdad Theatre run by a local kitschy chain called McMenimans. The theatre is an old hollywood style movie theatre. They serve you food and beer while you watch the show. How can you go wrong? The same chain owns another location called Kennedy School which is a former high school that has been converted into a movie theatre and hotel rooms. You can actually stay in an old classroom. Just another example of Portland's character.

Today we went wine tasting in the Willamette Valley. We started out not really having a game plan. The first location we went to was a co-op, housing several different wineries. The folks there were super helpful and we were able to offer some suggestions for some really stellar vineyards. I was afraid that some of the tasting rooms would be a little stuffy. Not the case at all. Every location was a sort of 'mom and pop' operation. One of the standouts was Arbor Brook. The owner was super genuine. I suppose we were a little partial to this location because the owner's daughter walked in wearing a North Carolina shirt. We knew they had to be good people. We had great conversation and great wine all day.

Tomorrow we start our trip back to San Fransisco and begin our journey home. I am definitely sad to leave Portland behind. I will miss all of her little quirks.

For a more detailed breakdown of our time in Portland, click here.

Keep Portland Weird

The blog is back! John and I are in Portland, OR going on day three of our Pacific NW tour. I am enjoying our trip to the Pacific NW so much that I felt a new post was warranted. So far, much of our time has revolved around food. Good food. I will regress a little bit and start from the beginning.

We flew into San Fransisco on Easter Sunday and spent some time with my dad. Monday we spent in the city. We had the opportunity to go up to Twin Peaks for some spectacular views of the city. We're talking full panoramic views of the skyline bookended by the pacific on one side and the bay on the other. Awesome. We went to a vegetarian restaurant called Greens. The restaurant is in an area called Fort Mason, an old army base that has been renovated into shops, restaurants and condos, situated on the water overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. The menu is vegetarian and specializes in local produce. The flavors were outstanding. Even John, the perpetual carnivore, enjoyed it. We could not ask for a nicer evening as we sat and watched the sunset kiss the top of the Golden Gate and then set below the hills.

Yesterday we drove from San Francisco to Portland. We made the trip in a meager 15 hours. The drive was draining but completely worth it. We drove up the 101 along the coast and through the redwoods. The redwood forests are beyond description, dwarfing everything around them. Standing next to them would make any human feel insignificant. I am glad we decided to take the scenic route. We were able to get some awesome shots of the coastline as well.

Portland is simply amazing. All of the advantages of a big city minus the pretentiousness. The vibe of the city is unique and truly warrants it's mantra 'keep Portland weird.' The people have been welcoming, patient. Enthusiastic cheerleaders for their city. And rightly so. We have only been here one day, and already I'm a fan. The city is nestled in a valley surrounded by expansive natural area. When the city was mapped out, there was an unofficial 'line' drawn around the city, limiting sprawl. As a result, you get thoughtful, intelligent design and lay out so developers can get the most bang for their buck. This, I think, gives the city an inviting welcoming feel. Getting around is intuitive and not overwhelming.

This morning we went to Washington Park to the Japanese Gardens and the Rose Garden. The Japanese Gardens were something to see. The gardens evoke a sense of balance and tranquility. The park consists of five separate gardens, each with a distinct concept and purpose. The layout of the garden is meticulous. Each plant was carefully contrived at conception. Each plant is carefully pruned. The highlight of the experience is an incredible view overlooking the city with Mt Hood serving as the backdrop. Sadly, the weather was too foggy today to see Mt Hood but the views were spectacular nonetheless.

Now to talk about the food which, like I mentioned, has really been the center of our time here so far. The imaginary sprawl 'line' that I talked about earlier is a huge part of the Portland food culture. Since growth within city limits, Portland boasts the smallest 'farm to fork' ratio in the country. Meaning, the time it takes fresh produce to reach consumers is the shortest anywhere in the US. As a result, food is fresh and affordable. This afternoon we had lunch at a local food cart, one of the new trends in Portland's food scene due to their low start up costs and wide reach. We had authentic Vietnamese cuisine while sitting at a folding card table on the side of the road. And it was outstanding. Brings a whole new meaning to 'fast food', proving that quick meals can still be healthy. This afternoon, we were on a culinary tour. (See, I told you we have done a lot of eating). Highlights included a boutique chocolate shop called Cacao, specializing in single source chocolate. We sampled dark drinking chocolate. Sinful, really. We went to an oil and vinegar sampling room. I was doubtful at first. Drinking olive oil. Nasty, right? I was proven wrong in the best way. Some of our samples included a strawberry balsamic, that is so savory it is often served over ice cream or pound cake. We also went to a local coffee shop. We went to a tea and spice shop and sampled different salts. One of the highlights was a truffle salt served with avocado. And finally authentic Bosnian cuisine from a street vendor that was divine. With all of this food, I am going to have to run another marathon when I get back!

Tomorrow we go to Seattle to complete our tour of the Pacific NW. Portland has certainly given Seattle a lot to live up to.