Portland 14

Pittock Mansion

 Portland does not disappoint - you come back to love the same things all over again. Many things to love :the greenness - they have great reverence for urban trees, the plastic ban - only lovely recycled paper bags, the lack of tall buildings - none over 400 feet tall, the accessibility - tons of bikes and public transport, small easy neighbourhoods, incredible food, the largest most vibrant book store in North America - families converge there excitedly(it is amazing to see such excitement over books), the largest urban forest in North America. I could go on and on. It is just too pleasant and easy to fall into living here. Of course I would want to live in the Pittock Mansion - built in 1914 - such lovely rooms and view.

View from Pittock Mansion

Cannon Beach

 I don't seem to learn about the beaches though. Very cold. Despite being 36C in Portland, Cannon Beach was windy and cold - enough to necessitate purchasing outerwear for everyone but Kyran who was the only one smart enough to dress for the cold. I said to the salesguy that my house is littered with purchases made to offset Cannon Beach coldness. Don't even dream of going in the water without a wet suit - this from someone happy to swim at 13C. So on the hottest day of the year it is not possible to venture forth into the waves and once again no treasures to find on the windswept shores - all in all just a visual extravaganza?? I guess the harsh sounds of wind and waves could also be therapeutic.

Forest Park

Forest Park

I love being in a city and still being in Nature. Walking through Forest Park was very soothing - 70 miles of trails. I would walk it every day if I lived here.

Our hotel - used to be Govenor

Our vacation got off to a rough start - an extra day in Spokane spent in Emergency with Kyran in excruciating pain from a kidney stone and back injury. After that trauma - CT scan, Ultrasounds and injections of morphine derivatives that made his  blood pressure and oxygen crash, we didn't have the fortitude to stomach the house that I had rented in Portland. The smell was awful, the beds dismal and the temperature too high to have ever slept. We made the executive decision to stay in a Posh hotel downtown - so great!

Cannon Beach

Netart Beach

Netart Beach

I would like to stay longer  there is still so much to do. Including buying another suitcase to bring back my mouse skull. But alas these Posh hotel holidays must come to an end before all the coffers run dry.

Standing by the 350 year old" Octopus tree" that heralds my two great loves in one body.