Portland, day 1
May. 14th, 2006 12:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nlbarberI've made it to Portland, and had a nice afternoon. My plane landed around noon, I collected my bag, and started looking for Todd, who was supposed to meet me in baggage claim. He never showed (and last I checked, still hasn't arrived at the hotel though he has a reservation), so I assume he had some flight problem and will get here when he gets here. It's also possible that he got the day confused or something--knowing Todd, this cannot be ruled out.
[As I was typing on this, Todd called. His plane was delayed in Richmond because they forgot to refuel it. Missed his connection in Chicago; finally got here at 8:30 PM...]
The hotel is across the street from a park that runs up the west bank of the Willamette River. As it was a beautiful day, I just started walking up the bike/walking path. Ended up at the Saturday Market under the Burnside Bridge--a very large outdoors market (a couple hundred vendors) that's mostly craft items. Purchases were restrained by the thought "how would I get it home?", so I ended up only buying a couple of pastries to have for breakfasts.
I came back to the hotel after a couple of hours (oh, did take time to find the cafe where I'll be meeting a fellow piffle member for breakfast Monday), asked directions to a place where I could buy some groceries, and went and bought milk. I have procured what I hope is really a free microwave and mini-fridge in my room by just asking for them with the online "virtual concierge"...will check later to be sure they are really free.
Back to hotel again, then went out for a while and sat in the waterfront park and read my book, enjoying the late afternoon. Then went to a restaurant called Veritable Quandary, sat in the bar, and had duck confit spring rolls and a glass of red wine. Which just about put me under, so I staggered the 2 blocks back to the hotel where I'm trying to stay awake until something approximating a reasonable bedtime, on Pacific Time.
Tomorrow we'll start with the zoo and Washington Park, then see what else is appealing.
[As I was typing on this, Todd called. His plane was delayed in Richmond because they forgot to refuel it. Missed his connection in Chicago; finally got here at 8:30 PM...]
The hotel is across the street from a park that runs up the west bank of the Willamette River. As it was a beautiful day, I just started walking up the bike/walking path. Ended up at the Saturday Market under the Burnside Bridge--a very large outdoors market (a couple hundred vendors) that's mostly craft items. Purchases were restrained by the thought "how would I get it home?", so I ended up only buying a couple of pastries to have for breakfasts.
I came back to the hotel after a couple of hours (oh, did take time to find the cafe where I'll be meeting a fellow piffle member for breakfast Monday), asked directions to a place where I could buy some groceries, and went and bought milk. I have procured what I hope is really a free microwave and mini-fridge in my room by just asking for them with the online "virtual concierge"...will check later to be sure they are really free.
Back to hotel again, then went out for a while and sat in the waterfront park and read my book, enjoying the late afternoon. Then went to a restaurant called Veritable Quandary, sat in the bar, and had duck confit spring rolls and a glass of red wine. Which just about put me under, so I staggered the 2 blocks back to the hotel where I'm trying to stay awake until something approximating a reasonable bedtime, on Pacific Time.
Tomorrow we'll start with the zoo and Washington Park, then see what else is appealing.
