Monday, December 27, 2010

The City of Roses

Rain
I love Portland.  I can live without the rain but I love the city.  I was sitting in the car at Auto Zone while Gene went in to get some anti-freeze for the car and I snapped this pic.  It is not in black and white.  That's just how it is when it's raining in Portland. Gray.  Granted, the trees are the most beautiful green you've ever seen. 

Every time we go through the city, I just want to say "take the next exit, let's go downtown". It's a real treat when we do. When I first met Gene, he took me downtown on his motorcycle and we walked around, visited Powell's Book Store and had dim sum at a favorite little spot and walked around. He always bought a box of tea after lunch. We've been back a couple of times and we usually end up at that little restaurant but it's been a while since we've done that.  If I started a list of things I want to do in 2011, going to downtown Portland for a whole day would be on it.  

The last time we ventured out from the center of Portland, we found the most awesome Thai restaurant. The owners had just opened and they told us the story of how they had moved from Los Angeles to open this place.  I can't remember the name of it but Gene will be able to drive right to it.  It's in a funky part of town ... kind of at the bottom of a residential hill.  I remember seeing a teenager who looked like she might be one of the many homeless teens in Portland, across the street from where we ate. The reason I remember her is that she had on a funky little outfit that was black & white striped, lots of metal in her face and she seemed like nobody's girl.  She should have been in school, but she wasn't.  There was a record store across from where we ate.  These are things that stick in  my head.  I don't know why.  Yes, a record store.   And, that Thai food was perhaps the best I've ever had.  I hope they are surviving the recession.  I hope we get to go there just one more time.

COMING HOME:
The rain led us through the gorge and when we got on the other side, I saw blue sky. Big smiles.  I do love the blue sky. I can't help it.  As much as I love  going to Portland, I love coming home.  

It won't be long before we once again get road fever .... maybe a random trip to Portland to spend the day downtown to eat Chinese food and spend hours at the bookstore and ride the Max? 

I think I just might have the start of a 2011 life list!

love, Susan

5 comments:

  1. How I would love a day with you in Portland. I have never rode the Max either. It has been ages and ages since I worked downtown Portland.

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  2. You should do it again, you know you can just use our house as a place to stay and go out and enjoy Portland. I will even drop you off at the Max if you would like, or maybe even tag along!

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  3. Well, Cathy, that reminds me, I definitely think a small trip to the spa where Wynter works is in order for 2011 ~ I'll be adding that to my list too!! So many things to do ... so little time.

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  4. Pad Thai Kitchen
    (503) 232-8766
    2309 SE Belmont St
    Portland, OR.

    That is the name,Ph.# and address of the finest Thai restaurant in Portland, or at least right up there. The family {extended family} that collectively runs the place are all transplants from their last place down in San Diego. They have a 92% rating at UrbanSpoon.com, and that is one of the higher ratings you will see on their site. I had the absolutely best green curry Chicken dish that I have ever put in my face. Everything was fresh and just impecabable, and that came off the lunch menu and at that time anyway, was only $7.95.. so very nice folks, great service, and dynamite food. If you like Thai, and don't mind going across the bridge to the east side of things..well it is worth the trip.. and watch that you get the right place as their is another Thai place two blocks east that has a terrible rating of %52, so be forwarned.

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  5. Well Gene....next time we see you in the camas area that might be on the addenda for the day.

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