Portland in a Pinch (Part II)
We must have still been buzzed on the endorphins we experienced from the previous night's sushi, because we woke up Saturday morning in a flurry to see as much of the city as we possibly could.
We started at Voodoo donuts. If ever there was a place that captured the kooky essence of Portland, this has to be it. Their namesake donut is shaped like a voodoo doll and oozes red raspberry jelly, but they have other crazy options like oreo sprinkles and bacon toppings. A self-defined connoisseur of donuts, this place definitely got the top award for most unique. And the taste? Phill believes his Portland Creme kicked Boston's keister, and my voodoo doll was to die for (no pun intended...okay...maybe a little)
We took time to stop and smell the roses...at the International Rose Test Garden, that is. Nearly a century ago, a farsighted citizen convinced the local government to set up a rose test garden during World War I to preserve the species of European roses that might be decimated by the bombings. Thus, in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden was born, and lives on as the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. They have over 7,000 species, organized into various areas including the Royal garden and the Gold Medal garden. I even got to see the oldest rose in the country, the Grand Duchess Armstrong, planted by the Duchess herself.
I cannot think of a more perfect morning. I strolled. I smelled. I was giddy with delight. I'm not even that huge of a rose fan, but any morning spent in a garden is a great start to the day. The number and variety of species was stunning. And to think that only one gardener and two groundskeepers, along with volunteers, maintain this little piece of heaven.
And yes, there was no way I could visit the garden without bringing home a specimen for myself. I will be the lady on the plane stuffing her precious rose plant under the seat in front of her. Given that this is the flower my plant will produce, I feel highly justified in purchasing one.
Next, we took a stroll in Forest Park. Because Portland is known for being a republic of tree huggers, we felt the need to embrace the culture. The park is an oasis in the city. It has over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails, so you can somewhat imagine just how big this place is. It was so incredibly peaceful and quiet. At points, there was not a single sound. Not even the birds. It was a very calming experience.
There was no way we could leave Portland without browsing the bookshelves at Powell's flagship bookstore. Aisles and aisles, floors and floors of books. I needed a map. It was splendid. I could tuck myself away in there for months.
Finally, right before we departed the city, we experienced the food cart culture. They exist in pods all around the downtown area, so we had quite the selection. Thai was the final choice...and it was gooood!
Just think: we accomplished all of this before noon! Portland is a pretty amazing city, and we'd like to come again to spend longer than a few hours. But other sights beckoned, and we were back on Interstate 5 by 12:30 heading north.
Next stop: Mt. Saint Helen's. We had to choose between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Saint Helen's, which was no easy decision. Phill said he was always astounded at the destruction from the volcano, and thought I might like to see the impact of the explosion. So that's what we did. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole scene. The river is still flowing gray and no vegetation exists on the blast area or the resulting flood plane where lava ran at one point. It is incredible. At the observatory, they have documented stories from loggers, campers, and tourists who were caught in the aftermath. That personal touch really deepened the gravity of the situation for me. It was pretty phenomenal to see.
Coming back down out of the mountains, we stopped for dinner at the only restaurant available, named Patty's. I know I had made my seafood pledge little more than 24 hours prior, but the appeal of her comfort food was overwhelming, and we succumbed to chicken and dumplings, sweet potato fries and homemade cobbler. That woman can cook! The dumplings melted in my mouth and the cobbler was so good you wanted to squeal! The restaurant was charming, feeling very family oriented...as if you were at your own grandmother's house. We ate on the porch where we watched children and dogs play in the yard, and older gentlemen supervise from their lawn chairs on the sidelines. It's amazing how love can be communicated through food.
A few more hours on the road, and here we are in Seattle. We intend to tackle the city much like we did Portland, trying to take it all in before our flight out tomorrow night. Stay tuned to what we discover here.
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