Portland Old Town Walkabout

New Yorker's talk about "Going into the city".

We have not been downtown, or Old Town Portland this year. So we decided to make a day out of it, well half day with my feet, and into the city we went. We live about 3.5 miles southwest of downtown and we could drive it, but thought we would take the bus.

Taking the bus, or train, or streetcar. The Portland Metro Area is huge, and has a well developed public transportation system. An all day transportation pass is $5 to any bus, train, or streetcar. On our visit last year, we used all of these public transports, as well and a Gar2Go SmartCar. There are a lot of activities where taking the public transport just makes so much more sense that driving your own car. By the time we drove into town, found a parking place, paid for parking, it works out about even with taking the bus. Taking the buss is more fun and flexible as well. I remember when I turned 16 and was so excited about driving, my Dad said, "Its fun for a while but you'll hate it after a few years". They have apps for your phone, so you can see right when the bus will show up. Everyone rides the bus, not like the south where riding the bus is looked down on, and the bus drivers are really happy and friendly. Everyone thanks the bus driver when the get off the bus - nice. On our way home people who didn't know each other, all different races, ages, social levels, were just chatting away in a big group. Nice people out here. In fact we have found the majority of people in the area to be happy and chatty.

Off to Old Town Portland
 You have all seen the Portland sign - looks better and night. This is in the north part of the city, Chinatown and Old Town. Other than walking down to Pioneer Square to see the Christmas Tree and listen to the Tuba Band, we explored up here. While I'm thinking about it, somewhere in the city someone was playing a horrible tune - Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes. The world's worst song played on the world's worst musical instrument. It sounding like someone strangling a sheep!

 
Saturday Market
 Under the sign and Burnside Bridge is a lively Saturday Market. Lot of food carts, shops, music, and right on the Willamette River.

This guy had a great rhythm going with his
Didgeridoo and drum machine.

 

Rose gets a new hat, made from recycled sweaters.

Lunch at Mi Mero Mole

Yes we had lunch plan "A", "B", and even "C" for this trip - learned by pain on our other trips. Gladly, plan "A" for Mexican worked out and how, this totally made up for "Tillamook - The Lunch Disaster of 2014". Like all cities, there are great little 'hole in the wall' places to eat and drink. Jump off the bus, cross the street and eat and drink. Again, everyone was so nice here. Our lunch com-padres were a complete mix of the human population, which is great to see. Lot of young people, styles, or lack of styles. All homemade food and great beer. Sign says Happy Hour $2.25 draft beer, we'll be back - see this is why you need to take the bus.

Keep Portland Weird

Now to reveal the #1 mission of the day. To find the Keep Portland Weird as seen on the TV show Portlandia. We have, sort of, started a scavenger hunt to find Portlandia places. Kind of silly..

Voodoo Doughnuts

Mission #2 for the day was a Maple Bacon Doughnut.
This place is a true Portland Icon. People wait inline, in the cold, to get inside, which is about 10 ft x 10 ft, order, then back out to the cold to eat on picnic tables.

There is always such a long line here. We passed by three times and each time the line just kept getting longer, so we'll save this for our next trip, maybe on a weekday.

Portland Outdoors Store

What a time warp this store is. From the outside, it is hard to tell what you'll find at this place.
Awesome Store. A real western store. 3 stories of clothes, hats, boots, and saddles - the kind for horses, we're in Portland, so that could be confusing as to their intended purpose.

We had so much fun chatting and joking with the wonderful staff here. I purchased a pair of jeans and Rose had her eye on some really cool cowgirl boots. She would really be a hit in England with those on. I had fun chatting to the boots guy there, as I am interested in getting another pair. The heel seems to help my poor feet when walking - I have to wear hiking boots all the time now. He showed me some vintage style lace up boots. I remember seeing old explorers wearing lace up boots. He told me a lot of his cowboys (Oregon is big cattle country) liked these boots for the ankle support. I like that idea. Great hats, too!

This is a really cool, not to miss, store. We will defiantly be back for more shopping.

To wrap up. I have been to many of the world's big cities, but have never lived in one. I can see why people do, it is lively, busy, loads of stuff to see and do.

Captain Dave