Portland - 2004

8/13/2004 1:00AM PST

I’m currently in Portland with Matt and Mike.  We arrived at our hostel earlier on Thursday.  Yeah, we decided to slum it and give a hostel a try.  We departed on Wednesday after work, and Matt and Mike drove all night.  I didn’t drive because 1) I don’t drive stick and 2) I was deliriously tired.

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The drive down was certainly interesting: lots of stars and a meteor shower.  We stopped in Twin Falls, ID for food at Shari’s, where I had a rather dismal meal.  But hey, at least we had a waitress that made fun of Mike. 

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The remains of a Shari's meal		 columbia_aug2004_0008.jpg (99768 bytes)
The scenic route along the Columbia River		 columbia_aug2004_0011.jpg (132468 bytes)
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Aww... precious

I am in absolute love with Portland.  The weather is great, lots of cute women everywhere, cool shops, buildings, and friendly people.  Bike paths are everywhere.  The only problem is all the hippies that are just hippies because it’s the cool thing to do here.  Nothing I can’t handle.  Now, I just need to land a job here.

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Downtown Portland		 portland_aug2004_0105.jpg (86059 bytes)
Downtown Portland		 portland_aug2004_0081.jpg (63165 bytes)
Hawthorne Bridge?
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Kid humping cannon		 portland_aug2004_0016.jpg (116485 bytes)
One of the many parks

The Oregon-strength vodka Collins is making me sleepy, so time for bed.

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Relaxing in Portland's Hawthorne district		 portland_aug2004_0030.jpg (65398 bytes) portland_aug2004_0033.jpg (89222 bytes)

8/14/2004 12:30 AM PST

I shouldn’t have finished that second cigar tonight.  I just came down off of a wicked tobacco buzz, and it was not a good feeling at all…  I was sweating bullets and the world was spinning.  Thank goodness I’m feeling better now.

I’m tired and down at the moment… now chemically depressed.

 

8/15/2004 11:30 AM PST

Yesterday, we drove to downtown Portland and we were going to attempt to hear the John Kerry speech.  Unfortunately, the line of people awaiting the security check went at least over the bridge.  There was no way in hell we’d be able to get in, so instead, we walked around and people watched.  We even got to listen to some crazy pro-Bush protestor.

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The line spanned the bridge		 kerry_aug2004_0020.jpg (121572 bytes)
Pro-Bush protestor arguing with hippies
After lunch / the John Kerry stuff, we explored the area for a while.  We killed some time, then met Abbey, Chris, and Cinnamon for dinner.  Yes, they stalked us again.  Actually, it’s kinda cool that we’ve ended up in the same vacation locales twice in a row.  We had a good time chatting after dinner and then parted ways.

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Abbey (blackmail)

Now, today… we ventured to the coast and explored the Pacific Coast Highway for a while.  I got to spend some time on a west-coast beach for the first time since I was a kid.  I loved every moment of being near the Pacific Ocean.  We also went to Tillamook and went into the cheese factory.  Mmm… cheese.  I can’t believe people actually go here for fun.  We ended up having dinner in Garibaldi at some mediocre seafood restaurant.

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Nahalem Bay Winery		 pch_aug2004_0027.jpg (25498 bytes)
Scenery on the PCH		 pch_aug2004_0039.jpg (63917 bytes)
Mediocre seafood
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Not your sissy sunny Cali beach		 beach_aug2004_0012.jpg (20235 bytes)
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Lunch
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Mike, excited by cheese

Now, here I am, back at the hostel.  It was a pretty good day overall.

The hostel thing is growing on me.  Sure, I’d still probably rather stay at a cheap hotel with a companion, but this works.  It’ll probably be my choice next time I decide to travel alone.  I do wish I had a little more privacy though.

 

8/15/2004 10:45 PM PST

We leave Portland tomorrow morning, and I’m not really sure I want to go back to my normal life.  Sure, this city isn’t completely a bed of roses, but it’s close enough for now.  It has been hot in the city, combined with a massive amount of humidity, it makes for a climate to get used to.  My hair is a mess hair, so I just need to remember to bring hair gel when I return.

Today, we took it kind of easy.  Lunch was at Big Daddy’s BBQ (http://www.bigdaddysbarbeque.net). It was a pleasant mix between Hooters and Famous Dave’s.  Not the best BBQ in the world, but cute waitresses in short skirts.  It’d probably make Rachel proud (but would it even come close to Red Bones?). portland_aug2004_0035.jpg (107934 bytes)

Afterward, we hung out on the hostel porch for a few hours, then headed into downtown for an Indian Festival.  It was interesting and packed with more Indians than I had ever seen in one place, but not enough to capture our interests for more than a short time.  The rest of the evening was spent relaxing at the hostel.

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Indian Festival		 indiafest_aug2004_0022.jpg (55002 bytes)
The comb-over, for Mary

Things learned on this trip:

  • Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) is not as terrible as I remembered
  • Smoking two strong cigars in one night is a terrible idea
  • Oregon is fuckin’ awesome
  • Traveling would be more fun with floozies
  • Buying lambic beer from a safeway is a godsend
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PBR - less-craptastic than MGD		 portland_aug2004_0091.jpg (40305 bytes)
Matt @ the hostel		 portland_aug2004_0059.jpg (87226 bytes)
Matt's vice
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The coffee shop near our hostel.  Mmm... espresso

So, will I move here?  If I can land a job.  My money’s on Seattle, but we’ll see.  One never knows where life will take you.

robert@digitalsingularity.com