Saturday, October 17, we had our first outing in our new area. We decided to check out downtown Portland. We took a picture with the iconic sign - Keep Portland Weird. Let's just say, they are working very hard to stay weird! Yikes!
The main reason we wanted to go downtown was to go to Powell Books. It is a bookstore that is an entire city books and has one million books! They have it a mixture of old and new books and it really is a neat experience - especially if you are a book lover at any length.
The line to get in was wrapped halfway around the block. It took us almost an hour just to get in the store. And when we did get in, they only had two sections open. Man, what a disappointment! If you had seen the whole store before and then went in today, you would know what I mean. Definitely not the same. We will have to plan to go again but not until they open the entire store.
After the bookstore, we walked to a place called Voodoo Doughnuts. Again, another line. The donuts are pretty pricey - but delicious and huge! So, not an every day event, but I'm glad we tried it out and can say we have been and tried them. Best maple and bavarian cream donut I have ever had!
A negative aspect of the day. Boy, the homelessness is out. of. control. This was a picture I took in the city center. Tents, homeless lying on the sidewalks, garbage. It is repulsing and honestly, unnerving. It became just too much for us and we said to each other - Let's just get out of here.
Then add in the grafitti, boarded up and closed windows - the vandalism was awful that has happened.
After needing to get out of the city center and the craziness, we went about nine minutes down the street to Washington Park. This park is in the middle of Portland but it sure doesn't feel like it.
We first got to see the monument erected in honor of Lewis and Clark and their explorations of the west.
Beautiful view from the top!
The next was a statue of Sacajawea and her part in the expedition.
The next monument is dedicated to those who went through the Holocaust and their relatives that settled in Oregon. What a touching tribute.
I have read several books of the Holocaust and it has become one of my favorite subjects in history to learn about.
I love that they have this memorial here in Portland.
Items left around at the memorial to help you remember what the Jews lost.
From there, we walked to the International Rose Test Garden. Most of the roses are not in bloom but we still saw a few. They have 10,000 rose plantings here! What a beautiful spot.
View on the way home. Mountains and hills never get old. :)
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