Big walk 2004

I slept in again today (as a result of staying up until after the bar closed and the crowd on the patio quieted down) and then set out for adventure. Despite forecasts of rain (accurate) I decided to go hike around Washington Park. I looked around the fascinating light rail station there - hundreds of feet underground - then had a cup of split pea soup at the Zoo cafe. I skipped the Zoo, the exhibit on chocolate (From Tree To Truffle) with its tasting, and the Oregon Mycological Society mushroom show and instead headed out along a trail intended to hike through the bamboo & ginko areas of the Hoyt Arboretum. Unfortunately, I didn't have a map, took a wrong turn and went in the absolute wrong direction. A kindly fellow gave me a lift back up the hill to the arboretum's vistor center and just in time too because the sky opened up and it absolutely poured rain for 5 or 10 minutes.

When it had settled back to a very light rain, I checked the map (much more carefully this time) and took the Oak Trail to get me to the trail to the Japanese Garden. It was an absolutely beautiful hike. Fresh air, gorgeous light & colors, the sound of the rain through the leaves. Truly wonderful.

Alas, I arrived 15 minutes too late to get into the gardens, but I was able to walk down the hill and enjoy a cup of hot cider in the Rose Garden. From there I walked further down towards town and happened on the Holocaust Memorial. I am so glad I did.

The Portland Holocaust Memorial is incredibly powerful. I took a lot of pictures and will write more about it when I can illustrate my comments. Suffice to say, if you will be in Portland, do try to bear witness. Never to forget and never to let it happen again is the only thing we can do.

After leaving the memorial, I walked on down through a couple blocks of town and found myself on West Burnside. My hotel being on East Burnside this was fortuitous and I was shortly able to catch a bus straight back to my home away from home.

Since the Tango Fest people were all checking out today, I was able to get moved to a quieter room. I feel silly for forgetting to take a picture of the other room. This one is a bit bigger, but it doesn't have as cool a shower curtain (that one said "It's All About Me" over & over on it). It does have cool round green rugs on the floor and a fuzzy green bolster on the bed.

Now I just need to freshen up and go over to the restaurant for dinner. Having only eaten a Luna bar, a small bowl of soup, a cup of cider and 5 small pieces of candy today, I'm ravenous!