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Final weekend of my friends one month West Coast visit, we took a short flight down to San Francisco. Of course, we nearly missed the flight from Portland. Arrived at the gate just before the door closed. I still can't believe we made it. Checked into the hotel, then immediately left the hotel to walk around before it got too late and everything was closed. The next couple days involved a lot of walking, staring at google maps, and besides a few cranky moments of disagreement there were still a lot of laughs, fun, and long conversations. Saturday: Union Square, Trolly, lombard Street, Alcatraz (from a distance), Golden Gate Bridge (from a distance), Ghiradelli Square, Pier 39, Fishermans Wharf, Sea Lions Sunday: Union Square, City Bus, Street Car, Chinatown, Coit Tower, Transamerica Pyramid, In-N-Out burger Monday: Union Square, Macys, watched a labor day protest, took the Bart to airport I saw quite a bit over the last 30 days. Things even I have never seen or experienced, and I've lived here for 38+ years. Due to weather, temperature, air quality (smoke from the fires), and overall exhausting the poor guy and needing to give him an occasional nap break... there was quite a bit I excluded from my original plan. Even I was starting to struggle to keep up with myself. Whether it was Seattle, Oregon, or in San Francisco... what we did cover is still quite impressive. Seeing more than many people see in a lifetime. Photo Credits: Kat Wilson & Santhosh Nemmaluri
Keep Portland Weird, City of Roses, Bridge City, Stumptown, Bridgetown.... along with many others. All being names for Portland. A city I will always just call "home". For months I had planned my friends visit. Adding in as many of my favorite places, and ones I haven't yet been. Figuring out which were feasible after work vs needed to be grouped together for a weekend. Then the smoke from the fires in Canada rolled in. All that planning was destroyed. Pushing us to stay indoors until it cleared, but still fitting in as much as possible:
I will admit, I was sensitive over Portland. Showing it off like a prized cow. Wanting and hoping my friend would go back and tell all our coworkers how amazing of a city it was. But honestly, it didn't matter. I love this city. Its my home, my city, and I get to enjoy it every day regardless what anyone else thinks of it. On the same note, he taught me a few things. Stop rushing. Slow down. Yes, I can enjoy the things around me but when was the last time I stopped and looked at something closer? I need to take more time for the things I really enjoy.... or for the things I don't know I enjoy yet, because I don't give myself time to figure it out. Photo Credits: Kat Wilson & Santhosh Nemmaluri
 After a long weekend in Newport and heading up highway 101 to Tillamook, there was still time before the sun was due to set and for us to make a small detour before heading back to Beaverton... plus, it had finally stopped raining. Driving down highway 26 you can't help but notice a sign that is nothing less than begging for visitors, "It's Down Here to Vernonia" with an arrow pointing. About a half hour through windy roads, you will finally arrive upon a small quant town. A single road, small businesses, restaurants, and repair shops on either side. I stumbled upon this town a few years back while searching for unique points of interest to photograph. In Venonia's case there is a gem hidden on the edge of the lake just outside of the main town, an abandoned mill building turned into a grafitti park. Now, anyone that knows me knows my heart will skip a beat and flutter at the sight of well done street art. This place does that. Photo Credits: Kat Wilson & Santhosh Nemmaluri
With a late start out of Portland Friday afternoon, and many hours of sitting in traffic, we finally made it down to Newport four hours later than expected, but thankfully before dark. Spent the next morning on the beach, walking around the small town, and then headed down to the Aquarium. Oregon Coast Aquarium, exploring and examining every inch of every exhibit for over five hours. Not missing a beat. The sea lions and seals were probably my favorite though. I've seen them out in the wild many times and always thought of them as "dicks" of the sea, but the ones at the aquarium were fun, playful, and enjoyable to sit and watch for about an hour. They've moved up in my book. I kind of want one now. Heading out on Sunday, stopping at the lighthouse for one last view of the ocean before we continued up highway 101. Destination: Tillamook Cheese Factory! Which just opened back up in July after the visitor center had been closed for remodeling. Like everything else, we took our time, watched the curd get packaged, workers ignoring the gawking observers from above, sampling cheese, then waiting for ice cream downstairs. Next stop: Vernonia Photo Credits: Kat Wilson & Santhosh Nemmaluri
The original plan, of my friends 30+ day visit to the Pacific Northwest was to spend the first weekend at Crater Laker. Unfortunately due to the forest fires, fire ban, and air quality from the smoke in the air... I detoured our plan to Seattle. Luckily though, I think it turned out to be more of a blessing. I'm glad I was not out camping in the cold air when death came over me. I was so sick. Congested, headache, throat... you name it, it was all brewing inside me. Seattle... the sister city of Portland. It was a really nice weekend with clear skies, full sun, warm, and way less smoke up North. We wondered around, did the normal tourist stops (ferris wheel, space needle, pike street, fish market, wharf, MoPC, etc), all while nurturing my low energy levels due to forgetting my cold meds and feeling like my head was on verge of explosion. Even with all that going on, it was still an enjoyable weekend with an amazing view. [Its been a few years since I've been up to Seattle, outside of the airport. The weekend we went seemed to be the right time to visit as they had just recently finished remodeling the observation deck of the Space Needle. Adding a rotating glass bottom floor, which I will admit... made me really queazy and threw off my equilibrium (slow circular motion), but still really cool all the same. Very much a head trip... whats moving? the wall or the floor?] Photo Credits: Kat Wilson & Santhosh Nemmaluri
As we were heading to Boston for purpose of attending a concert, we decided to add a few extra days for exploring the city. Although our time was too brief to really get a complete feel for it, we did manage to explore many of the sites that make Boston so appealing. From the rich history, architecture, and unique neighborhoods. I'm sure even another few extra days still wouldn't have given enough time to cover everything. Thursday Following along The Freedom Trail, a red brick path guiding you through the city, this is an easy way to catch glimpse of all the historical landmarks without too much effort. Its a few miles, but worth sticking with till the end. Starting at The Boston Common and continuing on stopping at the Massachusetts State House, Granary Burial Ground (graves of Adams, Hancock, and Paul Revere), first public school, Benjamin Franklin Statue, Old South Meeting House, Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and ending at Bunker Hill Monument. Winding around, but always looking down to ensure we are still following the path... except for one small detour, which was an absolute must. Cheers! The bar and set for the 80's TV show where "everybody knows your name". A little nostalgic. Friday As a kid I was always asked in school what I wanted to be when I grew up. Frankly, I had no idea. None. I knew I liked to draw, loved poetry, and was into the arts... but what does that make out to in a career back in the 80's? Nothing. So, I put down a fake career goal. A professional baseball player. Had I ever played? No. Had I ever been to a game? No. Did I know anything about the game? No. But who cares. That's what all my assignments were now on from 3rd till 6th grade... baseball and how I was going to be the first female professional player. My teachers weren't too pleased with my new founded career path, but I stood my ground. Why couldn't I be one? And who says girls can't play professionally? We bought tickets for the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park that evening. My very first game... 30 years after I started putting that as my career path. I never did pick up playing and learned nothing of the game. But none the less, I really enjoyed tonights game. I knew there were innings, but as people cheered and boo'd I couldn't tell you why. hahaha Saturday After a day covering sites and landmarks not covered by the freedom trail, such as the location of the Tea Party where they dumped the tea into the sea. We headed back to our hotel to get ready for the whole purpose of our trip. Radiohead was playing at TD Gardens. Third time seeing them in the past three years. Each time being memorable, different, and an amazing show. I get chills each time. Always a surreal experience. Sunday The great departure back to home. Leaving Boston and heading back to our regular scheduled lives. Knowing we barely uncovered this city. I do feel we will be back someday. Farewell Boston. |
