Portland Oregon

1 July 2018

Many cities in the USA have park and ride parking stations next to train or light rail stations in the outer suburbs FREE. So I parked at Orenco and took the light rail into Downtown Portland. I found a free walking tour on Trip Advisor, Secrets of Portlandia

Portland Square(similar to Sydney’s Martin Place) has free entertainment but I like the movies they have every Friday night. You don’t have to bring cushions because Ikea provides cushions and lounges to sit on.

While waiting for the walking tour I was thrilled to be entertained by The Oregon Crusaders, a competitive junior bugles and drums band. Our NSW equivalent would be the NSW Public Schools Millenium Band

The Voodoo Doughnut Shopis an icon of Portland. They even have a bacon or wasabi flavoured donut.

This is where the Oregon Trail commenced.

Mill Ends Park is the smallest park in the world, the only colony in the world West of Ireland for leprechauns.

The Meetup App has been instrumental in me locating social groups throughout my trip. I use it at home as well and that is how I learned to play golf, attend various theatre and other groups. This is not a dating app but for meeting people who have similar interests.

Here on my USA trip I have been to Singles dances in California, trivia nights in Georgia, Arizona, Ohio, salsa dancing in New Jersey, Italian festival in Nebraska, contra dancing in New Mexico and Oregon to name a few.

Looking up Meetup today in Portland there is such an eclectic mix of groups such as a Naked Nature Walk, an Ultimate pick up (frisbee group), a consent touch and pleasure group. This city certainly lives up to being different.

Trip advisor is also a very important source of travel information.

While I was having fun yesterday there was apparently a riot in this city. Portland Oregon Riot 30 June 2018

I rarely get to see the news while on this trip and I have to admit that more often Facebook posts from my friends is how I keep updated.

I ended my evening by going to the cinema to see Ocean 8. When I go to the cinema people laugh at me taking pashminas because I get cold. Lots of people in Portland had blankets. I don’t feel so silly now. Tonights session had a full house. Not like the night I went to the cinema in Iowa. I don’t mind going to the cinema alone but when I went to see the Book Club I was the only person in the theatre and probably should have felt sad and lonely but I laughed even louder than normal.