A weekend in Portland!! (August 24th-25th)

PROLOGUE

For almost a year, now, I am living in Seattle. However, I had never been in Portland, OR, which is 2 hours away by train. Viola, my Italian friend, also wanted to visit this city, so we started planning our trip there for the weekend of August 24th-25th 2013.  One day before we left, we booked the train tickets, the hotel room and that was it!!! We were ready for Portland!!! 

Saturday, August 24th 2013

We were about to leave early in the morning, at 7 am, in order to have as much time as possible to explore Portland. We met at the King Street Station and we got on the train. We arrived in Portland at 11 am and still with the back packs on we headed to Lan Su Chinese Garden, which was pretty close to the Union Station, and from there to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Both places were beautiful. At the Chinese Garden we admired the architecture and at the Crystal Garden, we liked the meadows.. It was like an image from a fairy tale.. ! 

Leaving from there, we headed to the hotel in order to check-in and get rid of the heavy" back packs and keep exploring the city! : P  After that, we wanted to visit 2 more gardens, the Japanese and the Garden of Roses. But due to time, we changed our plan and we went to see the Convention Center and, later, eat and have fun at the Pioneer Courthouse Square  where an Italian Festival was held; and... WE DID HAVE FUN!!! 

Sunday, August 25th 2013

The first thing that we did was a walk on the Waterfront and from there we headed to the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. Even though it was raining and we got soaked, we liked the Japanese Garden, especially the rock gardens, and the variety at the Rose Garden!! OMG!  So many roses in different colors! By the way, Oregon is called as the Land of Roses!!

    

                                                            

Later, we went downtown to eat something and take a walk around the neighborhoods. Of course we didn't forget to visit the Powell's Bookstore! Aaaahhh [sigh]!!!  I could camp inside there! I love reading and the smell of the books and paper..

But it was time to go to the station to catch up the train back to Seattle... :( 

WE DID HAVE SO MUCH FUN, EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER STOPPED WALKING!!!

* NOTE: I prefer to describe a little bit of 

                the places that I have been, 

               because it's a different experience

              for everyone! Therefore, I just make 

             sure that I have mentioned the places

            (names) if anyone would be interested

            in visiting them some day..!  

                                                      Thank you!! 

                                                         Demetra