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The trip to Portland was pretty enjoyable. We both seemed kinda tired and run down and were not able to go out at all as we took turns getting sick. Which was a bit disappointing, especially Saturday when we went out, ran into the turn-ons, went to get food, during which Bill started to feel ill and we had to return to the hotel. Nothing sucks more than being sick on your birthday!
But there were good things, I managed to get lots of lovely books from Powells;
Evelyn Waugh The Loved One (On Rhias' recommendation)
Robert Campany Strange Writing
Susan Mann Precious Records
Lin Kong-hui A translation and Appreciation of Selected Tang and Song Ci-Poems (Which has characters and pinyin as well as English HORRAY)
A dual language of a selection from Records of the Historian by Sima Qian
And then a really funny kids book in French, On a un Mostre dans La Classe
And three very simple kids books in German.
We went to the Chinese Gardens there for the first time. It was gorgeous, I wandered around picturing all the books I've read that took place in Chinese gardens. I tried composing poetry in the pavilions and learning some more Chinese words. We had lovely tea and moon cakes in the tea shop, where we sat on the second floor, and there I had to forgo my literary references as I just imagined Jet Li coming through the windows at any moment. But it was beautiful and peaceful, and we ended up going back there on Sunday to see it all again in the rain, which I have to say was even more amazing. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Portland, it doubled the number of things I like to do there.
You can view their website here
We had to leave the gardens on Sunday to catch our train back to Seattle, a word of warning to anyone considering taking the train between Seattle and Portland, AVOID THE NUMBER 14! Apparently it is notoriously late. We ended up waiting 4 hours in the train station, as each hour they told us it would be delayed another hour. We were supposed to leave at 4 and be home by 7.30, we didn't leave Portland till 8 and didn't make it home till midnight!!!!
Still despite the train delay and the random stomach upsets it was a nice trip.
But there were good things, I managed to get lots of lovely books from Powells;
Evelyn Waugh The Loved One (On Rhias' recommendation)
Robert Campany Strange Writing
Susan Mann Precious Records
Lin Kong-hui A translation and Appreciation of Selected Tang and Song Ci-Poems (Which has characters and pinyin as well as English HORRAY)
A dual language of a selection from Records of the Historian by Sima Qian
And then a really funny kids book in French, On a un Mostre dans La Classe
And three very simple kids books in German.
We went to the Chinese Gardens there for the first time. It was gorgeous, I wandered around picturing all the books I've read that took place in Chinese gardens. I tried composing poetry in the pavilions and learning some more Chinese words. We had lovely tea and moon cakes in the tea shop, where we sat on the second floor, and there I had to forgo my literary references as I just imagined Jet Li coming through the windows at any moment. But it was beautiful and peaceful, and we ended up going back there on Sunday to see it all again in the rain, which I have to say was even more amazing. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Portland, it doubled the number of things I like to do there.
You can view their website here
We had to leave the gardens on Sunday to catch our train back to Seattle, a word of warning to anyone considering taking the train between Seattle and Portland, AVOID THE NUMBER 14! Apparently it is notoriously late. We ended up waiting 4 hours in the train station, as each hour they told us it would be delayed another hour. We were supposed to leave at 4 and be home by 7.30, we didn't leave Portland till 8 and didn't make it home till midnight!!!!
Still despite the train delay and the random stomach upsets it was a nice trip.