One of my favorite things about being in a new city is the
necessary exploration that comes with finding yourself in completely unfamiliar
territory. It amounts to an interesting combination of excitement and
uncertainty. The discovery of hidden gems in your new home pairs with slight anxiety when you realize you have never seen this street before,
and have no idea where you are or how you got here. For me, the feeling of
discovering a new place somehow makes me see the ordinary in a brand new light.
Right now, Portland is beginning to feel more familiar to me, which admittedly
is comforting, but there is still so much to explore.
Yesterday, I took a trip downtown, which I have been doing on
occasion. I live in the Southeast, which has been perfect because it feels more
like a neighborhood on this side of the river, but I also like having downtown
and more of the city experience just a ten minute drive away. I
took the bus (the public transportation here is great), and did some wandering
around. I stopped by Powell's City of Books, which is still one of my favorite
attractions in the city. It is an entire city block, no joke! With nine color
coded rooms, each with a different focus, there is literally something for
everyone. I could probably spend an entire week in there, just browsing. I can't
resist stopping in when I'm downtown. I also found a cute park called Jackson Square,
tucked in among the apartment buildings and skyscrapers. Like I said, the
little gems.
I decided to walk home. It took about an hour (yes, it was a
long walk), but walking really is the best way to get to know a new area. My favorite part was crossing the Hawthorne Bridge, one of the eight bridges that spans the Willamette River in this area, connecting the East and West areas of Portland. Back on my side of the river, I got lunch at Cartopia, a little cluster of food carts parked
around a small, currently tented, eating area. I got an BBQ Brisket and Mozzarella mini pie from Whiffies Pie. It was the perfect snack to make
that final push home.
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