Photos of Portland, Oregon (Post 2)
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
I enjoy taking public transit whenever I can, when I travel. I like to say I collect subways, but I collect buses and above-ground trains as well. I added another system to my list while in Portland.
When I got in to the airport the first night (Wednesday), I had to take a cab in order to get to the Lantern Moon pre-conference reception before it was over. (An aside: the Lantern Moon people are wonderful and thoughtful, and their products are a delight to use.) I then took the provided private bus from that reception to the Convention Center area, and called a cab from there.
The cab was necessary as I had to get to my hostel before it was too late to check in for the night (their desk closed at midnight). All other transportation I took alone in the city, was the light rail (a train system which runs above ground).
Collecting Another Train System
The system is clean and well-used but was not overcrowded at the times I used it. The one time I overshot my stop, I got off my train and then went to the other side to wait for a train going back the way I needed to go.
I was not there 30 seconds before a security officer showed up from what seemed like nowhere, and asked if I was OK. I told him I was turning around, and he said I was in the right place. He stayed with me until the train came. This was around midnight, I think on Friday. I did appreciate his presence and good company.
Chinatown Detour
Thursday, on the way “home,” I decided to get off the train a few times to check out other sections of town. I had missed a lunch with others at a specific restaurant in Chinatown. I decided to see if I wanted to eat there alone at dinner. It was disappointing, unfortunately.
Apparently late dinner on Thursday is not a boom time in Chinatown. The area seemed in less than excellent repair as a whole. Although I found a beautiful and well-kept entry gate to the area (I love gates like this), I also found a shelter or food kitchen for homeless folks when I walked around a block off the main drag. I’m happy to know that those who need it, can get some care, but I think they would just as soon I not be in their space.
They paid me no attention at all (nobody begged or even looked at me). There were other pedestrians around, and it was not dark. It did not feel particularly spooky to this citygrrl, but I was clearly not where I belonged. I went back to the train and got dinner elsewhere.
I like to take photos out of the window of public transit vehicles. Here are a few shots I got in Portland, I’m not exactly sure where. I love old architecture!
This one is of the Portland Saturday Market, which I have heard about. I did not have time to stop that day, but it was good to see it through the window.
Bubblers
I also got a few photos while I walked to and from the train stops. If you notice the third photo (train stop), and look at far right, you will see a small water fountain. I was told these are called “bubblers.” You see them all over, walking down the sidewalks through a neighborhood.
I was told these were installed because the thought was that drunk people would drink water if it was free to them and available easily. It clearly did not work… one night I walked by around midnight and a bubbler’s water was turned off, though it had been on in the morning. I only saw running water during daytime.
They sure are lovely and welcoming, in any case! Here is another photo with a multiple-fountain bubbler:
Welcome, Stranger
Portland felt very comfortable and friendly to me as a midwesterner (I know a good handful of Michigan folks who have moved there and are not coming back). It seemed even more warm to strangers on the sidewalk, than home.
Here in Lansing, those who know me understand that I dress unlike others here. I’m an artist who loves clothing/costuming every day. Those in my life accept me for who I am. However, I am outside the norm by a large margin in my caftans and bright clothing.
My own small home city tends toward neutral clothing such as navy and beige, and blue jeans. Knitters tend to favor soft purples as well, for some reason. My hot turquoise and magenta worn with hot green, all at once, is something you don’t see much on an adult in these parts.
I noticed that walking to the train stop in Portland (wearing my colorful garb), I was approached at least once a day by a stranger who told me I looked nice. They kept walking, with the exception of a skateboarding kid on the train who really was interested in the polymer clay beads I made for my earrings. Nobody caused me any trouble, and they were not afraid to talk to me at all. I liked that!