Portland

Portland is an old city. Not in a bad way though. I can imagine the time when it was a logging and lumber center on the west side of the nation. It still has a significant manufacturing presence. The old downtown is spotted with low rise buildings of rough red brick against a backdrop of newer, taller building with less character.

The light rail system is efficient and inexpensive. It would have been better if it have been built underground as one local said during one of my many clandestine listening moments. The core area even has a 'free travel' zone.

It may have its litter and grafitti covered neighborhoods, but from what I saw, there was little of this urban debris anywhere. It almost made me homesick for California.

The city has an interesting mix of cultures. Clothing is only one part of cultural diversity, but it a demonstrative clue to an observer. During my brief walking trip downtown I saw all sorts of attire--running gear, bicycle shorts (that always look odd to me when the person wearing them is on foot), casual business wear, a bit of flannel and more than one woman dressed head to toe in black with only their face exposed.

The old buildings appear to be fighting architecural progress. One rough brick building by the Steel Bridge caught my eye. It was fully enclosed by a chain link fence with 'No Tresspassing" warning signs attached. I had to take a picture of it before it is torn down. In the small fisure of one cracked concrete window sill grew a single dandelion. I wondered what interesting stories this building could tell if given a conscience voice.

Portland is now on my list of cities I would like to visit again.