#301 - PORTLAND! Day 1

PORTLAND! what a trip. it was a last minute, spur-of-the-moment decision. i needed a jolt to jump-start the end of my year (into next year) and i definately got it. i had a great time visiting brandi, seeing the pacific northwest and finally going to a relient k concert. i had fun being a tourist, being open to new experiences and everything and if there's one thing i want to take from this trip, it's how to be a tourist. y'know, not worrying about money or time, just going though each day looking forward to being amazed or entertained or even pleasantly bored about life and the world around you (wherever you are). it's that open-minded mentality that i'd like to keep with me now that i'm back home (in the warmth, thank goodness).

so, how did my trip go? that's a great question! let me tell you...

Day 1 -

the plane trip from hawai'i to portland was actually one of the most pleasant airplane rides i've ever had. it was just over 5 hours but i was never bored, and i didn't even sleep. somehow there always seemed to be something happening. in keeping with my tourist mentality, i splurged on the hawaiian airlines trail mix for a snack (which is completely opposite from what i've been groomed to think while growing up, y'know, your mom telling you, "you don't need that!" to every treat that you wanted), popped in my ipod, read my new book and before i knew it we were in portland, it was great!

outside of the airport it was something like 16 degrees! geez, they said that if there was any moisture then it would be snowing, but it was completely dry with clear skies (which was unusual, so they told me). so after picking up our rental car (i requested a prius, to test-drive in case that's the kind of car i'd want to buy when mine inevitably breaks down, but they upgraded me for free to a chevy cobalt, which turned out to be the crappiest car, too bad), we picked up brandi's boyfriend, jeremy, and headed out for some late night eats.


we went to a place called "le bistro montage." it was known for late night eats and drinks. jeremy told us that after 12 midnight they switch the music from pleasant tunes to hardcore metal, and the service gets really bad as well... i guess even though they stay open late they want to kick out the riff-raff. anyway, we started with some oyster shooters...

then jeremy had the pesto basil mac & cheese (they had all kinds of mac & cheese creations), brandi had andoullie sausage jambalaya, and i had ALLITGATOR jambalaya!

it was weird. half the time it tasted like fish, and half the time it tasted like banquet frozen chicken nuggets (remember those? they were shaped like little bite-sized tatter tots?).

then whatever leftovers you have, the waiters/waitresses wrap them up into aluminum foil scultures. we got a front row seat to see they wrap everything up, it was pretty neat, i don't think i saw them repeat a sculture the whole time we were there. mostly they made animals, but also palm trees, swords, and all kinds of other things. here is a scorpion, a crab, and a rabbit. i got the crab.

finally, to cap off the night, we went to a 24 hr. donut shop/wedding chapel (although no one was getting married when we were there) called Voodoo donuts. they had all kinds of creative donuts, lots with different cereal toppings, a maple-bacon bar (that one was fricken' fantastic!), and a voodoo doll donut, complete with blood (strawberry jam) filling... yum.

after that we were pretty wiped so it was off to brandi's apartment for a big sleep.

coming up... day 2.

but if you don't want to wait, you can see all the pictures from my trip by clicking.... HERE!