More Portland Greetings

So as I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself, we kept on driving until we came across a shipwreck.  I don't think I've ever seen a shipwreck before, so of course we had to go and have a poke around.

The Peter Iredale was built in 1894 and came to grief while sailing (it was indeed a sailing ship) in 1906 while trying to avoid a storm.  I know this because I looked it up, in case you're wondering.  They had hoped to tow it to sea, but by the time the weather cleared the sand had taken hold. Now she gently rots (is a ship named after a man still a "she"?) on the beach, and provides interesting photo opportunities for tourists like us.  For example...

We must have been on the leeward side of things, I think, because my ears were never in any danger of freezing off.

On Monday, after  lazing around for a bit, we took a walk and visited Powells Bookstore.  We went because it's an independent bookstore, which unfortunately are few and far between these days, and because it lays claim to being amongst the largest bookstores in the world.  Given that it covers an entire city block three storeys tall, and has an annex across the street, I think the owners might have a point.  They apparently have several other stores in Portland, too.


There were endless, endless stacks of books on shelves more than twice as tall as me, on any subject you'd care to mention.  They have secondhand books mixed in with the new, which is how Daniel came across a fly-fishing book from the 1960s that he brought home.  Much to my surprise, there were several copies of the same book for sale!


As you might imagine, even for a book lover it was a bit overwhelming; thank heavens they have maps available so you can find your way around.  I am a little surprised to report that I left with only two books, one on knitting and one on small batch preserves.


Monday night was spent at the reason we went to Portland in the first place: The Black Keys concert.  I enjoyed it, but I think live music is something you have to see for yourself.  It's not really something that can be explained.


Tuesday was the day we headed back to Boise, but not before a visit to Portland's famed Japanese gardens.  They have five separate styles of garden on a little over five acres, and all are absolutely amazing in their own ways.  I was surprised by the relatively limited palette of plants and colours they used, but they certainly put them to good use.  I believe the garden has been there since the 1960's, so even now it's really just coming into its own.


I think it was a lovely last stop, but I'll let you judge for yourself.


Cheers!