Every year, the lovely Lizzy and I go on an Easter vacation together. It's a tradition that started in Berlin, and was carried on in New Orleans, Mexico, and now Portland. Every year we choose a new place, meet up there or travel there together, and spend the weekend adventuring around.
My trip started with a very early morning and a small series of plane rides. I have little to no memory of the flight to San Francisco as I was asleep before we even took off. I suppose that's what waking up at 4:30 in the morning will do to you. On the second flight, I sat next to a woman who owns a bookstore in San Francisco, The Booksmith. I haven't been there yet, but it's definitely on the list of things to do when I finally make it to San Francisco! She was a lovely woman and we chatted pretty much the entire flight.
Upon arrival in Portland, Lizzy, my aunt, uncle, and I all headed straight for VooDoo Doughnuts! It was among the most overwhelmingly sugary experiences of my life. A fluffy, sugary doughnut topped with heaps of frosting, accented with a heavy smattering of oreo pieces. As a lover of sickeningly sweet things, I was in absolute heaven.
Our next stop was Powell's Bookstore, the number one item on my list and one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Portland in the first place. It did not disappoint. Aisle after aisle of books, new books juxtaposed with old. I managed to walk away with only two books: a copy of Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde and an old bread-making cookbook that I intend to start practicing with tomorrow!
The next day, we visited the Japanese gardens. I also got the chance to experience my very first Pacific Northwest rain! You might think rain is rain, but this was so different from any rainy day I've experienced anywhere else that I've lived. It was a soft rain, and cold but not miserable. I actually quite enjoyed it. Despite the rain, or perhaps because of it in some cases, the gardens were wonderful. Everything glistened and colors were made even more vibrant.
On our final day, we all took a trip out to Silver Falls State Park to go see one of the waterfalls out there. The weather was much warmer this day, with no rain in sight. We hiked down a path to one of the falls, and stood in a small cavern underneath the water, which was an incredibly experience. For as much as I love living in or near cities, I have to admit that one of the things you really miss out on much of the time is just how incredible nature is.
It was a wonderful trip. Thank you so much Aunt Mary and Uncle Lew for letting us stay with you! We had an absolute blast. I have to go back again at some point. But for now, I'll be looking forward to where next year's Easter adventure will take us.
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