I ran away last weekend, and it was marvelous! I flew up to Portland, Oregon Saturday morning, and spent a wonderful two days there walking, reading, exploring, shopping, and just enjoying a new city.

Brace yourself and your server for a lot of photos.

The Japanese Gardens:

There, I attended an Ikebana demonstration:

The International Rose Test Garden (In late October… imagine it in June!)

There were a lot of dogs out with their people. These two are staring at a Starbucks.

Where I stayed:

The sign speaks the truth:

Reading three books, buying a dozen or so more while sipping white chocolate-steamed milk, watching “The Darjeeling Limited”, eavesdropping on three French sisters, chatting with a gal from Bath, enjoying great public transportation, and walking around a Bobo‘s paradise, it was a delightful 52 hours away from home.