Day Three

Today I slept in, or at least tried to, while my drama queen of a roommate complained loudly into her cell phone that she desperately needed to get to her psychiatrist appointment but didn't have enough money for a taxi. I offered to pay her fare, eager to be rid of her, but she refused, choosing instead to call her psychiatrist and complain--again, loudly--to him until he agreed to pay the driver upon her arrival.

So I got up and headed across the street to a coffee shop, where I spent what was left of the morning reading the NY Times and sipping a latte. After that, I walked down to the Pearl District where I spent a good part of the early afternoon chatting up some gay boys in a little kitchen shop with the most extensive cookbook selection I've ever seen. Next, I had lunch (at their recommendation)with a bunch of Stepford wives and other beautiful people at the Everett Street bistro. It was good, and not nearly as expensive as you'd think, in spite of the Stepford wives.

I really like Portland. It's a very friendly town and pretty affordable compared with a lot of other places. Still, I've met (actually exceeded) my spending limit, so I'm ready to head home.

See you all tomorrow!

Day Two

This was supposed to be my big Powell's Day, and it was, in a way, but to be honest, I only made it through the New Releases and Cooking sections before becoming quite overwhelmed. The place is almost like...a city of books, or something. I then moved on to Whole Foods, where I stumbled across a VERY exciting find, which I'll tell you about when I get home. I can only think of two people who will be as excited as I am, and one of them knows about it already. Still, I'm pretty pleased.

Not much else to report. I've pretty much reached my spending limit, so I'm not exactly sure what I'll do tomorrow, but I'll figure something out.

Five hours, forty-five dollars...

Three glasses of pretty-darned-good cote du rhone, one order of really good goat cheese ravioli, one order of REALLY good pork medallions in spiced-apple sauce, two glasses of more-than-pretty-good Nebbiolo, and one out-f***ing-standing pizza funghi e prosciutto!

I started my evening at Lucy's Table and finished at a place called Touche (all within 4 or 5 blocks of my hostel). In between these two establishments, I turned down a dinner offer from an old man named Scott, whose business card indicated that he was affiliated with the "Universe University." I was tempted to accept his offer for a "free drink from an old, strange man", but I resisted. I ate my pizza alone and made my way back to the HI Northwest Guesthouse, which is clean, friendly, and almost empty. I'm sharing my six-bed dorm with two Japanese rommates (no Australians in sight, for once!), and all is quiet.

So here I am, safe and sound (Mom!). More tomorrow.