Rediscovering Portland

¡Hola from Cozumel!
We have been having lots of fun here meeting new people, going to yoga classes by the sea, exploring the island, and making and eating as much as Mexican food as we can. 

Today we're getting lots of clouds and wind due to a "norte" meaning wind storm from the north.  That means time inside for me to sort through lots of pictures from the last couple months.  Maybe one of these days I'll even get to those two weeks in December that we spent in Thailand...

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When people in Korea asked us where we were from, we got similar responses.

"I love Portland!"

"Portland is so cool!"

"I've always wanted to visit Portland!"

Since I was born and grew up there, I had a hard time seeing what all the fuss was about.  It's rainy.  And dreary.  And the only season worth mentioning is summer, which lasts only two to three months.  If you're lucky... 

 With the help of Ryan though, over last few years I've been able to see Portland the way many others do, as a unique and lively city, with beautiful natural sights and a booming music, restaurant and bar scene.  Where else in the world can you find all the microbrews, fresh coffee and donuts your little heart could want?

Although I'd still love to see the sun on a much more regular basis, maybe there is some truth to the phrase, "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

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A few days after Christmas we had one of those wintery days that was dry, sunny and cold.  Sunshine?  It's a real rarity for Portland winters, so Ryan and I embraced the morning with a long walk to a new bagel and coffee shop.

 

 And on a gloomier (and still chilly) day later that week we took a walk around a park and reservoir in my parents' neighborhood.

 

 

Later that night I met some girlfriends at one of Portland's oldest bars.  

Its house specialty is Spanish Coffee, made tableside.

Oh, Portland.  You're not too bad.