I’m up in Portland, Or. On a business trip.
I like looking out the window while flying. I know the route ok, having flown it a few times, and driving it more. It stuck me though, I know the route more from the scars we have placed upon the land more than the land shapes.
It is a bit humorous flying out of Eureka. When they called for people to board the plane, they called MVP, handicapped, and 1st class. After a little pause, they called for rows up to ten, then without pausing eleven to nineteen. I turned to my boss, and said, in other words, everybody. There is only twenty rows in the whole plane, and four seats across. Row twenty was for the flight attendants. I had seat “E”. I want to know where those with “C” seat sit, underneath, on top, with luggage, or in the wheel wells. There isn’t that many places you can fit people.
I’m happy though we each have our own room at the Holiday Inn Express at the Portland International Airport, free WiFi, and my room overlooks some busy freight tracks.
I decided to go visit the Zoo, via the Light Rail. I asked the Hotel shuttle driver, how often the trains run. He seen to avoid it at first, talking about the Light Rail, until I said I liked railroads. He said I was the first person that was happy the room was near the freight tracks. Told him I hadn’t been to the airport here in over ten years, when I went in to MEPS going in to the station. The MEPS was by the Rose Garden stadium, now by the airport.
I got a adult all day, all zone pass for $4.25. Full freedom of movement, no worries, frequent service. I even saw a bicycle hanging up on a hook, when I entered. This is the red line. Partway, the train changed to being a blue line. Didn’t matter, it all goes to Washington park, and thus to the Zoo.
It’s a nice Zoo, nice exhibits, and nice ride on train. I got lots of pictures of the large kitties for my wife. If she could, she would own one. She is the type that most animals like her. Back in Arizona we even got to hand feed a few tigers.
On the way back, I decided to stop at the downtown Mall Station, and eat. I love waterfalls, and their food court had a nice one.
From there I was tired and just wanted to crash. I noticed an old Union Pacific symbol on the bridge cars, and the light rail uses to cross. We were stopped at NE 82nd ave station, police removing a person from a train up at the next station named “Gateway” on the way back to the hotel.
I was a bit disappointed, the few times I realized there was a train, while I was in my room, I didn’t get to the window in time to see the locomotive. I slept through any trains during the night.
I’ll post photos sometime later.
