Left Seattle and arrived in Portland on my first blue sky day for weeks.....so after dumping my bags in my room I headed out to see the pre-Rose Parade in the middle of town.
The major event is next weekend and I wish I could of seen it. I loved this parade, it was so Americana, with marching bands, cheerleaders, beauty Queens and strapping Portland Firemen, it was fab.
Met some interesting local folk and needed to put on my anthropology hat and discovered some interesting things about West Coast folk. So after a few frozen margaritas, some games of pool (I was on fire,winning those games), photos with the local firemen and Portland cops, it was off home to get some sleep. Ooooo and apparently the navy is in town.
Today the rain came back all over again, I'm starting to think it's following me. :0 Despite this I walked down towards the marina and towards the Saturday Markets (that are open on Sunday as well oddly enough). Apparently during Summer this area is packed with people sitting in the park and enjoying the atmosphere. With this bad weather I'm now trying to find more cheap, indoors stuff to do which is a challenge.
Portland is renowned for it's coffee and Voodoo Doughnuts, so had to do the touristy thing and try both of these out. I have to say the Voodoo was the best doughnut I have ever had, it was absolutely delish.
At Stumptown coffee shop I got talking to a very interesting guy who was an Attorney at Law, specialising in Human Rights. We chatted about about law, anthropology, IPR, Americans,English and Australians, obesity and racism and tried to set the world to rights. It was great to have a normal, intelligent conversation with someone and chill out.
Very fascinating conversation and I find it very equally curious that people in this country will approach me and talk to me, maybe this is one of the distinct advantages of travelling alone.
on another note...
American men I'm finding are a lot more forward than British men, which is intriguing in a locale where interenet dating is far more acceptable and prolific than in the UK. You would think this would mean that people are less likely to approach you.
At Stumptown coffee shop I got talking to a very interesting guy who was an Attorney at Law, specialising in Human Rights. We chatted about about law, anthropology, IPR, Americans,English and Australians, obesity and racism and tried to set the world to rights. It was great to have a normal, intelligent conversation with someone and chill out.
Very fascinating conversation and I find it very equally curious that people in this country will approach me and talk to me, maybe this is one of the distinct advantages of travelling alone.
on another note...
American men I'm finding are a lot more forward than British men, which is intriguing in a locale where interenet dating is far more acceptable and prolific than in the UK. You would think this would mean that people are less likely to approach you.
I have been told that dating is predominately done online in this country and people generally don't hit on the opposite sex in a bar (pick up cheap broads ;)) Apparently 1 in 5 American couples that get married have met online. Is online dating comparable to Facebook, Twitter and other online environments? Is it an emotionally safer way to communicate and interact with the human race? Is rejection online easier to handle? Are we slowly but progressively moving away from real life communities and interaction? I find the rapid progression towards this medium absolutely fascinating.....oh and I wish I had bought a second doughnut.
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