Pioneer Courthouse Square

When you live in a place for awhile, you tend to not notice the things you pass by every day. I never realized that certain elements of Pioneer Courthouse were there for a reason. The ironwork gate was crafted before 1900 and was part of the Portland Hotel before the hotel got torn down in 1950 to become...a parking lot...which then became the Square. The umbrella man is a sculpture called Allow Me by J. Seward Johnson. I always thought this sculpture was the real Mr. Portland. The umbrellas are useful when it rains while you are waiting for the MAX. The chess mat (with wallet and coffee cup) is atop a "toppled" column and you can usually find legions of chess players set up there. I am still looking for the weather machine and the horse sculpture. Too hot to look for those today. But we should add a sign. Michelle's House - 10 blocks.

Catching up on June and first part of July

Time runs away when I am not looking. During the last part of June, I got to see the World at Sea and the Flower Festival.

The cruise ship (The World) was docked in Portland for nearly a week, and curious passersby wandered toward this amazing city in the water. I was surprised it actually made it up the river. Wouldn’t it be great to spend some time just traveling this way? Aah…As for the Flower Festival, what can I say? Neat, impeccable rows. My style of garden, so much better than last year's. A feast for my ordered mind. Also, the Portland Pride Festival was a lot of fun. Here is Portland Taiko performing with a lot of audience participation. Joe wanted so badly to be picked to bang a drum, but he was too far away.

Fantatic Independence Day and Blues Festival. It is just not Portland without them.