song of the day

Birthday dinner at Les Faux Bourgeois

The Faraway Places — Summertime

clip of the day

My pal and fellow Jupiter Project member Jamie Mason (aka hobo divine) worked on this…

Cargo in Portland

A huge emporium of quirky imports, tiny treasures, asian furniture and old junk.

song of the day

Seattle

Wire Train — Chamber of Hellos

mia & june go to america

Amtrak Cascades to Seattle and Portland: The stretch between Vancouver and Seattle was the nicest with water views and tiny, Norman Rockwellesque towns with classic main streets. We passed an old American Legion at dusk where people danced inside in the warm glow, and a backyard bonfire. Rolling through White Rock, happy people on the beach waved at the train which must be an evening tradition. (get seats on the right side)

In Seattle we stayed at the Pioneer Square Hotel (Best Western) which we recommend (close to station and downtown, clean, friendly, nice building), and had lunch at Elliott’s (water view patio, average food).

Portland gave us the impression of a hip, friendly, clean, safe place that has retained a lot of grand old architecture. We covered a lot of ground on foot, and took the trolley which is free in the downtown area. Ate at Jake’s Grill and Mother’s Bistro, both highly recommended. Light dinners bought at a nearby Whole Foods as we had a kitchenette in our room at the Mark Spencer  (which looks a lot fancier on their website than it is, but it was fine, don’t mind the “flophouses” in the area!).

Amtrak bus to Cannon Beach: some hair-raising turns combined with tailgaters, heavy-footed driver, beautiful rolling hills/farmland, desolate clearcuts. We stayed at the Cannon Beach Hotel (beautifully renovated, also recommended), and had dinner at The Wayfarer (great view and food). The town is naturally a bit touristy, but there isn’t a single chain store nor tackiness to be found. Most of the houses are untreated shingles (heaven!). The side streets off the beach are the ones to see, with old, quirky, cute summer homes. The beach, of course, is stunning. Tidal pools full of star fish and sci-fi-looking sea anemone. Volunteers are there at low tide with telescopes for viewing birds on Haystack Rock (including lovely puffins).

Air Canada prop plane back to Vancouver from Portland: unfortunately cloudy most of the way, but Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens peeped out (sit on the right). Very smooth flight.