Sunday, May 27, 2012

Adventures in Portland, Oregon

The Columbia River Gorge - On the Way to Portland

Mercy Corp - Downtown Portland

Sky - On the Drive Home - getting close to Pendleton

Sky Drive - On the Way to Pendleton


Aloft Hotel - Photo from their FB site (cool moon, eh?)


So.. this week was an adventure. On Wednesday I got to attend a GREAT workshop in downtown Portland (Advanced Grant Writing Strategies, hosted by the Oregon Nonprofit Association).   And, along the drive, on Tuesday, I attended another grant writing opportunity in Pendleton hosted by the Oregon Community Foundation.  Love those back to back events! 

It was a lot of driving (4 hours just to get to the perimeter of Portland).  And by the time I got back to the office on Thursday, I was exhausted.  Most likely from my travel anxiety and the mishaps along the way.

The adventures had to do with going solo and navigating the MAX transit from the hotel area to downtown and back again (got on the wrong train).  And driving to the airport.  These things might seem trivial to you seasoned city folks, but not to a girl whose town has less than 300 people. I need my 'landmarks'. And, I get lost every single time I attempt to drive to Portland.  This time, a coworker let me borrow his Garmin.  I still messed up, but the Garmin helped me get back on track.  I need one of those things.  Or an IPhone. 

 I got to meet my favorite Uncle at the hotel Tuesday night and shoot some pool.  There was no way I was going to leave the hotel when I arrived (that driving thing).  Thank goodness he is such a good sport! The hotel is a hip and happen' place - Aloft.  Super cute, great service, and they are totally into the Portlandia vibe.  Oh.  And there was a party that we got to crash.  A beer company was launching a new beer (I won't name them), and the hotel had live music, raffles, etc.  I tried the beer. It tasted like cough syrup.  Some fruity thing.  Fruity beer?  Not good.

After the class on Wednesday, I jumped on the right train, and got back safe and sound.  Walked to the hotel, jumped in the car, and decided to give IKEA a tour.  Ha Ha.  That place is  a MAZE.  NO windows. No 'going back' - just follow arrows through all these room displays.  I get claustrophobic.  I had to get out and it took forever.   Finally got out, got to the car, got settled in, and drove to Pendleton, and catching the great thunderstorm skies. 

Oh.  When I got in the car after IKEA? I saw that I still had my nametag on from the workshop.   Which means, I wore in on the MAX train, and through IKEA.  

Dork.







1 comment:

Sue McGettigan said...

ROFL Andi, IKEA is like the Hotel California, you can check in anytime you like, but you can NEVER leave! LOL about the name tag,I hate when that happens :)

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