Portlanders value their outdoor space. So it came as no surprise that a forward-thinking governor, Tom McCall, reclaimed land formerly used as a highway and created a park by the Willamette River. It is a nice green space to stroll along when the weather is good (it was raining this morning...). Alas, the view across the river isn't the most picturesque; the highways bypassing Portland are all on the other side of the river. The park also contains a poignant memorial to the 100,000+ Japanese Americans interned during WW2.
Portland is twinned with the Chinese city of Suzhou
. As part of a cultural exchange programme, each one created a garden in the twinned city. Portland gave Suzhou a rose garden. In return, the Chinese created a classical Chinese garden for Portland. It is very pretty and the plans conformed to the rules of a classical Chinese garden. Everything has to be in harmony. Plants, architecture, water, rocks and sound. We followed a guided tour with a very knowledgeable 'docent' explained the subtleties of the Chinese scholars' concepts of garden design and even the intricacies of classical Chinese poetry.
A little bit of retail therapy was called for next and afterwards it was time for lunch. Continuing our Oriental/East Asian theme we found a small Japanese restaurant which served a bizarrely named 'Caterpillar Roll'. Sushi purists look away now: Avocado on the outside and grilled eel inside. It did look like a caterpillar.
The Scottish element of today's post is Scottish Country Dancing with the Portland branch of the RSCDS. The venue was a dance studio in Vancouver. No, not in British Columbia, but in Washington State. It is the oldest settlement in the state. We had great fun walking through and dancing the dances, many of them not familiar to us and the group was very welcoming, not to mention glad to have two extra men! We went at it full pelt for hour and a half without a tea and shortbread break! A good way of burning up some of the nice Vietnamese food we had for dinner. Who'd have thought in such a small town, we could find good Vietnamese food?
From China to Scotland via Japan and Vietnam
Friday, March 25, 2016
Portland, Oregon, United States
Other Entries
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1Off to the West Coast
Mar 232 days priorSeattle, United Statesphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 7 -
2Seattle to Portland via a car museum
Mar 241 day priorPortland, United Statesphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
3From China to Scotland via Japan and Vietnam
Mar 25Portland, United Statesphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 2 -
4Columbia Gorge
Mar 261 day laterPortland, United Statesphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 6 -
5A garden, a neighbourhood and some history
Mar 272 days laterPortland, United Statesphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 4 -
6On the road again
Mar 283 days laterSeattle, United Statesphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 3 -
7Space age and glass sculptures
Mar 294 days laterSeattle, United Statesphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 2 -
8Two days of history
Mar 316 days laterSeattle, United Statesphoto_camera15videocam 0comment 1 -
9Columbia and Japan
Apr 017 days laterSeattle, United Statesphoto_camera19videocam 0comment 1 -
10Last day in Seattle
Apr 028 days laterSeattle, United Statesphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 1 -
11Crossing the border
Apr 039 days laterVancouver, Canadaphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 4 -
12Exploring the city
Apr 0410 days laterVancouver, Canadaphoto_camera17videocam 0comment 4 -
13Rainy Day
Apr 0511 days laterVancouver, Canadaphoto_camera12videocam 0comment 2 -
14UBC
Apr 0612 days laterVancouver, Canadaphoto_camera11videocam 0comment 2 -
15Along the False Creek
Apr 0713 days laterVancouver, Canadaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 2 -
16Last day
Apr 0814 days laterVancouver, Canadaphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 3
Comments

2025-02-11
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Mavis
2016-03-26
Ha ha! Seriously thought you were off round the world for a moment. Sorry there were no photos of the Highland Fling. Mave