Walking around
Well, checked in, had lunch. Then walked around. Portland is totally different than Seattle. It's smaller, compact and there aren't the sort of empty stretches there are (though they're not really empty, it's hard to explain) in Seattle. And it's quiet for a city! It took me a while to find the 'downtown' area but I did. It's just that there doesn't seem to be borders for lack a a better word that let you know when you're leaving one neighborhood and entering another. And it's very nicely planned and laid out, on a grid. I like that. Not much planning in Seattle. Well, there was but about 140 years ago you had two groups with different ideas trying to plan it out. They ignored each other and one group built roads one way, the other a different way and things have been screwed up since.
It also took me a few minutes to realize that most (all?) of the streets are one way, at least in the downtown area. Looks like Pearl and Northwest as well. Which is nice. I was also amazed at how light traffic is during rush hour. And even in the DT area, while there were a lot of people around, it didn't seem nearly as much pedestrian traffic as I'm used to at peak times. Is this just my perception,is it accurate or are peak hour times/areas different than where I've been.
Once I get used to how things are laid out it's an easy city to navigate. I still have a hard time finding landmarks - except for some buildings in the center, it's not full of huge towers like Seattle. Very nice, makes it human but as I said, a little tough on the landmarks.
But I get a real feeling of a small city. I don't mean that in a disparaging way. It's a lot less rushed and crowded than Seattle, not nearly the short tempered, stressed out people around that I'm used to. Hell, I'm one of them. It just kind of stuns me how quiet and light things are on Friday afternoon/evening at rush hour.
Also, I'm sort of confused about the size of the area I'm in. I walked around a bit; China town when I first got off the train. Then to Pearl, Powell's, Down Town, Tower district, now back down to Backspace. I though I covered a lot of territory but I realized It only took about 2.5 hours and that was with time looking at Powell's.
Is this me? Are things unusually quiet? It's a gorgeous day here, so I was expecting big crowds. I'm in the area west of the river. Does it get different across the river or in other areas?
A couple of questions.
1. Are there any occult stores, book or supply in the areas I'm in? and
2. Any shops that sell Arcana soaps and oils in this area?
thanks,
all.
It also took me a few minutes to realize that most (all?) of the streets are one way, at least in the downtown area. Looks like Pearl and Northwest as well. Which is nice. I was also amazed at how light traffic is during rush hour. And even in the DT area, while there were a lot of people around, it didn't seem nearly as much pedestrian traffic as I'm used to at peak times. Is this just my perception,is it accurate or are peak hour times/areas different than where I've been.
Once I get used to how things are laid out it's an easy city to navigate. I still have a hard time finding landmarks - except for some buildings in the center, it's not full of huge towers like Seattle. Very nice, makes it human but as I said, a little tough on the landmarks.
But I get a real feeling of a small city. I don't mean that in a disparaging way. It's a lot less rushed and crowded than Seattle, not nearly the short tempered, stressed out people around that I'm used to. Hell, I'm one of them. It just kind of stuns me how quiet and light things are on Friday afternoon/evening at rush hour.
Also, I'm sort of confused about the size of the area I'm in. I walked around a bit; China town when I first got off the train. Then to Pearl, Powell's, Down Town, Tower district, now back down to Backspace. I though I covered a lot of territory but I realized It only took about 2.5 hours and that was with time looking at Powell's.
Is this me? Are things unusually quiet? It's a gorgeous day here, so I was expecting big crowds. I'm in the area west of the river. Does it get different across the river or in other areas?
A couple of questions.
1. Are there any occult stores, book or supply in the areas I'm in? and
2. Any shops that sell Arcana soaps and oils in this area?
thanks,
all.