An adventure downtown.

I am so excited that Sandy is visiting and I want to show off my city.  I told Sandy we are taking the train downtown today to explore.  He was up for the adventure, let's go!

Our first stop is the "mighty multnohmah" although I really don't know anyone who calls the county library that name.  There is a great cooking section here, probably some French cooking books Ben. 

Sandy and are hanging out by the warm heater in this photo.  You can still see the snow on the trees. 

Now that we warmed up in the library, it's time to hit the streets.  I know the perfect place to take Sandy.  Sandy insisted that he get his picture taken with the salmon going through the building.  This building houses a nice restaurant and in the 80s, it hosted a dance club run by Rajneeshpuram called Zorba the Greek.   Every Oregonian living in the 80s remembers hearing about Rajnesshpuram. 

On our way to our next stop Sandy wanted to get a photo of us in the park. We look great and in the background is a statue of Honest Abe.  Honest Abe was offered the first Governor of the Oregon Territory in 1849 but turned that down the job.  There are various theories why he didn't want to govern Oregon. 

Our next stop on our downtown tour is categorized as something that either you love or hate.  The Portland Building designed by Michael Graves in the 80s.  The building is now considered an architectural gem but in the 80s when it was built many a Portlander wasn't too thrilled with the design.  

Gracing the entrance to the Portland Building is Portlania.  She recently turned 30 and is the second largest copper repousse (Statue of Liberty is the first)  in the United States.  

Portlandia had a unique entrance into our city.  First, she came in via barge.

 After docking she placed on a flatbed truck and driven through downtown to her resting spot.