On the way to and from the Zoo this weekend, Grandpa Nelson and I built in some time to walk around and see things. Big cities like Portland always have something new going on.
At Pioneer Square, sometimes called Portland’s Living Room, there is this sign, showing distances to notable locations near and far. Nice to see that “Portlandia” is just five blocks away!
Also in the Living Room is this decoration, called The Weather Machine. It opens up at noon, plays a fanfare, and displays a different icon depending on the weather.
New planters are going in along walkable street. They look sturdy and ready to bloom this spring.
As we waited for the bus home in the afternoon, we got to listen to a concert and choir from the Ukraine Association. They are making sure we all remember that Ukraine is still under attack from Russia and needs our support.
It’s nice that spring is coming and we can be out and about again.
Merry Christmas!! I hope you and your Mommy and Daddy have a fun day with Baba Alla and lots of presents and good food. I will be spending the day with Cousins Kyle, Jasper and Kestrel, and Auntie Christy and Bridgett, and Grandpa Nelson.
Last night we took Auntie Christy and cousin Kyle to Zoolights. We went with Katie and the cousins last year, but Katie still has a cold and it was going to be a wet night.
First, Christy and I went to the movies downtown to see “Welcome to Marwen”, a movie that looks really sad but is really very hopeful. Steve Carell, who does the voice of Gru in the Despicable Me movies, was the star and did a very good job of making us believe an unbelievable story.
Portland’s Living Room
When the movie was over, I showed Christy around our pretty downtown…the trees wrapped in lights, and Pioneer Square (which Portlanders call ‘The Living Room’) with its giant Christmas tree.
Grandpa Nelson, cousin Kyle and Auntie Bridgett met us there and we got on the train to the zoo. It was cold and damp, but not raining…..yet.
Before the Rain
As we got into the zoo, it began, and kept raining all night. We had brought umbrellas and hats, gloves and coats, but I could feel my feet getting wetter and wetter as I enjoyed the lights and dealt with crowds.
We stopped for food at the Africafe, where we usually watch the birds darting around their aviary. But they were all asleep. It was odd, being at the zoo when all the animals were not active, sort of like sneaking into someone’s house when they are away. Along with a few hundred other folks.
When we had walked the route and gotten just about as wet as we could, we caught the train back downtown….and then the rain really kicked in! Fifth Street was a river that happened to have streetcar tracks in it. Thanks goodness for Portland’s covered bus stops, or we would have been miserable.
The Zoo Train racing with dinosaurs
We were home around 7, but we were all exhausted. We changed into dry clothes, hung up the wet ones, and watched Graham Norton until we got sleepy, around 9:00. Falling asleep, I thought about how good it is to get wet and cold, get warm and dry again, and be with family.
Dear Liza 