Portland

We are mid-point through our time in Portland, Oregon, US of A, so I thought I better get a post up.

Last Monday we spent 6 hours with friends telling stories of Dubai and answering questions. I was so busy enjoying their company, I didn’t even think to take out my camera and take a picture or two.

We’ve been asked if there has been any culture shock in coming back. I don’t think we’ve been gone long enough for that. We are, however, enjoying the civilized driving here. The things that Oregon drivers do that used to annoy the heck out of Daddybird now seem so tame that he is just amused.

We’ve also noticed the striking evidence of the economic crisis. Oregon has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. The first day we went to our bank which is in a shopping area where the parking lot was always full and difficult to navigate, but at noontime the lot was about 50% empty, so we had no trouble getting a parking space within a few steps of the bank.

We went to one of our favorite restaurants and witnessed the same unusually empty parking lot.

We are also considering stopping in Ashland Oregon to attend a play at the Shakespearean Festival. Normally, one would have to buy tickets in February for the plays in July, but this year there are still seats available.

We already knew things were bad because we have friends who have been unemployed for six months. I didn’t mean to get on this negative narrative, but these are the things that are glaringly obvious to us.

On a lighter note, I took the following picture because I was amused by the justaposition of “Burger King Pet Clinic.” I am easily amused.