We got the oil changed at a place called 'Oil Can Henrys'. Now an oil change in England is usually done as part of a normal service so you never see anything that happens. This service in the US is quite different - it is basically a drive through oil change! You drive into the garage and over a pit where there are some chaps hunkered down there. They hand you a newspaper and you just sit back and let them get on with it. The chaps in the pit drain the oil from the cars as the bloke above tops it up with new stuff. They also check your tire pressures, give you a new air and oil filter and clean your windscreen - all for under $60 - I was very impressed! (sad I know ;o)
The oil change experience done we made our way into central Portland. We had booked ourselves on a walking tour at 2pm called 'Underground Portland', I will go into that in a tick. Portland itself is a bit of an odd place - it kind of feels like half the town have just got up and left and left behind a place that is a little confused as to what kind of town it is supposed to be. There is some nice architecture around but much of it is either new or dilapidated. Some of the older buildings that are left from over the olden days (late 1880's) are only here as they were made of iron clad materials and thus have survived the numerous floods Portland experienced until flood defenses were installed a few decades ago.
This sign - although a joke - actually reflects quite well on Portland for me - confused!
We arrived for our 2pm tour a little early so had a nibble or two - Steph loves her garlic knotts and anti-pasti.
Part of the tour reflects on Portland's heritage, some of it is steeped in racism. Despite helping to build much of Portland's infrastructure at the time - Between 1852 and 1943 the Chinese were barred from buying or owning property in Portland. To try and revitalise the area and somewhat apologise for their treatment (where the Chinese had owned property prior to the above law) the city decided to create a new Chinatown in 1989 and started so by building a grand entrance below....
The only problem is, and something they failed to register, is that there are hardly any Chinese left in Chinatown! So the area is very sparse in Chinese traits and customs. One of the few themed Chinese shops - a herbal medicine shop - is owned by an Iranian.
Another sign of Portland's attempt to repair its past is a memorial to those Japanese civilians who were either sent to fight for the US in WW2 or if they refused to do this were sent to internment camps. The below memorial is on the waterfront....
Part of the tour takes you over the seedy and dark parts of Portland's past as a major shipping port. During this time many men and sometimes women were drugged or even coshed and then when they woke up they found themselves as crew members on a ship that had already set sail, this was called 'Shanghaiing' (due to the fact most ships would be sailing to Shanghai). This usually took place in one of the towns many bars where local crimps (the people who sold these unfortunate soles to ships) would spot a potential candidate and then "Shanghai" them onto ships. After being drugged or knocked out, they would be smuggled through underground tunnels and onto ships, some to be at sea for months or even years - which kind of sucks - at least we only wake up with hangovers these days and not a years worth of sailing to do!
This is one of the bars - now a pizza place!
A seedy tunnel....
Portland also has, in abundance, the largest amount of vagrants I have ever seen in any town I have visited. I asked out tour guide if there was a reason for this and he said it was due to the large number of charity's in the town that offered free food and shelter - I couldn't out my finger on it but I am not sure this is the real reason - quite sad really.
Portland wasn't all sadness though - we found a great doughnut shop called "Voodoo doughnuts" - it had some mad doughnuts on the menu - one was topped with bacon!!!
So to sum up Portland it was not the place we expected it to be - to some it up in one word would be 'weird'. The funny thing is, Portland thinks it is weird too! Many people we talked to mentioned this and it even has sculptures and wall adverts to promote this - crazy!
So that was Portland done. We then travelled a bit out of town to visit Americas 2nd largest waterfall, standing at over 611 feet - it is called the 'Multnomah falls'. Very pretty.
Driving away from the falls and as the weather improved we were greeted with stunning views over the Washington river that divides Oregon and Washington states.
By the way Oregon is actually pronounced "Orr-Ugh-Gun" by locals. You are looked at very oddly if you say it as it looks.
So onto my haircut. I promised Steph I would get a haircut - which I did. I also promised I would shave - which I did - sort of. Got myself some mutton chops for a few days - Steph loves them!!!
We are off to see a mountain and also Timberline lodge - the setting of the legendary film "The Shining".
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