Portland weekend

Meanwhile, a month and a half ago... Calvin and I had a just-us getaway weekend to Portland to visit Carol and Jessica. I shared some what-to-do-in-Portland links, and Calvin helped plan the itinerary: one night in a hotel in the Pearl District and one night at Carol & Jessica's, with visits to the Saturday market, OMSI (the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), and bakeries. Carol suggested taking their boat along the Willamette, and that proved the highlight of the weekend.

It was a meandering, indulgent kind of weekend. We arrived at the hotel way past bedtime but ordered a pint of locally made chocolate sorbet to enjoy as we read. Since we weren't in a hurry in the morning (and Dad wasn't there to say no) there was an epic jumping-on-the-bed session, then a half-hour playing with the typewriter in the lobby.

At the Saturday market, Calvin swiftly found the same shop where I found him a gift years ago: handmade tops and toys. He picked out souvenirs — one top that creates an image of a mountain (Mount Hood, perhaps?) when it spins, and another that flips as the spin slows. He found a few other gifts before we stopped at Powell's to pick out new comic books.

But it was the river trip that made him fall in love with Portland. Nervousness quickly gave way to bliss. Before long, he was urging Jessica to steer into the choppy waves — and not long after that, he was driving the boat.

Other adventures: introducing Carol to The Princess Bride, visiting her office, playing with a kinetic sculpture, teaching how to play cat's cradle, sliding down the stairs, and visiting OMSI. Calvin's favorite part was touring the sub used in The Hunt for Red October. Carol even fired the torpedoes:

It was a much-needed break for both of us, and a long overdue visit to Carol and Jessica. Lucky me gets to go a second time, and soon — I plan to take Finn up there before the year is out. Here are more photos:

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