Last time I blogged, we were 750 miles to the south… Today, we checked into Portland, Oregon. This will be the last stop of our vacation…
Over the past 3 days, we traveled from Carmel to Sacramento, California, then to Medford, Oregon, and then to Portland, Oregon.
During this stretch, we traveled the Interstate 5, a major highway running South-North in the interior of California, Oregon and Washington. The drive was not as pleasant as the drive down, which we made along the coast. However, it was interesting to stop into cities we had not seen before, and to experience a different side of California and Oregon. I didn’t realize how prevalent agriculture was in California (Olives, artichokes, tomatoes, avocados, oranges, lemons, etc.). Now I know!
Even though it is hard to judge a city with 1 overnight stay, first impressions do stick! Sacramento was not overwhelming. What we saw of the city did not wow us, even though the hotel was very nice, the people very friendly, and the restaurant we ate at (The Grange) excellent! As I said, first impressions are bitches!
Medford, OR, was interesting. As we approached the hotel, we noticed the laser eye clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and just across the hotel, a retirement home… Well, you can’t get it right all the time! That being said, the hotel (Homewood Suites) was great: fantastic staff, complimentary wi-fi, happy hours with with free wine, beer and food, hot breakfast, and spacious rooms! All we needed for an overnight stay!
Portland is another story! We are staying at a very special hotel called ‘The Nines’, right downtown. A very nice place, indeed! It pays to have a wife who works out of town all the time, and is a Platinum-Elite Starwood Member!! A boutique hotel, very stylish, with outstanding service…
We walked a few blocks to a seafood place called Jake’s Famous Crawfish (said to be one of the 10 best seafood places in the USA) and had an amazing dinner!! A great way to conclude this fabulous road-trip!!!
Oh, by the way, Colin Farrell just checked in, as I was waiting for the valet to bring my car up, so that I could get my memory card reader from the trunk… (Not kidding!)
This is the last post from the road… I will wrap it up once we are back home, sweet home!
Later.
G.
