Portland, OR

We left the hotel around 10am this morning for our hike up to Washington Park. We stopped near the hotel for a snacky breakfast, before our climb into the West Hills. Being the unfit old man that I am, the walk up the hill was a killer. But all so very worth it. Washington Park is a beautiful, large open space with a massive Rose Garden centering it. The view east towards Mt Hood is spectacular - even if there was no snow on the mountain. We spent a good couple of hours meandering through the park and its neighborhoods, before heading back down the hill, through some uncharted streets, just enjoying Portland's west side.

On the way back we stopped at Whole Foods to grab lunch before meeting one of A's old work friends, Nancy, in the Benson's lobby bar. As with the rest of the hotel, the lobby is classically beautiful and just a relaxing place to have an afternoon drink.

When Nancy left, A and I went to the bar she has been longing for for 9 years. Hubers is a 130 year old restaurant - Portland's oldest - and home of the famous Spanish Coffee. A's favorite drink on the planet. After our drinks, we continued with an old tradition of hers and went shopping briefly before the stores downtown closed.

The evening finished off at Jake's Grill, another landmark Portland restaurant. We celebrated our last night in Portland with a great dinner, and our mandatory walk through the city. It seems a shame to be leaving tomorrow, but, back to reality.