We've just returned from our last "planned" exhibit this season, the Gentle Birth World Congress, which was put on by Waterbirth International, in Portland Oregon. Another quirky and amazing city. We loved it! We flew into Portland, and were thrilled to discover the ease of transportation via trains and buses in the FareFree Square! Yep, $2 got us from the airport to our hotel, and once there we were able to travel the city at will, for absolutely free! That was great.
The time change worked to our advantage, because after leaving home at 4 am and traveling all day, it was only 11:30 in the afternoon when we touched ground in Portland! We checked into our hotel to get our luggage off of our hands, and then hit the town. We took Rachel Ray's "Tasty Travel" advice and had dinner at the Old Town Pizza Company. Wow, Rachel- you nailed that one! As soon as the door opened, we were awash in the aromas of the generous spices they use. They're not afraid of flavor- that's for sure! Everything was delicious, and the story was spicy as well. The legend behind Old Town Pizza Co, is that it stands in an area of Portland once well known for it's trap-doors that led to underground tunnels, where unsuspecting sailors were shanghai'd and whisked off to waiting ships at port. This network of tunnels was known as "Underground Portland," but above-ground had rumours of it's own.
Apparently the Pizza Company itself replaced an old hotel well-known for prostitution. The counter where you place your order was once the front desk for the Inn. There are rumours of a young woman named Nina, sold on the white slave market, into prostitution. The story is that she agreed to provide information about her captors, in exchange for her freedom, but was thrown down the elevator shaft in the hotel before she could do so. The brick elevator shaft serves as a very private and romantic enclave for a booth in the back of the restaurant, and legend has it that it was Nina herself who carved her name into the brick there. The restaurant is very charming in the daytime, filled with not only the incredible culinary fragrances, but quaint and individual furnishings as peculiar as the space itself. At night, the mystique is heightened with flickering candles, and holes in the floor that offer the tiniest glimpse of "Underground Portland." You can also arrange to tour these underground tunnels and chambers, though we decided to save that for our next visit.
Portland also offers what they claim is the world's largest bookstore, Powell's. I'm definitely a book lover, and I was overwhelmed! There's room after room and floor upon floor of bookstore space, packed from floor to ceiling with books old and new. It has it's own coffee shop, but is a world away from the commercial reality of Barnes and Noble or Borders.
You'll have to visit to understand.
Portland's enthusiastic art scene means that the art shops, photography offerings, and even art supply shops are far superior to most I've been in, which was wonderful. We also checked out the local Farmer's Market, which was brimming with local food samplings, gorgeous flowers, and creative spirits. McMenamins' Tavern was a relaxing retreat for a sampling of the local breweries' offerings. Porlanders' are very proud of their abundant breweries; a pride well-deserved!
In the heart of China Town/Old Town is an incredible Classical Chinese Garden which we managed to get lost in for hours. It's an absolute must, filled with bamboo, floating lotus', and intricate mosaic pathways, leading over bridges, through pagodas, and past waterfalls, to an exquisite little tea house with tea steaming from stove kettles on upper and lower floors, deliberately and effortlessly arranged little vases of flower arrangements, and a menu of tea choices that seems as long as Webster's Unabridged Edition of the dictionary. Oh, we chose sake, but that was exquisite as well!
We topped off that same evening with a visit to Harvey's Comedy Club, which was also a blast. If you go, don't skip the Spinach-Artichoke dip and Vodka Soda!
And that was all before the conference started!
The Gentle Birth Conference seemed to overcome some serious organizational challenges, and garner an impressive crowd. I'm not sure I've seen so many pregnant women in one place, and it was exciting to talk with them and envision the path of the future, which they hold in their bellies. We are about halfway through our own adoption from Vietnam at this point, so took the opportunity of the Birth Congress to tap into the consciousness and expertise of professionals who work with new mothers, fathers, and babies fom a wealth of different perspectives.
We excitedly purchased our first Moby wrap (with visions of bonding!), a cloth teething doll, and some baby leg warmers. We also made our first barter on behalf of baby, exchanging a "Peaceful Birth for a Peaceful Earth" sweatshirt for a set of cloth diapers and wipes!
We talked with LaLeche League representatives about adoptive nursing, and received reassurance that adoption (even of a 7 month old!) doesn't rule out the bonding and nurturing experience of breast-feeding.
Portland, we had a ball. Thanks for having us!
