Thursday, 16 April 2020

Portland Summer 2019

For a long while I've wanted to spend a little time in Portland to explore and get to know the city.  You hear so much about it, how progressive it is; good transit and bicycle infrastructure and a lot of outdoor recreation opportunities.  Aside from the draw of the city itself, I have ample incentives to visit now:  my granddaughter, Lily, is going to university there; a beloved cousin, Cynthia, and her partner, Ed, live there; and my daughter lives just 60mi east up the Columbia River Gorge. So last summer I flew to Portland and spent a delightful week exploring with Lily and Cynthia and Ed.  

Lily lives in the Nob Hill area, a gentrified neighbourhood with lots of restaurants, cafes and bars.  Here we are having lunch at the legendary Ken's Bakery.  


The historic homes in this upscale old neighbourhood

 
 
 A gathering of corgis

On Lily's campus at Portland State University

A hike in one of the nice urban forests.  Historically, Portland has had the vision to preserve big swaths of nature for public use.  This is one such piece of property, Washington Park, a short walk from Lily's place, 420acres with zoo, rose gardens, Japanese gardens, arboretum, children's museum, playgrounds, outdoor art and more.  
 
Cynthia and Ed are very active, outdoorsy folks and so we did a hike in Forest Park, one of the biggest urban parks in the US covering 5200 acres with 80 miles of trails.

 And we did some biking
Cynthia at the train station

Crossing the Willamette River to rendezvous with Charlotte, Ryan, Lucien and Cynthia at a taco place.



More Portland to come





Friday, 10 April 2020

Last try

I've tried something different and will attempt to post the last DF missive one more time.  Please let me know if there are still problems with pictures.

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This brings us to the end of DF 2020.  It was another very enjoyable time in the monster city though it was cut a bit short.  I'm hoping to return but, for now, we are facing an unknown future.  It's a new world.

Here are a few random photos that didn't find their way into earlier posts.

At the Museum of Archival photography, a regular stop of mine, was an outstanding exhibit of photographs by Lorenzo Armendáriz, of gypsies from all over the world and, surprising to me, a lot from Mexico.  I guess there is a large contingent of gypsies in northern Mexico.  



This was erected at the Womens Day March to raise awareness of the high rate of feminicide in Mexico. 


Maybe the best example I've seen of a flowering maguey cactus.




The tamale vendor.  It's usually a night time thing but maybe with fewer people out and about, they're forced to work longer hours.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=6Zc0FcZ7izQ&feature=emb_logo


The gas vendors - many people still use propane for cooking and hot water heaters and so these guys still drive through the residential streets calling out their service.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=cDj0reFZExw&feature=emb_logo



Hot shot yo yo artists

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=uJ4Rd69B_dE&feature=emb_logo


 Out with my friend, Japp, enjoying tasty vegan tacos.


 I'm going to miss these beautiful jacaranda trees.

 And I'll miss all of these wonderful people who brightened my time in Mexico City. 

Sunday, 5 April 2020

DF 2020 - The end again #2

Apparently the photos are still not coming through to everyone so, one more time.  If you've been getting the photos, just ignore this.
________________________________________________________________________________

This brings us to the end of DF 2020.  It was another very enjoyable time in the monster city though it was cut a bit short.  I'm hoping to return but, for now, we all are facing an unknown future.  It's a new world.  

Here are a few random photos that didn't find their way into earlier posts.

At the Museum of Archival photography, a regular stop of mine, was an outstanding exhibit of photographs by Lorenzo Armendáriz, of gypsies from all over the world and, surprising to me, a lot from Mexico.  I guess there is a large contingent of gypsies in northern Mexico.






This was erected at the Womens Day march to raise awareness of the high rate of feminicide in Mexico

Maybe the best example I've seen of a flowering maguey cactus


The tamale vendor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=6Zc0FcZ7izQ&feature=emb_logo



Hot shot yo yo artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=uJ4Rd69B_dE&feature=emb_logo 

 Out with my friend, Jaap, enjoying tasty vegan tacos.


 I'll miss these beautiful jacaranda trees

 And I'll miss all of these wonderful people who brightened my time in Mexico City.

Friday, 3 April 2020

DF 2020 - the end again

I've gotten more feedback that this did not get successfully posted and was missing photos.  So I'm trying again. 
-----------------------------------------------------
This brings us to the end of DF 2020.  It was another very enjoyable time in the monster city though it was cut a bit short.  I'm hoping to return but, for now, we all are facing an unknown future.  It's a new world.  

Here are a few random photos that didn't find their way into earlier posts.

At the Museum of Archival photography, a regular stop of mine, was an outstanding exhibit of photographs by Lorenzo Armendáriz, of gypsies from all over the world and, surprising to me, a lot from Mexico.  I guess there is a large contingent of gypsies in northern Mexico.






This was erected at the Womens Day march to raise awareness of the high rate of feminicide in Mexico

Maybe the best example I've seen of a flowering maguey cactus


The tamale vendor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=6Zc0FcZ7izQ&feature=emb_logo



Hot shot yo yo artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=uJ4Rd69B_dE&feature=emb_logo 

 Out with my friend, Jaap, enjoying tasty vegan tacos.


 I'll miss these beautiful jacaranda trees

 And I'll miss all of these wonderful people who brightened my time in Mexico City.

DF 2020 - The end

This brings us to the end of DF 2020.  It was another very enjoyable time in the monster city though it was cut a bit short.  I'm hoping to return but, for now, we all are facing an unknown future.  It's a new world.  

Here are a few random photos that didn't find their way into earlier posts.

At the Museum of Archival photography, a regular stop of mine, was an outstanding exhibit of photographs by Lorenzo Armendáriz, of gypsies from all over the world and, surprising to me, a lot from Mexico.  I guess there is a large contingent of gypsies in northern Mexico.




This was erected at the Womens Day march to raise awareness of the high rate of feminicide in Mexico

Maybe the best example I've seen of a flowering maguey cactus


The tamale vendor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=6Zc0FcZ7izQ&feature=emb_logo



Hot shot yo yo artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=uJ4Rd69B_dE&feature=emb_logo 

 Out with my friend, Jaap, enjoying tasty vegan tacos.


 I'll miss these beautiful jacaranda trees

 And I'll miss all of these wonderful people who brightened my time in Mexico City.