Oregon

I have been living in Oregon for about a month now and loving it. I'm living in a rural town 25 miles west of Portland. I must say that I am happy here. It's a beautiful state with friendly people and a lower cost of living. I do enjoy what Oregon has to offer. I haven't been here long, but I can see myself becoming an Oregonian.

I drove up here from Los Angeles in late June. I was glad to leave that crowded apartment and overpopulated city behind. My road trip took 3.5 days. I stopped at Napa, Crater Lake, and Silver Falls. Napa was okay. Wine tasting there was expensive, and I wasn't pleased with the wine there. The Cabernet Sauvignon wasn't to my liking. I have an affinity for French and Italian wine. If that makes me a snob, then I'm a snob.

My next stop was Crater Lake. It was a long drive to get to the lake, but well worth the trip. The view was spectacular. The water appeared as brilliant blue as the sea at the French Rivera. There was still plenty of snow remaining, and the trees were lush and green. The ambiance was beautiful and serene. Crater Lake is the most beautiful lake that I've ever seen.

I wanted to see Silver Falls especially upon learning that one can walk behind some of the waterfalls. The roads to Silver Falls were long and winding, but again, it was worth it. I hiked through the park and saw most of the waterfalls. It was a fun and good exercise. I took pictures and picked salmonberries along the trail. The only problem was that some parts of the trail were muddy.

Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It's the only big city in the U.S. that I can see myself living in. The public transportation system is excellent. The city is also very accommodating to bicyclists. I will surely bring my bike the next time that I'm there. Parking is rather expensive in Portland. I've been to the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, Crystal Springs, Rhododendron Garden, the Audubon Nature Park, the Saturday Market, and Powell's bookstore. I enjoyed all those attractions except for the Saturday Market. That didn't impressive me much. Perhaps because I have seen bigger markets elsewhere.

My latest stop was Cannon Beach and Seaside. The Oregon coast sure is picturesque. I was there in the morning until dusk. I walked along the beach, took pictures, went to the aquarium in Seaside, flew my kite, and had delicious seafood. It was a long and fun day.

I hear that summer is the best season here. I suppose that all that rain isn't so fun. Oh well. I'll be studying most of the time anyway. School starts in 3 weeks. Until then, I will explore Portland and perhaps go to Mt. Hood.