I miss downtown Portland. I used to go there every couple of days, for work or for socializing or just my own entertainment, but haven’t been there in a while for the obvious reasons–I’m working from home full-time now, and haven’t been going out to do anything beyond the bare minimum since the lockdown started.
I miss my favorite places–our own, much smaller version of Broadway, the huge Powell’s bookstore, the Central Library, my favorite hangout Case Study Coffee, and of course, all those bridges.
Don’t get me wrong, my neighborhood is very nice. But being in the suburbs all day long can…drive you a little nuts.
It’s been a few weeks since the last time I drove through downtown, so I have no idea what it looks like right now. From what I hear, it’s been bruised and battered a bit. First the pandemic closed down businesses, and then it got hit a second time by the social unrest. Some fires were set and some windows were broken, and there is quite a lot of plywood up.
But that’s okay. Change and turmoil happens to everyone and everything, and that includes cities. Portland is still my city and our city, and we will clean it up and open it back up someday. Except that, hopefully, we will not bring it back to what “normal” used to be–we will make it even better, a more beautiful and more caring and more creative place than it was before.
See you soon, PDX.
06/14/2020 at 3:27 am
Your city is a city I hope to visit … one day!
06/14/2020 at 12:31 pm
It’s beautiful! Absolutely come visit!
06/14/2020 at 5:24 am
I’m sure it will look fantastic when it gets repaired and you get permission to go back out. I’m sure traffic will be a nightmare, though. I think it’s great that you’re able to work full-time at home. Have a great week ahead.
06/14/2020 at 12:31 pm
Yeah, it has been strange and wonderful to have so little traffic lately. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week yourself 🙂
06/15/2020 at 12:09 pm
Thanks for the pics. I finished my career in PDX, though it was only for 10 months. But I loved Powell’s, downtown, the great bus system, etc. I hope Portland comes back from this quickly. – Marty
06/18/2020 at 9:42 pm
I’ve never been to Portland! I enjoyed the picture!
06/19/2020 at 7:07 pm
It’s a beautiful city! I highly recommend visiting.
07/03/2020 at 6:22 am
Hello, Euro B!
Was frankly a little sad when I read You saying ‘Ok’ about the plywood and all.
But I simply Love the ending: ‘We will not bring it back to what “normal” used to be–we will make it even better, a more beautiful and more caring and more creative place than it was before.’
Amen to that. 🙂
07/03/2020 at 9:45 am
Well, to be quite honest, I’m actually not okay with the plywood, and with all of the destruction of the city that I love. Yesterday the protesters in Portland set the statue of an elk on fire. How the hell that helps the cause of Black Lives Matter or police brutality, who knows?
But what I am trying to do is see an optimistic future. Obviously, serious changes are needed in our society. Maybe we can rebuild better.
07/06/2020 at 10:28 pm
Thank You! 🙂
07/07/2020 at 5:33 am
Nice blog
07/07/2020 at 4:35 pm
Thank you for reading 🙂
07/10/2020 at 11:59 am
Beautiful captures
07/12/2020 at 11:28 am
Thank you 🙂 and thank you for reading!