I parked at Delta Park MAX train station.  I rode the MAX Yellow line train into downtown Portland.  Somewhere at or near Fred Meyer on Interstate Avenue several men casually dressed and two men in suits boarded the train standing behind my seat.  Finally I looked around to see what they were doing.  They were filming a scene.   I took several photos but only one turned out well.  I was so absorbed in watching them that I almost forgot to get off the train at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

I boarded a westbound MAX train to ride to the streetcar line.  I boarded the streetcar to Powell's City of Books.  I purchased a couple books and then hopped the streetcar to 14th and Northrup.  I walked a few blocks south to REI where I used the $30 gift cards that I got from Hannah Motors.   I rode the streetcar back downtown and boarded a MAX train to Chinatown.  I visited the Chinese Garden where I had Emperors Gold Tea and almond cookies on the second floor of the Tower of Cosmic Reflections (Teahouse).  I ate most of the cookies before remembering to take a photo.  I rode MAX train back to Delta Park, shopped at Fred Meyer and back home again.

Pendleton Underground comes Alive - Day 3

Saturday, May 19 – Breakfast was on-our-own at Wildhorse.  I went to Traditions where I had the buffet for the senior price of $7.20.  Morning travel to downtown Pendleton where over 75 local actors brought the Underground to life in a once-yearly show. Card players, dancers, music, Chinese workers, merchants from the past are all there to greet us and reenact what would have taken place over 100 years ago. When we visited the candy shop I was given a 3 oz. sample of Taste of the Northwest - Souvenir Rock Candy.  We visited with the Madam "Stella" and her working girls and other special people in the Cozy Room bordello.  The girls gave us each a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie at the end of the visit.  We had lunch enroute at Boardman’s River Lodge with a late afternoon return through the scenic Columbia River Gorge to Portland/Vancouver.

Pendleton Underground comes Alive - Day 2

Friday, May 18 – I had a yogurt, fruit and granola parfait for breakfast.  We traveled through the Blue Mountains to Hot Lake Resort in LaGrande.  We toured the hotel, museum and bronze foundry.  Afterwards we visited David Manuel Studios.  We had a buffet lunch at the hotel. During the afternoon we travel to Baker City where we toured the Oregon Trail National Interpretive Center.  We returned to Wildhorse Resort & Casino for on-your-own dinner (I finished the last half of the four cheese starter).  I watched “Grimm” on television.

Pendleton Underground comes Alive, May 2012 - Day 1

 

Thursday, May 17 – We departed early morning on a deluxe, Moffit motorcoach.  We traveled through the scenic Columbia Gorge with lunch enroute at Cousins in The Dalles.  We had an afternoon tour of the Pendleton Woolen Mills in Pendleton with a late afternoon arrival at Wildhorse Resort & Casino’s  new ten-story Tower room accommodations for two nights.  I got a four cheese starter and a glass of Riesling for dinner (I saved half for dinner the next night) at the Wildfire Bar.  I attended the Wildhorse Comedy Jam at 8pm but I did not think that he was very good.  I watched television and read Michael Connelly's "The Fifth Witness" in my room.

Saturday, May 12, 2012 - LAS to PDX

I rose at 6:00am to pack.  It took me an hour and half to get ready.  I checked out of Harrah's at 7:30 to catch the shuttle to the airport.  I got my boarding pass, went through security and looked for a place to have breakfast.  Someone at the airport recommended Ruby's Dinette where I got a breakfast burrito.   I sat at the large window watching the airplanes.

 

I found a corner in the airport waiting room where I sat on the floor reading my novel "And Only to Deceive" by Tasha Alexander and taking a brief nap.  I boarded the plane about 11:30am for a two hour flight.  I purchased a fruit and cheese plate with two cups of water and a cup of diet coke.  Back in Portland I called my daughter, Catherine, to be picked up.  I am so glad to be back in cooler weather.

 

Friday, May 11, 2012 - Road Scholar Program Day 6

 

Breakfast Buffet was the last of the Road Scholar program.  I chose to spend the rest of the day exploring the hotels/casinos along the strip: Venetian, Treasure Island, Mirage, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Monte Carlo, New York New York, Luxor, MGM Grand, and back to Harrah's. 

I purchased a cup of Vanilla Ice Cream and Strawberry Sorbet at Pizza Place at Wynn Las Vegas at 11:45am.  I sat at a table on the patio next to the waterfall.  I purchased a protein bistro box and shortbread cookies at Starbucks at 12:30pm for lunch. I sat at a counter at the front window people watching.  I purchased a scoop of Sorbet at Jean Philippe Patisserie at Bellagio at 3:45pm.  I purchased a slice of Lemon Pound Loaf at Starbucks Atrium Luxor Hotel and Casino at 6:30pm.

I purchased a Chef Salad at Starbucks in the hotel lobby at 9:15pm for dinner which I ate in my room.  I was exhausted so I left the packing for early tomorrow morning.