Road Trip Day 7

Moonstruck's Chocolates

Lots of folks walking their dogs along Portland's waterfront

Sign in the Gardens

1. The day started at the Portland Rose Garden in Washington Park. It's big. I've never seen so many roses. There are over 10,000 plantings of 550 varieties. I now have a list of roses I want to plant in my garden. My favorite was Distant Drums. Other favorites were Easy Does It, Rainbow End, Just Joey, Tabris and Easy Going.

2. I chatted with a local couple while in the Rose Garden who told me on a clear day you can see Mt. Hood in the distance. It was the first overcast day of our trip and no Mt. Hood. Oh well guess I will have to visit again.

3. Next stop was up the hill in Washington Park to the Japanese Garden. Richard headed over to the Forestry Center. (He's big on trees. I'm big on flowers and gardens.) The Japanese Gardens were lovely, but did not thrill me like the Chinese Garden. There is something so cool about taking an ugly, empty city lot and making it into such a gorgeous, peaceful place.

4. A lot of activity on the waterfront...people walking their dogs, jogging, firemen playing football with their fire trucks parked nearby, boats of all types passing under the bridges...

5. I then headed back up town to Moonstruck's Chocolates. All I can say is WOW! These chocolates melt in your mouth. I tried a mexican hot chocolate which was a perfect afternoon treat and then chose several pieces for Richard and I to try later that evening.

6. The couple I chatted with in the Rose Garden suggested we might like NW 23rd St. It's a great little neighborhood with charming victorian and craftsman homes, trendy shops, lots of restaurants and coffee shops with outside seating so you can watch the neighborhood walk by. It's a really nice way to end the day.