Markus' First Visit to the Chinese Garden

First Visit to the Japanese Garden

Markus and I at the Japanese Garden (Self-portrait)

We had a rough morning with Markus fussing constantly and wanting to eat all the time. By noon I was dying to get out of the house. Mainly I needed to go to the library and return some books.

It was such a nice day though, that I decided to see if the library had any of the Cultural Passes available for one of the gardens. I got lucky and they had one for the Japanese Garden, so we got into the garden for free.

One of the many fountains in the garden.

I had forgotten that the garden is on the shady side of the mountain in the aftenoon and that it's really better to go in the morning. So we didn't see much of the beautiful warm sun.

I didn't take very many pictures - the garden is really prettier when there are colorful leaves and flowers. Or when it's sunnier, or just after a rain when everything is wet.

Rock Garden

There weren't too many people in the garden. A few tourists and a few regulars. I felt bad for the tourists coming at the wrong time of year. I especially felt bad for the girls who brought a baby in a stroller. They couldn't walk through 3/4 of the park because they couldn't go over rocks or stairs.

Since there wasn't much catching my eye to take photos of, and there wasn't really anyone to take my picture, I practiced taking my own.

Here's another self portrait ...

... and a third one.

Mt. Hood behind the Portland Skyline

A nice sunny spot to feed Markus.

He slept through most of our visit to the garden. However, towards the end he woke up hungry (as usual).

My view while Markus was eating.

So much nicer than my living room!

One of the many lanterns.

Usually the lanterns are some of my favorite features in the garden. Maybe it was the lack of color in the foliage, or maybe the lighting and lack of contrast, but they just weren't pulling me in today.

Riding the Aerial Tram

Sami and I went to take the birthing class at the OHSU Center for Women's Health yesterday. The class was good, but my favorite part - we got to ride the aerial tram from OHSU Kohler Pavillion to OHSU Center for Health & Healing so we could go to the cafe for lunch.

I have a few more pictures of the tram and Kohler pavilion back on my August 26th post.

Me waiting to get on the tram.

(I wasn't ready for the photo)

Another pic of me and my ginormous belly.

South Waterfront, the Willamette River, and Mt. Hood.

Sami riding on the tram.

Downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and Mt. St. Helens.

"Landing" at the OHSU Center for Health & Healing.

Another view of downtown Portland.

Going back to our class in Kohler Pavillion.

Lunch at Milo's with Crystal and Jen

Milo's City Cafe

I had been chatting with some nice girls on an online pregnancy forum (think something like MySpace or Facebook for pregnant women).

As it turned out several of us live in the Portland area and we decided we should get together sometime.

Crystal & Jen waiting to cross the street.

I hadn't been to this restaurant before and wasn't sure how parking would be so I arrived a bit early. I was sitting on the bench outside when I could see Crystal and Jen approaching from a couple blocks away.

We laughed because although we've never actually met each other before, we were all at the exact same stage (25 weeks) and so easily recognizable.

I am ridiculously happy about my chocolate cake.

I surprised myself and ordered the Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich for lunch. (I like BBQ but don't usually order it unless it is beef.) It was great. The best BBQ I've had in Oregon so far.

I must have been really hungry because I ate the whole sandwich and still had room for dessert. The cake was excellent too.

Jen shows off her dessert

We thought these desserts were so cute with their umbrellas and little plastic figures.

Crystal actually took these photos - Jen and I were too busy eating. Poor Crystal was good and didn't order any dessert.

Crystal, Jen & I in the obligatory belly shot.

The angle of this is a little weird because the camera is sitting on a picnic table. Crystal took this picture using the timer on her camera. I took one with my camera too, but I think I look better in this one.

Isil's Birthday

Sami, Sara & Isil at Portland City Grill

Saturday night we went out with Isil, Aaron and Akiko for Isil's birthday. The first stop of the evening was at Portland City Grill.

The restaurant/bar is up on the 30th floor of the Unico US Bank Tower and the views are amazing. Unfortunately it was very crowded and we couldn't get a table near the window. In addition to the great view, there is a very fancy and fairly cheap happy hour menu.

All of us with the "fishbowl" drink at Gypsy

Our second stop of the night was at Gypsy to have one of these crazy giant drinks... definitely the first time I've tried one of those. I also had the macaroni, which was excellent.

The decor in the other half of the bar was shockingly red and yellow and very mid century.

Akiko at Aztec Willies

Our third and final stop of the evening was at Aztec Willies taqueria for Salsa night.

Actually Salsa was extremely popular when we lived in Illinois. I was told the week we moved there that if Sami was an engineer, there was no doubt that we would learn to Salsa while we were there. Somehow it never happened.

Isil and Aaron on the dance floor.

These two were the only ones who actually knew how to Salsa - they did their best to teach us all.

Aaron & Isil dip

Aaron & Akiko

Isil & Akiko

Sami & I

Isil and her brother Ilker

Isil's brother joined us after a while. He was a very good dancer too, and he and Isil impressed everyone around us.

And another picture of Sami and I (and some random people in the background)

It's not often that someone takes a picture of us together - I figured I'd better post it.