portland take-aways:
-it rains everyday! the rain jacket is literally just an added layer to everyday's outfit. with this being said, there is a whole other level of professional dress that doesn't include heels or open toed shoes ever! funny that i didn't get this memo in time for the conference! literally hiking boots are considered business casual with a wool sweater and your patagonia fleece. who would have known!
-it's cold up in the northwest! if you have ever seen "new in town" with renee zellweger you are getting the perfect visual of what i looked like as i stepped outside the airport in portland. in case you don't know, here is a clip from that movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bedhd8qzdTg
-they have a bookstore called "powell's" that is an entire city block and goes up 4 stories! it is barnes and noble on steroids!
-we ate some good local salmon...hoping for some wild alaskan salmon, but apparently the lakes or rivers are still frozen over up there...something i have ever experienced that your food supply is directly related to the weather and enviroment.
-we could see mt. hood and mt. st. helens on our drives around the town. i had no idea what mt. st. helens looked like after its eruption...it seriously looks like a big mound with no peak.
here are some pics from a sky tram we took around the city after the conference...click here