The Fierce Adventures of Ms.J and S&P

Well I don't know about Ms. J...

2010-07-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Argentina is fast becoming the lead runner for me, why? Well other than the possibility of custom tango shoes for $50 (apparently a must have tourist purchase) to the cavalier suggestion on Wiki-Travel that I consider the new vogue for tourists - cosmetic procedures (lipo here I come - I jest, just a tummy tuck for me). Really it's actually this:

That folks is one fabulous bookstore - oh be still my palpitating heart.

Argentina? or Savannah

2010-07-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

For the last few weeks I've been trying to figure out how J and I can bike in North America. Why? Well we've come to the conclusion that our European destination tour isn't going to work for either of us financially at the moment... So spurred on by the ads on Lonely Planet and Expedia I started checking out Argentina. It looks fabulous! It seems cosmopolitan, historic and gorgeous - on top of that most of the hostel lodging is $15 USD or less a night. That works for me! Which in the end probably will even out the cost of the flight, though I know if we hunt you can always get an amazing deal on that - one of my staff recently flew to Costa Rica for $600 total - average flight is $1200-1500.

As I have mentioned finances might limit our flying as such I was thinking about the Southern East US - like Savannah, GA - I don't know how much that will appeal to Ms. J so we'll keep you posted - is there anywhere in the US (other than NYC) that we have to go to?

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27503905@N08/3286949222/

On the Road Again... or the water

2010-07-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

Ms J and I and our PU's (Parental Units) will be exploring this fine area we live in this weekend. So stay tuned for our run down on the joys of ferry travel, July heat wave, boats, hippies, crazy family shenanigans and such like.

As stay tuned as Ms. J and start to formalize our Spring travel plans. Now you might think I'm too Type A and maybe I am, but see here is the deal, I'm applying for graduate school starting in May. If I am going to be going anywhere this upcoming year it needs to come from the SnP travel fund. This travel fund we speak of has a current balance of $8. Crazy! I know. So then, as such I've started thinking about other destinations, shorter trip, cost savings etc. I also know that if I have a price tag in mind that I can definitely save better than I did for the NYC trip which we more or less did on the spur of the moment.

So look forward to the planning!

You Might Ask

2010-05-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

Is there more to Portland than just books? Well yes and no. There is amazing food to eat while reading books. Portland is I believe what you want it to be - it can be a stop off place of outlet shopping further south - there is some boutique shopping as a well as the major department stores downtown. It can be a place for outdoor activities - Nike/US Olympic team are in the Portland area in addition to several marathons etc.

The city is easy to access on foot and by tram, it is small with minimal in the way of hills, this is no Seattle that is for sure.

Though I would like to bring attention to what we really like best - FOOD!

On Sunday when we couldn't find any other breakfast place that was open or spacious enough to sit ourselves down for a few hours to avoid the sportactic deluges, we found Prasad. I believe every traveler should have one meal that is as Nigella Lawson calls it "temple food" something clean, whole and almost all just vegetables. Ms. J and I tried their Gaucho Wrap (Ms J) and Dragon bowl (kale, sprouts, avocado, black eye peas, quinoa and peanut sauce) for lunch. They have a large selection of smoothies, juices, sweets and coffee. We shared coffee (served in a press), cowgirl cookies and two smoothies. I have to say the part I loved the most was being able to see the kitchen. You were able to see them prepare the food from scratch, see the dried beans and the spices. I think this kind of kitchen should really be cherished. For those looking to get some asana time in - the kitchen shares its space with a really nice yoga studio.

PS If you stop in you might just see Serena Ryder...

Prasad - 925 NW Davis, Portland OR 97209 : within Yoga Pearl rate:5/5

Gluten, Dairy and Soy Free and Vegan friendly restaurant - just ask the staff as to what is soy free - as the gaucho wrap for example had tempeh in addition to being wrapped in a flour tortilla. I will give the staff credit that she warned me that the wrap was not GF, in addition to it being labelled as having Gluten and the menu stated the same...

PS. Did we mention it often poured in Portland - this is Ms. J's attempt to stress how often the sky opened for substantial chunks of time

Booklovers@Powell's.com

2010-05-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

We spent an impressively short four hours in the World-famous Powell's Bookstore on Saturday, and left only because we were both tired, a bit overwhelmed, and hungry. The weather has been crazy - going from warm spring sun to torrential downpour in the blink of an eye - and though we were glad to stay inside a cozy bookstore during the downpours, I began to get a bit impatient to get outside once the sun came out.

Of course, it began to pour only a few minutes after we left the store.

Anyway. Back to Powell's, the destination that puts Portland on the map (in my opinion). Five+ floors of new and used biblio-goodness, arranged in a coherent and comfortable way makes for a delicious way to spend a day. Or a weekend. (Maybe a week?) S&P, the lit geek, and I puttered our way around the aisles, giggling at some of them:

(I have to explain that this image is from the Regretsy book pictured above - it's a slightly creepy and obstetrically-correct maternity sock monkey, delivering a wee sock bootie from her sock va-jay-jay. It made us double up in laughter so I took a picture and texted it to Briana... but no replies. I wonder why....!?)

Intrigued by others....

and finally indulging our book addictions with a basketful of volumes on our favourite topics, new and old. The bonus for S&P was that she needed some books for her GRE and current English courses, so this wasn't just a recreational visit (though methinks she was being a VERY conscientious student this day). We collapsed into the busy coffee shop in Powell's and enjoyed a cuppa and some snacks while we absorbed and sorted the books we hoped to give good homes to. For those of you hoping to win S&P's contest, it hasnt' closed until we leave on the train tomorrow evening so don't get your hopes up! I'll never tell how many she bought!

I've always thought that the best bookstores were those that were noticeably assembled with purpose - the books weren't just blockbusters or easily sold volumes of airport-novel trash (though those are plentiful as well) - good bookstores show evidence of deliberate care and attention to the reader, and the interests of the proprietor. This is the value that independent bookstores offer to readers. Powell's, given how large it is, offers its value in how it engages the customer in helping them satisfy their reading curiosity. There are plenty of "rooms" of books arranged by subject, where a reader could browse through the shelves until something caught their eye, and there are plenty of information desks where a real human being will help point out where the volumes on the list crumpled in your hand are tucked away on the tall birch shelves. Powell's is actually in four large buildings spanning a whole city block, so in the many odd mezzanines and vestibules connecting the different rooms there are large displays and lists of books that invite you to sample something new. From the list of international book award winners that is two stories tall and updated regularly, to the collections of books fitting various themes that connect diverse subjects, readers are invited to sample something old while they can still soak in titles on subjects they love.

I actually also like that Powell's has a thoughtful and wide selection of interesting cards, gifts and games that fit a booklover's taste. S&P spent probably an hour looking at the card section - laughing and sniffling and enjoying the very literary selection - and taking home enough to last us through months of birthdays and other sentiment-requiring occasions.

We ended up leaving happy but burdened and sought refuge at the aforementioned !Obe! Cuban restaurant for happy hour, but returned to our hotel in the evening to dive into our book booty. I won't reveal to whom these books all belong so as not to spoil S&P's contest but this will give you an idea of the depth of our book sickness (and perhaps lack of restraint).

We hope to return to Powell's to say goodbye tomorrow! :)

!Oba!

2010-05-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

As mentioned before I am a frustrating food companion - but as you have seen in an earlier post I did do my research courtesy of Gluten Free Portland. Oba was recommended and given that Happy Hour seems to be the way to go around here for a good meal and drinks we headed there after a full day at Powell's. The restaurant was full and busy - always a good sign. Ms. J had the Fish Tacos, I had the Baja Chicken Tacos and we both Braised Beef on Plantain chips.

More photos below:

Rainy, Liberal and I need a drink: A First Day in the City of Roses

2010-05-22T13:38:00.001-07:00

We arrived (slowly) in Portland yesterday afternoon by Amtrak after 8 hours trundling through the landscapes of the pacific northwest. Our train trip was an alcohol-marinated soap opera we weren't anticipating: a troupe of college-aged guys joined us mid-morning at Everett, and commenced their Bud consumption immediately to celebrate their buddy's last days of singleness. We really didn't anticipate that a handful of middle-aged cougars from around the train would line up to party with the boys in the Bistro train attached to ours. The woman in front of us who had assisted her very elderly mother aboard in her wheelchair disappeared 30 minutes in and returned from the bachelor party slurring her words, falling over herself and completely unable to think straight. It was cringe-worthy. Amtrak conductors came over the speaker every hour or so to remind all that this was a "family journey" and that profanity and drinking personal alcohol was not allowed - but that certainly didn't put a lid on it.

It sounds like the trip was bad, but it was fine, really. I think we both really enjoyed the train - it was slow, peaceful (for the most part) and devoid of the usual stress of airline travel. I felt that it gave the sense that we'd actually travelled somewhere, taken some time to journey to another place, while S&P points out that on the train you get to see the lush greenery and tucked away cottages that are hidden to the everyday vehicle commuter's eye. We slept, read, ate fabulous vietnamese salad rolls (prepared by S&P, natch) and emerged in Portland full, and ready to have a little distance from the frat boys' bachelor party led by Captain America himself.

It must be said: I love Portland. I've been once before with my Dad on one of our memorable road trips. The Art Museum is amazing, the streets are tidy and walkable, the food is great, the coffee culture is vibrant, there are musicians, hippies, students and homeless people everywhere (and sometimes all-in-one). It's like an optimistic Liberal utopia. However, a 1.3 mi uphill walk in a downpour was a generally disspiriting greeting, even for Vancouverites.

Once we arrived at the hotel, our walk was forgotten. the Hotel Modera is a rebuild of what looks to have been a budget business hotel, into a small, upscale and very fashionable boutique style. We were really impressed by the look and feel immediately upon entry, and the front desk staff were great - we both noted later that they had something the larger chain hotels didn't seem to have. They recognized that we were here for fun, and didn't condescend us because we weren't the customary staid business travelers. I can't say how many times in the first hour I proclaimed upon a piece of furniture how much I wished I had a version of it in my new condo. That's a good sign, methinks.

We were both waterlogged, unexpectedly stuffed, and a bit tired, so dinner was "happy hour" in the hotel lounge. S&P will break it down for you in a later post, but it was hip, happening, tasty, and light on the pocketbook. Apparently so was I because she got me drunk on one powerful cocktail. I was useless thereafter. Rich (Dad of S&P), mission accomplished!

T-Minus Exhaustion...

2010-05-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

Less than 8 hours to go and I think Ms. J and I are at the end of our ropes when it comes to stress and exhaustion. I am going to crawl into bed and hopefully get 6 hours of sleep and somehow function tomorrow. I was trying to think back if Ms. J and I were this tired last year. I think we were, but I think our collective excitement kept us going for the traveling and the week we were there - if you remember we definitely didn't get any sleep traveling... So tomorrow is a new day fast approaching - we will let you know how it goes when we get there....

Food!

2010-05-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Because food is really the only important part of our lives, aside from Twitter and used books, oh and Fringe, I am devoting another post to its lovely-ness.

The train ride to Portland is 8 hours. Eek. The time is fine, the eating on the train not so much. I'm not concerned about the cost (it's actually quite reasonable) I'm concerned about what foods we consider when we think of snacks and convenience. Those foods usually involve cheese, butter or bread. Even foods you might think of as free from these issues like say McD's hash browns - which actually contain dairy, wheat and beef flavouring - so they are SO not vegan, vegetarian or safe for most people to consume - bless their hearts for making us think other wise...

So then, I will be making Vietnamese salad rolls with peanut sauce for lunch, and an assortment of crackers, chevre, sun dried tomato bruschetta and nuts and in the end praying for the best - hopefully it will be a cute border person we deal with who won't confiscate our breakfast

Hi My Name is S&P

2010-05-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

And I sniff used books...

Yes I am a used book sniffer, and in general a book addict. I love books, in the way that Joan Rivers loves plastic surgery, if you need a metaphoric reference point for my addiction. As such one day of our upcoming Portland trip will be spent in Powell's. I plan on sniffing as many books as I can and buying only two books, or maybe three... So few? Well yes because while I have reading list a mile long - I am actually looking for beautiful books. I blame these lovely people for my addiction. I purchased two of their French language books with fabric covered sleeves and now all my other pulp based children look sad. I digress. BOOKS! That is the heart of our trip.

Next Year

2010-04-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am a planner. I MUST plan, it is a conviction almost stronger than my need to clean, cook, drink coffee or read quality literture. Oh who am I kidding nothing will ever compete with my need to drink coffee.

Regardless Ms. J and I have tentatively decided to invade (in the most Canadian of ways - tourism)the following countries next year:

Photo

Food

2010-04-28T09:59:00.001-07:00

I am a troublesome travelling companion this year - poor J. I have recently gone dairy, soy and wheat/gluten free due to allergies and other issues. So you might be wondering what can I eat. Meat! Actually given that was vegan for two years, meat is okay, not great. I do, like all real women, love carbohydrates, good alcohol and chocolate. So given those requirements and my new found love Gluten Free Portland I believe the following are good options:

Abby's Table - Why? Because it has been featured on TV shows for its novel concept in dining - and well it looks good too.

!Oba! - Why? Because I am all for Latin/Spanish cuisine and this looks amazing - early b-day dinner?

New Cascadia Traditional Bakery - Why? Because I need bread - I need to know the luscious warm embrace of sourdough with butter (non-dairy of course) once again.

Iorio Restaurant Why? Because if pasta made Sofia Loren who she is, then I want pasta, that and I miss some other related Italian dishes that can't genuninely be made with dry store bought pasta.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29066126@N02/4283584395/

Ms. J and S&P Meet _____?

2010-04-28T02:37:00.000-07:00

Well since, we are on the topic of where we are off to this year. Where dear readers should, we head to next year?

I personally would love to explore somewhere outside of North America focusing on East, West or South as well I don't believe there is a whole lot of options to the North.

I know we are both city girls.

I being the diva I will wholly admit to this.

I hate long travelling to somewhere, which means I am not so hot on far reaching travel like South Africa or Brazil.

I would like to see the dichotomy of new and old.

I vote for Europe. I appreciate the cliché that both of us will be finally done school (darn well better be) and venturing into life. We have both seen different parts of Europe so this will be a chance to explore those areas neither of us has seen.

Secondary vote Turkey/Greece

Portland!

2010-04-28T01:35:00.000-07:00

While it is not the first time J or I will have met Portland, it seems appropriate to continue the documentation of that which seems to be becoming an annual trek.

So folks we are off to meet Portland in 4 weeks and I for one believe it can't come soon enough, I need a vacation.

Photo