Busy day giving a tour of Portland.

Had a friend in town this weekend, and today, I gave her a tour of parts of town that she hadn't seen or hadn't seen in a very long time.  After driving through SoDo and then a visit to a current project across the river, we made our first stop this morning: VooDoo Doughnut Too (eastside).  Had the bacon maple bar.

Times have changed.  Before, I could go to VooDoo Doughnuts and there wouldn't be a line; now, it's impossible to avoid it.  I kind of miss the old days of their specialty pepto doughnuts and obscurity.

Next up: Council Crest.  Now, it was a hot day on Sunday, but it was absolutely clear skies and you could see Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens.  It was worth the temps up there.  An odd thing though: crickets (?) in the trees, going off in the heat?

Then followed up with a trip to smell the roses.  Sadly, Washington Park was overcrowded with the closest parking spots available, further down the hill by the children's playground area.  Instead, it was off to Peninsula Park.

There were no crowds, but a lively group of bongos and other percussion at the open pavilion, and what looked like the ending of a photo shoot for a quinceanera.  It brought back memories of being across of LA's Exposition Park and the formal rows of roses, with teens in splashy dresses.

It was a very bee-zy day.

Next up was Cathedral Park, which by the way, is underrated in my opinion.  There is a great deal of tranquility to be had at this park.  There was a newish sculpture (I hadn't been there for about 8 or more years or so) there that had some semi-interactivity to them.  Of course, part of the trip included touring sites of Grimm. :D

Also went to Sauvie's Island and stopped at Kreuger's Farm to pick up some fruits and blue lake beans. Finally, in town stopped at Marine Polis Sushi Land in the Pearl for dinner.

Long day.  Hot day, too, at 96° F / 35.6° C.