Did you know that pioneer wagons traveling to Portland, Oregon, in the early 1800s did not use the trail blazed by Lewis and Clark? It was considered too treacherous. Instead, an explorer who followed Lewis & Clark, Robert Stuart, discovered by accident a much easier way to get there. The history of Portland, Oregon, is fascinating.
My husband and I decided to take a mini break (no cellphones, no screaming cats, no email dinging) and grab Southwest's unbelievable roundtrip fares for a quick getaway. I've never been to Portland. And I've been curious to see it as city leaders in Sacramento often point to Portland as an example to follow. It's a progressive city. Public transportation is phenomenal. Street cars and light rail everywhere.
There is a free zone encompassing part of downtown Portland and its historic Pearl District where one can hop on the street car without paying a fare. I see lots of sensible shoes on the feet of women in the tourist areas. It's overcast. Alternating between chilly and warm.
Lots of dogs, too. A great dane greeted us on the light rail from the airport to downtown. I don't think he was supposed to be on the light rail. I saw an advertisement overhead that emphasized transporting your pet in a carrier. But the great dane owner's let me pet the dog, so I wasn't about to squeal.
On our way to the French restaurant Fenouil at Jamison Square last night, I spotted another dog with its owner on the street car. The dog sniffed my hand. Wagged its tail at me, and I was just about to pet her when this guy in the wheelchair, a guy with Gulf War Veteran stamped on his baseball cap, snarled at me, "service dog." he spit out the words. Then he repeated himself in the event I didn't know how to speak English.
Yeah, he was rude, but I can see where this sort of behavior would wear thin. Sometimes when agents call me about my short sale listings, I don't spend a lot of time on the pleasantries of conversation and instead say, "22 offers, highest sent to bank." As few words as possible.
Dogs seem very welcome in Portland. As we gorged on seared fois gras, scallops and halibut at Fenouil, listening to some French guy over in the square playing Bob Marley, I noticed an inconspicuous bowl on the sidewalk, next to my table. It was a water bowl for a dog. Tucked under tables, near bushes, I spotted more dog water bowls. I like this city.
Here are more photos from Portland, Oregon:
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available through bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com.
Sacramento Short Sale Agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, has the answers to your Sacramento short sale questions.
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Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available through bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
