Category Archives: Travelin’

Well Being Graffiti at Quincy Quarries

16 Wednesday Mar 2016

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What I know about Quincy, MA can be summed up in five neat bullet points:

#6 on that list? Quincy Quarries. Clearly a favorite of the youths, as well as rock climbers, this urban wild also seems to attractive positive affirmation graffiti. Hmm.

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Whole Heart World’s End

28 Wednesday Oct 2015

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Whole heart world’s end. (I just wanted to say that.)

Looking through wooden slats

A few years back, we learned of a park called World’s End located in Hingham, south of Boston. Of course we had to go.

Bridge to World's End

Bench to nowhere

Of course I had to bring my camera. The good one. Film.

Dark branch, light tree

Twigs before beach

Driftwood

Seaweed fuzzy on rock

David on rock, World's End

Of course we couldn’t resist the tiny shells. Or the ‘lil kids, who also weren’t resisting tiny shells.

David holds up shell

Kids at World's End

And, headed home after an afternoon of exploring, of course we wouldn’t resist fried seafood, despite our thirty-year-old digestion. Who would?

Fish shack fried clams

Library Tour: Portland Multnomah County Library

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Librarytour, Travelin'

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Sometimes, my 80s shows when I visit a new (to me) library.

What swivels my head and has me coming for a closer look? Wooden card catalogs, tall-as or taller than me with ornate metal drawer pulls smoothed from many years use.

Card catalog is fragile

While I’m first to want to visit a fresh new library, I’m still there with you, 80s, 70s, 90s. Your wide windows and gleaming hallways. Your themed carpets. Your commemorative plaques.

Moss in tree outside window

Walking up to the top level

Domed roof

Rose city carpet

Beverly Cleary plaque

Beverly Cleary, a childhood (and adulthood) favorite of mine

And then there are those special touches I never saw in the decades of my youth. This is what makes each library I visit so unique. Thoughtfulness: each library’s approach to meeting the needs of its audience, its patrons, its co-collaborators in word-love and learning and listening and reading and play. Discovery.

Library shopping baskets

Zine collection

Zines for the readin’

The Multnomah County Library of Portland, OR, Central Branch, charmed us with its special touches, friendly staff and many, many wooden chairs lining the walls that all but whispered, here, have a seat. Also, if you’re visiting, check out the John Wilson Special Collections room! You will discovery many an enormous and many a tiny book.

Is this your local library? Leave a comment about your experiences/wishes/favorites.

Whole Heart Portland, Part 2

21 Wednesday May 2014

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joanna and david at the river, portland

When travelling, in addition to enjoying the company of friends (i.e. staying in their homes for free and demanding that they cook for me) and scoping out libraries, I seek what I refer to as “health food stores.” Gimme a long aisle of bulk foods bins, and I practically melt. Granola combos I haven’t yet experienced? Yum. Kombucha on tap? Yes!

new seasons market at rosa parks station

New Seasons Market has me hoping this charming new Portland-based chain will successfully make the leap to my home-coast, similar to its now ubiquitous (and occasionally maligned) predecessor.

I also like a good wander . . .

end petlessness bulletin board

rosa parks station

leaves in clover

outside powells books, portland

. . . particularly pared with a purposeful dash to get somewhere I’ve never been, on time, and with beer/treats in tow!

the sprocket podcast

David and I joined the hosts of The Sprocket Podcast, a show I’ve been listening to for a few years that covers ideas, activities, and efforts related to “simplifying the good life.” It was a delight to meet Brock and Aaron in person, and appreciate a bit of the good life ourselves. (Tune in to episode E157 to hear David and me offer very helpful, non-solicited advice on how to cook plaintain and what happens when you attempt to carry a laptop in your bike panniers.)

Brock

aaron

david checks out the camera

“So, there are a few different types of plantain . . .”

Whole Heart Portland, Part 1

07 Wednesday May 2014

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IMG_8317 Like many folk, I have a bucket list of cities I hope/want to visit.

  • Portland, OR
  • Seattle, WA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Madison, WI
  • Montreal, CA
  • Reykjavik, IS
  • Savanna, GA
  • Singapore (city-state-country?)
  • Sydney, AU
  • Legoland, DK (what? that’s NOT a city? hmm)

Spots I’ve heard about that intrigue me. Foods I haven’t tried, libraries I’ve yet to tour . . . Truth? I’m pretty unlikely to travel to a location that isn’t home to someone I know. So thank goodness my sister-in-law moved to Portland!

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Meet our sister

Once J made the jump, my years of talking turned to a mere hour or two of flight searching. Then, last fall we landed . . . and loved it!

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When my partner and I returned home to Boston, friends asked: how was it? I kept coming back to chill, sweet, calm. We didn’t do a whole lot of rushing. But I guess one rarely does on vacation?

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As is often the case in my traveling experience, I recognized cities I know well in Portland. I reacquainted myself with Paterson, NJ’s wide boulevards and Leipzig, Germany’s centrally located, efficient light rail lines. The fresh, water-scent reminded me of seaside Jersey, lakeside Well, NL, and even that odd whiff of surf one sometimes gets in Davis Square, Somerville.

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City’s (world’s?) smallest park

Stay tuned for the next installment, where I’ll no doubt bombard you with more sights (and some library tourin’).