Four days in Portland, Oregon

5:30AM: Flight. From far up in the dark sky, it was difficult to tell whether I was suspended in air or sailing across a deep, dark sea. City lights came into view, leaving me somewhere in a starry middle, trapped between the blackness of the water and sky. Being that I currently work night shift, this hour of the morning left me feeling that I was in a state of perpetual darkness. That feeling would soon fade, if only partially, to be replaced with a cloudy, raindrop filled sky, with the occasional peeks of sunlight dotting the day. Which brings me to why day one in Portland started out at about 3pm, despite my early arrival. My circadian rhythm and I fought until my eyelids grew heavy and sent me into an, unfortunately, much needed nap.

When the time came to finally start exploring, the Streetcar in downtown Portland was our saving grace, getting us from place to place in a warm and dry fashion. The Streetcar runs from SW Lowell Street and continues to run parallel to the Willamette River to NW Northrup Street. It covers the University and Cultural district, as well as the Downtown, Pearl and Nob Hill districts. Although the Streetcar may not be able to take you everywhere you want to see in Portland, it's a fantastic idea (especially for those wandering souls who are just visiting), for one main reason:

If you're using the car anywhere from SW Lincoln to NW Irving in the Pearl district, your fare is free!

The car started its service in 2001, and plans to expand this lovely ride even farther will be complete this coming September 2012.

This place was recommended to us by a local. Set inside a small white house, the restaurant is filled with splashes of color, tables and delicious smells. My friend and I ordered red curry and pumpkin curry (mmmm, all the curry!) as well as some savory spring rolls. Every bite was as yummy as can be. I have a place in my hometown that I swear has the best Thai food I've ever tasted, but I would say that our meal here was a fairly close match. Reviews I read mentioned the food here being too spicy and the service slow, but we didn't experience either of these potential flaws. Located at 1924 SW Broadway near the University, it's certainly worth a try for lunch or dinner.

If you're looking for something unique to do in Portland, this place wins. Rather than hundreds of chairs crushed together, you'll find twenty or so chairs, sofas and tables in each of six theaters, where you can sit comfortably, sip your drink and have a bite to eat, all while enjoying a film. Your beverage can be anything from soda to a glass of red wine or a hot toddy. Take your pick of the many tapas that can be ordered for lunch or dinner, and take them in the theater with you (no need to be sneaky here.) Complete with a full bar and seating area to spend time in before or after watching the film of your choice, this place has the right idea (the idea being: a darn good movie going experience without even feeling like you left the house.) Certainly not your average movie theater. The best part: $5 films on certain days of the week!

Want to hear more?

Read about Portland on Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4!