portland

Yesterday's blog from me, Jr the traveling monkey. We got up, my people did their morning things and Cmor drove us down the road to The Gresham City Hall. There we caught the light rail to a bus that took us to the Grotto. Incredibly beautiful Catholic shrine built because a young boy made a promise to God if his mother was saved during childbirth. A Grotto was carved into the stone cliff with an altar to honor Mary. the Grotto is at the base of a steep cliff. There is also a beautiful Church. During the summer Mass is also said outside in front of the Grotto. After we walked around the gardens, we took the outside elevator to the top of the cliff to the upper gardens, Even more beautiful than the lower ones. Also a beautiful Meditation Chapel. Donna didn't really take any pictures of me because she didn't want me monkeying around there. After a peaceful few hours it was back on the bus, then the train and into Portland's Old town. There we got on a Pink hop on hop off cable car shaped trolley. We went thru the old courthouse in Pioneer square. I got to ride in one of those security thingys. We saw all the mansions, and Washington Park at the top of the city, where we saw the zoo, rose gardens, Japanese gardens and the old train. Then around many old neighborhoods and the new trendy areas also. We crossed the oldest bridge to the east side of thr river. I have never seen so many bridges in such a small area. We got off agIn in China town and took the train back to Cmor. None of us liked Portland. We voted it as our least favorite city so far. Very crowded, noisy and an incredible amount of homeless people sleeping everywhere, An especially large amount of young ones too. Very depressing. We spent another night in Fairview,