Portland

I visited Portland, Oregon, at the end of July for a work conference. I was only there for a few days, so I didn't have a ton of time for sightseeing. Of course, I made stops at the world-famous Voodoo Doughnuts, where I had some delicious maple concoction, and Powell's Books, the world's largest bookstore.

Portland is also home to the International Rose Test Garden, where they test out new types of roses....or something.

The hike up to the rose garden.

Then we came across this cute little cottage, or so I thought. It turned out to be a public restroom. LOL!

I visited the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, home to the decommissioned submarine USS Blueback. Considering I work for the Navy, I sort of felt obligated to take a tour of the sub.

It definitely felt claustrophobic in there. I can't imagine spending months at a time trapped in a metal tube like that.

Another reason I wanted to visit the museum is because they had an exhibit on Pompeii. I have always been fascinated by the subject, ever since I first learned about it in 6th grade. The museum had some of the plaster casts on display, which was incredibly eerie.

It churns the stomach to see people (and animals) contorted in their final moments, as they tried to protect themselves and others.

But the exhibit wasn't all doom and gloom. There were lots of archaeological finds that showed how people lived in the ancient world.

This is so cool....they found charred raisins and pears among the rubble.

My time in Portland was short, and I wish I could have explored the natural surroundings more, or maybe gone out to the coast. I'll end with a picture I took from the air as I was departing....