I'm on board the Coast Starlight from Portland Oregon to Emeryville California. The views of Oregon are stunning! Lush green agricultural land with mountains in the background. I was able to sit in the first class lounge at Portland Union Station and help myself to a peppermint tea. The attendant even passed on some tips for San Francisco. The train arrived early and once I found my cabin I took in lunch in the dining car. I sat opposite a delightful couple on th...

Day one in Portland was not as I'd expected. Luckily I was allowed to check-in to the Benson early. While they de-feathered my room I waited in the lobby and made a couple of Skype calls. The fire alarm started going (and it wasn't a drill), however no one left the building, so I think it was a false alarm. After freshening up and seeking advice from the concierge, I headed for Powells, a famous bookstore here in town. I took the recommendation of jumping on th...

Carolyn and Evan dropped me at Amtrak Minneapolis to pick up my late night train to Portland. The weekend was like a holiday in itself. We packed in loads of activities, but it was really relaxing and chilled. It was fun watching Evan and his friends rubber band, creating bracelets, anklets and necklaces in different colour combinations, seeing where Carolyn, Maya and Evan like to hang out, etc. I spent an hour in the waiting room watching people arrive with the...