November 17, 2016. A visit to Portland Japanese Garden

LOCATION:  House-sitting in Portland, Oregon WEATHER:  Mostly sunny.  No rain.  Highs in 50s   The weather forecast today was for no rain, so we decided to go on an outing to the Portland Japanese Garden.  We couldn't go when we were here last year, as it was closed for renovation.   We took the bus to Washington Park which houses the zoo, rose garden, museum and the Japanese garden.  We planned to take another bus from the bus stop at the zoo to the garden, but when the bus pulled up, the driver informed us that he was going to take a 20-minute break.  So, off we went hiking to the gardens.  We found a "short-cut" through the park.  Since it has been raining, the path was pretty slippery.  Of course, we missed one of the turns, and our short-cut turned out to be a long-cut.  However, it was very pretty with the atmosphere smelling like Christmas trees.   The Japanese gardens seem very authentic. Since the Portland weather is similar to Japan's rainy, cool weather, the moss and greenery are similar.    

The ponds have beautiful, huge koi swimming in them.

There are a few tea houses, again done very authentically.  

There is an austere rock garden.  Very peaceful.

To top it off, a non-English speaking Japanese tourist offered, through sign language, to take our photo!  

Luckily, we were able to catch a bus to the MAX rail stop, where we stopped by a neighborhood pub for a beer.  Back home, George grilled a steak.  When we were at a beer shop the other day, George had bought a beer that they canned for him.  It is like the growler system where they fill up your growler, but with a can they fill up, then seal.  George marinated the steak with a bit of the beer.  

DINNER:  Grilled steak with baked potato and stir-fry vegetables.  A real splurge....although we did buy the steak from the discounted meat section   :-)