Writer's Sublime Story Highlights Portland, Inspires Next Vacation Rental
December 20, 2006. David Laskin wrote a great article in the New York Times on the Portland Classical Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. He goes beyond simply describing what he saw, however, and delves into some deeper lessons about travel. Here's how the story begins:
"It's a chilly Sunday in late autumn and a steady shower is falling on the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. Rain silvers the pebble mosaic in the Court of Tranquility and dimples the surface of Zither Lake. Budding camellias shine, bamboo shoots nod and recover…
'Too bad it's not raining harder,' our smiling guide, Frances Chin, murmurs… 'In a real downpour, rain streams off the roof and forms a curtain in front of the pavilion like strings of pearls.'"
How many of us have been stuck in the rain on vacation? It happens, right? Laskin begins the story with an ambiguous mood – are we supposed to be grateful that it's raining, or wishing for more bad weather? He ends up showing us how to find beauty in unexpected ways and offers some great tips on what to see in Portland.
If you go, we recommend a luxury vacation rental in the city or somewhere near the flanks of Mt. Hood. Portland is also an easy day's drive from the seaside Oregon vacation rentals .
