Crazysexycool Portland!

While I was at the Seaside Hostel, I contacted some people in Portland to "surf their couch". In case you don't know what couchsurfing is, here's a little explanation. The CouchSurfing project is an internet community where couchsurfers unite and share their couch with each other. The principle is quite simple: let people sleep at your couch when you can and you can surf their couch while you're traveling (for free!). It's a GREAT way to meet new people and travel on a limited budget. This morning, I checked my e-mail and was ecstatic to find out a girl named Jenn said it was okay for me to drop by.

Still having to get there, I set off to hitchhike some time after noon. It took more than an hour for someone to pick me up but, in my opinion, it's better sometimes to have one good (long) hitch than several smaller hitches. A Xerox engineer happened to be on his way from a repair back home and picked me up somewhere just outside Seaside. He didn't have to go all the way to Portland, but took me more than halfway across the mountains. Once again, I got dropped off in the middle of nowhere and this time it took forever to get another ride. I didn't give up hope and after a while, 2 young guys on their way to Portland stopped and offered me a ride. They were really laid back and actually represented everything Portland was all about.

Arriving in Portland, it became immediately clear that this wasn't just another city. We came in North, which had a great outlook on the city and the city kinda looked like one big neighbourhood (which it turned out to be actually). On Wednesday, I took the bus and explored downtown. If you like reading books, you should definitely visit the bookstore on Burnside. It takes up a whole block and has the largest collection of books I've ever seen. You'll find just about everything there (new or second hand)!
Downtown Portland isn't actually that big and most of the city consists of regular houses divided in blocks, with lots of parks, coffee places, little bars, food places,… Basically everything you need!
People here are an example for most Belgians and other Europeans! Everyone I met here was so nice, helpful, friendly, caring, loving and above all tolerant.
I've been told that there's a subculture for everyone. For example: if you like dressing up as a pirate, you can actually be part of a group of people that do the same thing. Few people will point and laugh at you! This is like the perfect realization of my view on life "to live and let live". Other than that, they're very conscious about the environment and recycle just about everything.
All of this contributes to the amazing "laid back" vibe this city gives you the moment you enter it. I LOVE it!