We left Seaside after a pleasant stay at the Microtel. It was definitely a step up from the place where we stayed in Newport…the thought of closing the windows did not make me gag. Seaside was a typical beach town…commercialized and overpopulated. Luckily, it was only a place to sleep for us.

Our trip took us farther up north with our stop today being Astoria. Astoria is an old fishing town that is just emerging as a travel destination. The restaurant listings in the hotel guide took up just three quarters of a page. Yet, the Cannery Pier Hotel where we are staying is definitely a major hotel. If it wasn’t built on the waterfront at the site of an abandoned pier, it may have looked out of place. Instead, it is luxury, yet fitting in the rather tough landscape.

We spent the first part of the day at the Flavel House, home of one of the prominent residents of this area a hundred years ago. The Queen Ann Victorian has been wonderfully restored, telling of much history. Renu is drawn to opportunities to learn and she has been the catalyst of much of my recent exploration. I may not have ventured into this historic site by myself, but I’m glad that it was part of my adventures today. I am now more conscious of the subtle details found in many places such as architecture or the details in the petals of a rose. It can be so enriching to borrow the eyes of another person.

Tomorrow we head back to Portland, hopefully to cross paths with some old friends. But, for tonight, there’s time to relax and enjoy the comforts of waterside accommodations.