Visiting Eugene Oregon: A Rough Itinerary

My first trip on my summer adventure was Eugene, Oregon. My best friend Sarah has just had her second baby and I wanted to see more of her life. Eugene is a great place for people who love the outdoors. Her husband Greg is an avid cyclist and disc golfer, and their whole family loves to hike in the mountains and valleys of their adopted home. 

One of our first stops was Riverplay Discovery Park  where Norah enjoyed some playtime in the mud puddles. This gigantic park features an old fashioned Western town scaled to kid size, complete with a stagecoach. There is also a mini river and water mill that kept the kids busy as beavers damming things and then watching it all overflow. A giant jungle gym done up to look like an amazing fort in the forest is the topper.  The park is obviously a favorite with families in Eugene, though Sarah says she will enjoy it more when Norah is older. It's so huge (and popular!) it can be difficult to keep tabs on a toddler. 

We popped in for lunch at The Hideaway, a bakery tucked into a chalet style building on a corner and featuring a wood burning oven and some serious baked goods. 

I enjoyed a grilled ham and gruyere sandwich with a pop of mustard, a perfectly made latte and a molasses cookie. Sarah had the tempeh salad which was a glorious riot of colors full of shredded purple cabbage, carrots, mixed greens and all doused with a delicious cashew sauce.

One of Norah's friends came over for a princess dance party (Can you guess which Abba song was the favorite?) and a good look at baby Charlie.

Our evenings were pretty quiet once the kiddos were asleep. Most nights Sarah and I popped open a bottle of wine (or a bottle of port!) and sat talking well into the night. It's a special thing to see an old friend settling so contentedly into motherhood, marriage, life as an adult. I could tell by the quiet, calm way she manages her home and her two kids that she is enjoying each moment of watching them grow.

We did manage a few more highlights in Eugene, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you. Oregon was a great way to start off this trip.

Visiting Vienna: Cafe Orlando di Castello

One of my favorite food stops in Vienna so far has been Orlando di Castello. This charming little cafe is just two blocks from our apartment.

Aren't their lacy cafe chairs pretty? They remind me of elaborate calligraphy on a fancy wedding invitation.
I think Eggs Benedict is one of my all time favorite dishes. I really must learn how to poach an egg so I can make it at home. This one was perfectly made with a light herb Hollandaise sauce, salty ham and a toasty roll.

I am falling madly in love with Viennese cafe culture- people bring a stack of magazines and books with them, order a coffee (which always comes perfectly made with a tiny glass of water) and while away the afternoon catching up on news and fashion. The waiter never brings the bill until you ask and you can sit for hours. (I start to feel antsy after only an hour or two, in the States I always feel like I need to buy something every few hours if I'm camping out like that.)

This article (which sports far better photographs of the uber hip cafe interior) informs me that the design was inspired by "50 Cent, Queen Victoria and a girl from Tyroll". My thoughts exactly. (Ha!)

These total experiences are what I miss most about an urban lifestyle when we are back in rural Hawaii. Here there is attention paid to food, service, and the atmosphere you are enjoying which elevates the experience and creates additional value. Sometimes these hip places can feel cold and intimidating, but the staff here was so welcoming and friendly that spending the whole morning was blissful.

Are there chic but friendly places to eat where you live? Which is your favorite?

Visiting Vienna: Our Flat!

First order of business on arrival in Vienna? Laundry. (Did I mention we each packed nothing but a carry-on for this six week adventure?)

Second order of business? Removing the terrifying artwork (The bosoms, primary colors AND cubism were a bit much for me.) for safekeeping under the Murphy bed.

We have yet to fold it up, but I think we may have some friends over for dinner, in which case we'll definitely need the room! Note the twin duvets on the queen sized bed. An interesting European phenomenon which has it's logic- no one can steal the covers and leave the other shivering in the night- but makes for a funny looking made bed.



It's a tiny place, but we have a great location with much of the landmarks in this very walkable city only a few blocks away. (Thanks as always to that talented Eric!) I've enjoyed living in such a tiny space- cleaning up is a cinch and everything is easy to find. I also like the Goldilocks sensation of just right- not too much, not too little.

However, I think this is a trade off I'd only be willing to make if I had a city at my disposal for those times when I start to feel a bit stir crazy. No doubt this is how Viennese cafe culture got it's start- they really do feel like communal living rooms but with a pastry case and those wooden library holders on the newspapers. I'd also do it in exchange for life at sea or on the open road. But in rural Hawaii? I think I need just a tad more space- if only for parties! We'll see how things shake out when we return to our island.

Have you ever lived in a tiny studio? What were the pluses in your mind? The minuses?