Political Discourse in Portland

Hanging Out in the Pearl

A nice day to be outside.

Construction in Black and White

Yesterday's post was about the color of construction activity. Here are some photos from last year, at different sites in our Portland neighborhood, in black and white. Very different, but both are good, I think.

Concrete Pour in Portland

Meanwhile, back home in Portland, we were awakened at 3 AM this morning by the sounds of heavy trucks and machinery outside our window. This was expected: a high-rise is being built across the street, and the foundation—five feet thick of concrete for an entire city block (about an acre)—needs to be poured before further construction can commence. We were told that this needed to be done early today because only on a Saturday can the factory manufacture enough concrete, which will be trucked to the site at the rate of about 50 loads an hour for about 10 hours. So we were prepared, but annoyed nonetheless. However, when I went out at midmorning to take some pictures, the scene did reflect some of the large-scale drama of modern construction—so maybe it was worth it.

Sheki Shopkeepers (2)

Some more photos of vendors and their produce in the lively, picturesque market in the mountain city of Sheki, Azerbaijan:

Sheki Shopkeepers (1)

Having returned from two great months in the TransCaucasus and Europe, I'm returning to the many good photos I took there. This time I'm emphasizing themes and common elements rather than daily highlights. Here is the first of two sets of photos from the market in Sheki, Azerbaijan.

As stated in WikiTravel, "Sheki is Azerbaijan's true travel gem, a small city off on the forested slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Rich in Islamic architecture, Silk Road history, good food, and friendly people, this is travel and leisure in the Caucasus at its finest."

Flame Towers in Baku

The Flame Towers in Baku, the capitol of Azerbaijan, are dramatic at night, when they are lit with an ever-changing light display. Even during the day, they are the most prominent and striking skyscrapers in the city. Here they are seen from a variety of vantage points.