Uncovering Hidden Gems

In Portland, there are so many places that keep me loving this city. It can be the art, the music, the food, the interesting places that can captivate you when you go out for a nice long walk. Being curious about the little things in Portland has made me fall in love with it every time I step outside my door. I know that if I go out seeking things and venture into unfamiliar territory, I will allow this magnificent city to hold its spell on me. Every time I go on one of my long walks, I find something that will make me stop, contemplate what a wonderful place I am in, and smile.

I love finding good places to eat. Portland is a good place to feed an addiction to finding new dishes, for there are tons of different cuisines available. After hearing about a type of food that is rather elusive in good form around these parts, I decided to go take a look for this “hole in the wall” sized place. After a little exploring around a bit (and some aid from Google maps), I stumbled on the landmark I was looking for. I don’t think you see a little aqua-colored VW Beetle sitting on the side of the road that often, and this quaint little “sign” clued me in for what I had found. I stepped into the doors of “El Rayo Taqueria”, enjoying the colorful decor and suddenly being awash with the delicious smell of spices and grilling food.

As I sat enjoying my Fish Taco (as seen in the above picture, and trust me, although a strange idea its worth trying at least once) and listening to the bustling noise around me, I smiled to myself and happily made a mental note to come back here again. It’s little places like this that you find after being around for a while make me loving being in this city. Coming from a small town makes me feel like I might be over-exaggerating, but I think after being here for so long and not tiring of this place is proof enough that Portland is a place that will not cease to delight you if you are willing to go out and seek new things.