Portland
Union station in Portland has to me my favorite station of the trip. It's not as big as Chicago or LA, but I think the combination of stone walls and neon signs give is a certain atmosphere. Outside, the brickwork and tile makes for an interesting building.

I had about four hours or so in Portland. I went back to the same greasy spoon diner I went to on my last trip. I don't know what it was about this trip, but the food wasn't nearly as good as last time. Maybe it's just that a hot roast beef sandwich tastes better when it's cold and windy (or snowy, depending upon where I was) than in the spring.

From there I walked down to the river and crossed the big steel bridge, appropriately named "Steel Bridge", to the other side of the Willamette River. After taking a few photos I started crossing back. Just when I was getting to the lift section the alarms started going off and the gates closed. The deck lifted for a boat to pass under, and I was on my way again. Like Los Angeles, I didn't have much time and wanted to stay near the station. I walked up the staircase to the deck of the red bridge, then looped back around to Union Station.

Soon it was time to pick up the southbound Coast Starlight.

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