It dawned a beautiful day. We found an independent bakery and got scones, cookies, and snack bars then headed from Vancouver, WA to Astoria, OR. We visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum, wondered if our grandmothers bought any of the salmon packed here, and learned about the treacherous nature of the Columbia River Bar. After lunching on “The Best Pizza in Town” we headed for Fort Clatsop and visited the reconstruction of the fort where Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery wintered in late 1805 and early 1806. We’re now on the east side of Portland staying at at Motel 6. Back in 1973 when we first stayed at a Motel 6, it cost $6 a night!
It was an incredible experience to actually walk the streets of Pompeii, once a bustling resort town in the Roman Empire until 79 AD when an apocalyptic explosion buried it under 20 feet of volcanic ash. Archeological excavations since the 19th Century continue to reveal evidence of a thriving community.
Once the largest cruise ship in the world, Allure of the Seas will be our home for the next seven nights as we cruise the Western Mediterranean and explore the eighteen decks of this behemoth.
Our recent travel misadventures seriously curtailed our time in Rome pre-cruise but we did get to visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before making the trip to Civitavecchi for an overnight in the port city of Rome preparatory to departing on Allure of the Seas tomorrow.
Once again it sounds like you are having fun. Keep an eye out for sasquatch as you you travel the mythical State of Jefferson.
$6 in 1973 works out to $29.61 in 2008 dollars. Still a pretty good deal.