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Wells Cathedral, Swan Hotel, Wells Street Market & Vicar's Close

After a day of touring Stourhead and The Newt , it was back to our hotel in Wells - The Swan. This is an older hotel with a bewilderingly complex floor plan. Narrow hallways, multi-level staircases, and endless turns, it was like something out of the Winchester widow's house. I was unable to locate my room after checking in and had to seek assistance.  The previous night, I had dinner in the hotel restaurant, and had fish and chips with traditional mushy peas. It was delicious.  Before leaving for Stourhead that morning, I walked down the street filled with quaint shops. A street market was in the process of setting up - Proceeding down the next few blocks leads you to Wells Cathedral and the surrounding area - Down a side street to Vicar's Close, Europe's oldest street with original buildings intact. Dating back to the mid-fourteenth century, the 27 residences were built for Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury. The houses are mostly occupied by students. I thought it was a bit of ...
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Revisiting Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls

Columbia River Gorge, Portland, Oregon  
A major highlight of any visit to Portland would have to be the spectacular Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls, just east of the city. My last trip to Portland was in June of 2013, a much sunnier and warmer trip than our recent visit. To see how it looked then, take a look at my post from last year. This time, the weather was rainy, dreary and very windy. Michael opted to stay in town since he has an aversion to heights so I went along with our friends from Alabama, Paul and Cindy and our tour guide, Rick. 

The wind was powerful along the upper cliffs but by the time we had wound our way down the mountain, it was not so bad below. Several train tracks run alongside the river and meander through the dense forest and cut their way through tunnels under the mountainside. 


Columbia River Gorge, Portland, Oregon

The trip to Multnomah Falls takes you by several other waterfalls that are spectacular in their own right. Multnomah is the biggie though. At 635 feet, it is the tallest waterfall in Oregon. It is widely mentioned that Multnomah is the fourth tallest waterfall in the U.S., but according to the World Waterfall Database, this is not true (there are a lot of larger waterfalls, many of them in the state of Washington. Whatever the statistics, it cannot be denied that Multnomah is a stunning waterfall to see.

Multnomah Falls, Portland, Oregon


Multnomah Falls, Portland, Oregon

Multnomah Falls, Portland, Oregon  


Multnomah Falls, Portland, Oregon

Multnomah Falls, Portland, Oregon



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. LindaDecember 9, 2014 at 10:50 AM

    Beautiful photos! :)

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 9, 2014 at 11:49 AM

    Did you hike up to the bridge that goes over the falls? This area is gorgeous.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverDecember 9, 2014 at 12:16 PM

      Lisa, I did not (on either trip) - both times time was short. I would like to do that on a future trip.

      Delete
  3. LostRosesDecember 9, 2014 at 1:31 PM

    This brings back some wonderful memories. I think seeing it on a cloudy, blustery day is pretty powerful. Such an emotional response to the sense of place.

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  4. Hoover BooDecember 9, 2014 at 9:11 PM

    So beautiful and peaceful. On a day of such terrible news, this beauty comforts the heart. Thank you.

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  5. Jim/ArtofGardening.orgDecember 10, 2014 at 8:00 AM

    I was in Portland about two months AFTER the Fling, and went to Multnomah Falls. We did the six mile hike. Three miles up and three miles down. Six falls to see on the way. It was spectacular.

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  6. sweetbayDecember 11, 2014 at 5:50 PM

    The waterfall is spectacular. I looked at your post from last year as well as this one and both are beautiful!

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  7. RoseDecember 15, 2014 at 6:21 AM

    Absolutely gorgeous! I went to the Portland Fling this summer with my daughter (missed you and Michael!), and while I was touring gardens, she was off with friends. She and a friend visited the Falls one day, and she came back with some stunning photos. I wish we had stayed an extra day so I could have visited this area, too.

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  8. Pam/DiggingDecember 17, 2014 at 9:05 AM

    That sightseeing drive was a favorite of mine after the Portland Fling last summer. It's good to see it all again in fall color.

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