While downtown this weekend with my parents, we stumbled upon a giant bronze elephant from Xi’an China, which was donated to the city of Portland. After a 7000 mile journey, we happened to show up in time to see it moved by crane into its final spot, facing east at the terminus of the North Park Blocks. It was facinating to watch the bronze behemouth moved; and to wait while the pre-made forms were removed because the measurement was off. I attribute it to a metric-standard conversion. Damn standard system.
While I understand that we typically think of China as being in the East, they really are closer when we look west, plus, you get to look at Powell’s Technical Books store. Bonus.
I like seeing it behind the fence and watching all of the people outside of the fence like the phant is in a zoo. I also like the colors and patterns that didn’t show well in the Oregonian. And the trunk. Now that’s a big trunk.
I liked the colors as well. I think I was in the minority among my family.