This week-end marks the opening of Portland's new aerial tram...hope Scarlett checks it out for us before she heads to South America!

http://www.koin.com/Global/story.asp?S=5998815

I will definitely be checking it out!

People from out of town are bound to ask 'What is that thing that looks like an oil rig on the south side of Portland near the waterfront?"

Portlandtramdotorg is the website for the tram, sounds like a nice way to see Portland! ***kim***

Yes, this was already mentioned in a thread a week or two ago. My husband was on it right when it opened, since he had meetings at OHSU.

www.portlandtram.org

http://tinyurl.com/yorzy9

eurotraveller, lol...
personally BTilke, you cannot get me on one of those ( or any other aerial tram) if you paid me great amounts of money
(something about heights and hanging from wires)
We have taken the road up to OHSU and that is scary so I understand how wonderful this is going to be for patients, nurses and doctors and workers going to and from OHSU.

kim, it is not really a sightseeing tram, you do get a great view from it as well as from the Hospital (where it goes) so I think you might enjoy the Portland City Grill more..I think you mentioned that you would like to go there.

Yes, the tram was not meant for tourists. It was built as a means of transportation between facilities. However, now that they went so far over budget on it, they are scrambling to find ways to pay for it. So they are trying to play upon visitors to help offset the costs. If I didn't live here, and were visiting, it would not be high on my list (yes, pun intended, lol!) of things to do. Maybe if it went somewhere besides a hospital...

I have been on the freeway a few times when it has happened to be directly above me. Yesterday morning DH and I were in that situation and I told him it really makes me uneasy. I notice that when that happens, people are looking up at it, not at the road. Of course that doesn't make me feel any better, lol!

We have neighbors who lived in this bldg and moved to one of the new glass towers on the South Waterfront..He think it is great for getting to doctors appts..but She says she feels safer in the car lol..I am not alone~

Sorry to hijack this thread but for you Portlanders, check out the thread I posted directed to Portlanders. I am trying to organize a Portland GTG towards the end of Feb.

Cheers!

I've shot lots of pictures of the tram already (but have not yet been on it!). Check 'em out:

http://www.portlandbridges.com/00,0,...nd-oregon.html

Andrew, your photos are fabulous..they made me hang on to the desk just looking at them ! lol

Nice photos, Andrew, thanks for sharing those! ***kim***

Thanks, Scarlett and Kimamom!!! I'm anxious to ride on the thing now. I decided to skip the crowds for this opening weekend and will just pay the $4 to ride it this week - although it will be free Fri and Sat nights through the month of February.

You are welcome, Andrew. You have always been so helpful to me with my photos etc, everyone should know what a great photographer you are.

I will come down and wave to you as you go overhead , waving a hankie LOL

I was just on eurotraveller's thread, and now I find this one. I went down there today, just to roam around, and talk with the groups who had tables at the Waterfront. Trimet had mass transit info, and the PDC had lots of printed material on the development of the district.

They did have some tickets for people who hadn't already reserved a spot, so I took a shot. It was no problem getting on. The thing was so crowded, it was an advantage to me. I was in the middle of the car, and couldn't get nervous, knowing how high I was. It did sway when we got to the middle tower, and people reacted to that. On the return, it seemed easier. Maybe it's just because I expected it. I got back down to the waterfront a little before five, and they were still taking people up the hill.

At OHSU, they had some of the employees at tables, promoting various aspects of the hospital's healing and teaching missions. They offered us cider and cookies (we even had special "tram" cookies with a drawing of the tram on them!). I walked the skyway, too, over to the VA and back.

As the Portlanders on this board know, it was a beautiful day. Blue sky, some wind, and the mountains were out, making for a stunning view. The observation deck (outdoors at the new Kohler Pavilion) is a great spot to take photos. (You can also reach the pavilion by driving up the hill to the hospital, if you like).

The employees at OHSU and the tram operators were in a fine mood, glad to show us the place, and it was fun to be a tourist in my own back yard. This is definitely a place to show to tourists, and any visitors I have from out of town.

Merseyheart, thanks for the update! my sister is a nurse at "Pill Hill" and she is very excited about the tram. I will ride it next month, for sure!

A friend of mine took it up a few days ago and said the view was spectacular.

Well Scarlett, the family isn't going to get me on the tram either. I don't "do" trams, lol. And I stay away from hospitals too! Andrew your photos were spectacular as usual. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the update Merseyheart, it sounds like you had a great time! ***kim***

We'll try it next time we're in town. I can even call it a tourist activity by visiting OHSU's museum of interventional radiology (Charles Dotter Museum).

The NYT has a nice write-up of the tram:
http://tinyurl.com/3548j9

I love the quote "I would like it even more if it was 20 times slower and served cocktails."