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Youll meet us at our inner SE Portland location at the corner of SE Main Street and 9th Avenue.You and your group will ride across the river and into the heart of the city to visit a Northwest Portland favorite public garden, where well talk about the complexities of introducing natural beauty into urban spaces (and what had to be destroyed to make all this possible). After spending some time in contemplation, well ride into the heart of Northwest Portland, where well visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Your guide will introduce you to the garden in its historical and cultural perspective, not just as the Suzhou style translates into the urban Pacific Northwest context, but also in the history of the immigrant groups of all races who once lived in this neighborhood: Chinese, Japanese, European and before all these, Native American. Well talk about the concepts of synesthesia and how the Mandarin poetry on the walls of the garden is meant to remind us to open up the barriers between our distinct senses and understand the garden in an entirely new way.Well have some time to experience the garden and tell stories about zen masters and how they approached the garden as center to meditative practices, then your guide will lead a short meditation, with a collaborative discussion of how meditation has worked into the lives of the participants. (Longstanding practice not required! The idea is to meet you where you are.)After this immersive experience, youll be back on your bikes, riding through the heart of downtown and onto a MAX train up to Washington Park, where a short uphill ride pays off in a long forest-lined downhill we call the Zoobomb. If your group is up for uphill riding, well instead take the Nob Hill route into Washington Park.Well visit the Portland Japanese Garden, long called the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, and explore it while talking about history of Japanese gardens, styles of gardens, and the philosophy with which their designers approach the symbolism of trees, rocks and plants. W
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