On Friday, my Mom and I jumped in the car and drove to Corvallis. Okay jump might not be exactly the right word. The drive from Walla Walla to Corvallis is about six-hours give or take. So it would probably be better to say that we climbed in the car coffee in hand, made a few stops (Multnomah Falls and some factory outlet stores), accidentally drove through a red light and we talked and talked and talked.

[caption id="attachment_5243" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Local bakery in Corvallis"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5243" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5243"><img class="size-large wp-image-5243 " title="Local bakery in Corvallis" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_8669-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Now here's the important part of this story I spent part of my childhood in Corvallis, Oregon. I was born there and we moved to Walla Walla the summer between 7th grade and 8th grade so that my parents could open an antique store. My dAd grew up in Walla Walla and my MoM went to Whitman College--they met here one summer--so for them it was returning home and for me it was the city of my grandparents.

[caption id="attachment_5244" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Oregon Red"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5244" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5244"><img class="size-large wp-image-5244 " title="Oregon Red" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_8649-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

The thing is Walla Walla is my home. I don't long for Corvallis--real or imagined. So to go and visit was nice.

[caption id="attachment_5245" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Mom and me drink a beer"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5245" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5245"><img class="size-large wp-image-5245 " title="Mom and me drink a beer" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_8693-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

It was great to see my little sister--who's not so little any more. She has got her own a apartment and everything. That's a far cry from the early-middle schooler I left behind in Walla Walla when I first left home for college.

[caption id="attachment_5246" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="My sister buys the beer!"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5246" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5246"><img class="size-large wp-image-5246 " title="My sister buys the beer!" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_8704-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

The city is vibrant and hip and my sister knew all of the best places to go.  Corvallis is a college town in the best sense of the phrase. There are plenty of twenty-somethings around so the vibe of the city is youthful and because these are college kids there are plenty of good restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries which aren't too expensive.  This said, it's not just a party town. There are plenty of parents with children in tow.

My sister had an ambitious schedule. She really wanted to show her city, her friends and her finds off.

We had a glass of wine on an outdoor terrace, we ate hamburgers in a local brew pub, we strolled through the Saturday farmer's market, we poked around in a bookshop and a home-ware store, we hit up a long time favorite of mine: Trader Joe's (a grocery store that just might be worth moving back to the States for) and we made a day trip to the Oregon coast.

[caption id="attachment_5247" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Modern twist Thai pizza at Woodstock Pizza "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5247" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5247"><img class="size-large wp-image-5247 " title="Modern twist Thai pizza at Woodstock Pizza " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_8712-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Yep. All of that in one weekend. I documented the whole thing and I think maybe just maybe my mom got tired of my endless photo requests. Luckily she's a good sport and snapped photo after photo.

[caption id="attachment_5248" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Coffee at New Morning Bakery"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-5248" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=5248"><img class="size-large wp-image-5248 " title="Coffee at New Morning Bakery" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_8680-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

And while I remembered the city and a few of the shops that we went to, I didn't really find myself longing for a past that's no longer mine nor did I find myself overly sad to leave at the end of the weekend. Everything was exactly right. I got to spend time with my little sister, I had a chance to explore an ever changing city and I enjoyed all of the cafes, pubs and pizzerias that we went to.

It was a mini-vacation inside of a big vacation!! I didn't even know such things were possible. How lucky am I?