Our Favorite Airport

And yet more from Fritz, with some interlocutions and amendations by Shannon:

Did you know that Portland, Oregon, has the best airport in the world? That’s our official opinion. Here’s why:

- It’s pretty, for the most part. The new award-winning (and, incidentally, copyrighted) design lets in lots of natural light, and feels roomy. (Seattle has a nice food court that’s light and roomy, and has good art. But that’s all we can say for it.)

- It’s easy to get around. Admittedly, as airports go, it’s not terribly large. But still.

- There’s no smoking indoors.

- Getting into the city is cheap and fast. For around $2, you can buy a MAX ticket that takes you directly from the airport into the city in about 20 minutes. I don’t think you can beat that anywhere else in the civilized, non-Socialist world. (Shannon says I should simply say: We haven’t seen anybody beat that anywhere that we’ve been.)

- Free WiFi! Is that brilliant, or what?

- Best of all, in our opinion, is that the vendors are required to sell their goods at street prices. Most airport vendors charge you whatever they want, since, once you’re locked safely in the prison of the airport, you have no other options. But not Portland. Your burger or coffee or book costs the same there as it would at the same shop elsewhere in Portland. Travel to San Fran or Madrid or London, and even if the exchange rate didn’t double the price of anything, you’d have a hard time enjoying your lousy meal with the taste of gall in your mouth.

- And you don’t pay tax in Oregon.

- Last but not least, Oregon is the most beautiful place in the world. Or would be, if it didn’t rain all the time. And wasn’t cold and dark in the winter and make you want to go to Mexico or Spain every January.