Let\u2019s be honest, a visit to the city of Portland, Maine isn\u2019t on most travellers’ itinerary. I certainly wouldn\u2019t have made a trip there were it not to see my friend, Saffron. However I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Portland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, it has a small-town feel despite being a city. It boasts historic houses with classical architecture interspersed with modern buildings, all set on the waterfront. I\u2019ll confess that I was not as enamoured by wafts of the ocean (read \u2018fishy\u2019) breeze which assaulted the nostrils at times, but this was easy to look past. Its \u2018Old Port Neighbourhood\u2019 has cobblestone streets and beautiful brick buildings that hold boutique stores and a myriad of cafes, bars and restaurants. Walking through its streets, you almost feel transported to a 19th- century English town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The great thing about Portland is that it caters to a lot of different types of tourists: the foodies, the history\/architecture buffs, the nature lovers, the shopaholics etc. Downtown Portland is easily navigable and unlike quite a few cities in the States, it is also very walkable – there are actual sidewalks and zebra crossings! It also has a (good for the US) public transport system, which allows one to explore parts of the greater Portland area. <\/p>\n\n\n

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