The plan was to spend the 1.5 days I had on my first visit to Portland walking around, finding little cafe's to write in, and exploring a bit, only coming back to sleep in the *incredibly* comfortable bed.
Alas, with the snow, freezing temperatures, and my cold-weather gear still sitting on my dresser at home waiting patiently to be packed, plans didn't really pan out as intended. I was stuck inside with no food and only some coconut water I had brought.
Laura to the rescue! The moment she greeted me at the door (5 hours late due to the train needing to frequently stop due to weather) with warmth & a lovely smile, Laura offered me a wonderful home-made hot meal which I was incredibly grateful for, especially after the train food.
After sleeping better than I had in recent memory, I headed out to the kitchen where I was offered coffee and a delicious spread of berries & multiple different baked treats.
Later, she quietly knocked on my door and offered some home-made potato-leek soup, making sure I stayed fed, warm, & happy.
In no way was she obligated to do *any* of this, and believe me, it didn't go unappreciated.
Being my first stay at any AirBnB, I couldn't have had a better experience - the hospitality I was shown, the genuine warmth & kindness of Laura & her two sons - they all turned what could have been an incredibly frustrating time into what felt like a wonderful visit to an old friend.
I can't recommend Laura enough - the accommodations were simple & lovely, and her kindness is what you will remember most from a stay with her. When time allows, I will *definitely* be back - but this time remembering to pack my cold-weather gear if it's necessary. I still have some exploring of Portland to do!