Ah Maine...we will miss you.

Had a great lunch at The Thirsty Pig - although I still smell like onions and kraut - and then headed down to Boston to come home.  I won't rant about the drive in Boston.  Suffice it to say, I don't need to come back here.

Maine was just lovely, and we will for sure come back.

And next time I hope to see a moose.  We did moose drills in the car on the way in, and Chris failed because the right answer when I yelled, "MOOSE!!  MOOSE!!  was to get the camera up and ready to take a picture.  The wrong answer was to look at me like he wanted to punch me.

See ya, Maine - and you'll see us again!!

Sunday Breakfast at Marcy's

We stopped for breakfast at this amazing little joint called Marcy's Diner.  Totally a must come to if you are ever in Portland.  Alas...now once again...I am so full!  

But we went for a 30 minute walk to try and see the Portland Fish Auction.  Alas again...couldn't really find it.  But that was OK, we needed the walk.

Now just a few hours until we leave.  Not sure what we'll do - probably nap!

Saturday Night...

Most of the people at our hotel are here for a conference, I think, and are very dressy and getting ready to go out on the town at like 9:30, or are at least coming in from being out at that time.

Us?  Nope.  I am in my yoga pants, with my hair up in clip because I washed my face, and we just trekked down to the business center to print our boarding passes.  You should have seen the looks on people's faces.  Priceless...  But!!  UPGRADED TO FIRST CLASS!!  Seriously.  Not sure I can ever fly coach again...

I'm a little sad to be leaving Maine tomorrow - I really like it here.  We will for sure be back.  It reminds me of the other Portland that we love so much, but just a little bit smaller. We are going to try to catch the action tomorrow at the fish market, then make our way to Boston to fly home.  After 10 days, we are ready to do that.

More to blog tomorrow - now I am going to go read my book for five minutes and then probably pass out!

A Day in Maine - Part 4: Freeport!

We then headed up the coast about 30 minutes to Freeport to visit Maine Brewing Company.  Solid beers, spent about an hour and a half just hanging out and sampling and playing cards.   Bringing a few bottles home to share!

We then just had to stop at LL Bean.  The flagship store - open 24 hours for all of your hunting and fishing needs.  It was a really nice store with very friendly people.  Reminded me of REI, but a little more homey.

A Day in Maine - Part 3: Portland Head Light!

We headed to Portland Head Light for a little sightseeing.  Portland Head Light is the first commissioned lighthouse in the country, by George Washington in 1790.  It was the second finished and is still a working lighthouse and (now) a museum.  Absolutely gorgeous views of the coast and lighthouse.  Beautiful day.  For sure.

A Day in Maine - Part 2 - Lunch & Beer!

After we got off the boat, we walked one building over to the Portland Lobster Company.  You can buy any lobsters that are part of the catch and then they will just cook it for you right there!

After ordering, I immediately went to the bathroom to wash my hands, for an hour.

Chris and I didn't get a lobster do that, instead I ordered the lobster roll and he had the haddock fried fish sandwich.

Holy mackerel (well haddock)!  Lunch was amazing.  Chris actually said, "I think that was the best fish sandwich I've ever had."  And you know he isn't prone to hyperbole.   I would agree.

After lunch we walked a few blocks to Infiniti Brewery & Distillery.  Had a few samples, and Chris had a beer.  It was pretty good!  Pictures below...

After that, we came back to the hotel to change out of our lobstery clothes and then headed out to Portland Head Light and up to Freeport to Maine Brewing Company.  More on that in the next post!

A Day in Maine - Part 1: Lobstering!

So we went lobstering today!  So fun - the Lucky Catch too us and about 10 other people out for an hour and half.  It was in the 50s, the sun was shining (I got sunburned!), and although we didn't catch any keepers - first trip of the season today - it was sooooooooooooo fun.  I would TOTALLY do this again, and would recommended it for anyone!

Our captain was Tom and first mate was Brian - so great.  Very informative, friendly, you could tell they loved taking people out out tours.  First two pics are the boat, and Brian (left) and Tom (right).

So then we got down to work putting bait into nets, pulling in a few traps (which unfortunately only brought one lobster that was too small), but we did get to help with it all.   It was all I could do not to douse my whole body in hand sanitizer.  We had aprons and gloves on, see how cute we are in our gear?  But I did hold a lobster in my bare hands then wanted to cut them off.  Gag.  So I just did a double dip into the hand sanitizer and rubbed my hands raw.

As we changed to bait bags, the seagulls came.  Holy mother of God!  It was like a scene from "The Birds" and I was trying not to freak out and praying that one didn't poop on my head.  I think I might have jumped into the harbor had that happened.

Although we didn't catch any more than the one small lobster, here is me and Chris holding one of the guys that was already in the tank on the boat...look for the picture on the Christmas card!

Saturday in Portland - LOBSTERING!!

Our second day in Portland begins with a 90 minute lobstering cruise where we will help pull in the FIRST catch of lobsters from the harbor.

I mean, honestly.  Who has more fun than we do??

Then we are going to head down to Cape Elizabeth, over the the Portland Head Lighthouse, and then to Peaks Island.

Should be a fun full day!

Now I am going to crash and have sweet dreams of Brussels and Cantillon...

Both Portlands are funky...to be sure.

On our way back from dinner (and did I mention the Cantillon?) we stopped to see a little performance art that just so happens to also be visible from our hotel window.

Those are bare boobs people.  And fire.

Go Portland.

Maine...from the Top

We left Chatham about 9:30 this morning, and took scenic Highway 6A up through the north edge of Cape Cod.   We stopped in Sandwich and went to the Sandwich Glass Museum, and picked up a lovely little pitcher that was done by the woman doing the glass blowing demonstration.  It's cool.  Love it.

We then drove up over the Sagamore Bridge (ok, sidebar...why in the name of all that is holy are these bridges SO HIGH???  I mean honestly.  Just stop it.  It's not OK).

Then we were here!  Maine!!  I'm so excited to be here!  Good feelings abound...

We didn't have time to stop and see George and Barbara - although we know their door is always open for us should we have time to stop in for a beer.

Driving into Maine we saw this guy.  Ironically, he did not have a clean car.

Our first stop in Maine was at Allagash Brewing - they aren't allowed to have a tap room or some damn thing, so you just get a 4 beer sampler for free.  ???  I don't get it.  So of course we bought a bunch of beer and a beer T-Shirt for me instead.  Looking forward to drinking that.  And they were super nice and gave us a list of places to go for beer.  Hello!!  See earlier post about Novare Res and the Cantillon.  I'm still not sure what is happening.  It's like I'm outside my body...

But back to Allagash...Chris took the tour, I started reading a book.  A good choice by both of us.  

Then onto our hotel!  Which is a really, really nice Westin in a good and funky part of town...more on the "funky" part in the next post...

I think this is how my midsection feels after all of our eating and drinking...

Novare Res. The Holy Grail.

Dear God.  I'm not sure what to do.  The Belgian list alone would make a brewer weep.  And that is just the draught list.  The rest of the beer menu is 15 pages long.
We ordered cheese and charcuterie.
AND THEY HAVE CANTILLON.  AND WE ARE NOW DRINKING IT.
Holy Christ.  I'm woozy.  I have been rendered speechless.
Oh.  AND THEY ARE PLAYING A HALL AND OATES ALBUM.

Maine!!

More on our trip up later, but right now I am in a bar and Smokey and the Bandit is on the big TV.  Come on.  Fantastic.

Shout out to Lizzie!

Our friend Lizzie gave us the most wonderful list of things to do on the Cape - her parents live here, and it was so awesome to get an insider view.

Thank you Lizzie!!  All of your recommendations were awesome!  (Well, the ones we could do - but I'm sure the whole list is amazing.  Next time!)

Left Bank Gallery in Wellfleet

We are leaving with a souvenir that will remind us of our trip to the Cape.  It's being shipped home, and I think I'm going to put it in the dining room, where I can see it when I am walking almost anywhere in the house.

It's a print by an artist from Boston named Michele Dangelo.  Here is a link to it.

http://www.leftbankgallery.com/collections/michele-dangelo/products/blue-giclee-print

I just love it and it reminds me of all of the amazing houses here.

Wellfleet & Oysters!

On our way back down from P-town, we stopped in Wellfleet for lunch.  We had a number of recommendations but one of them (Pearl) was closed for the season and not open for another two weeks.

We went to the Bookstore on the recommendation of our Innkeeper Jim, and man, was it good.

Had oysters again, and you know what?  I kind of dig them?  Just with lemon juice.  Who'd of thunk it??  Here they are...pretty.  :)

Wellfleet Oysters!

Lobster Roll

Oyster Po' Boy

Clean plate club #1

Clean Plate Club #2

PB Boulangerie & Bistro

On our way up to Provincetown, we stopped right between North Eastham and South Wellfleet at PB Boulangerie and Bistro - a recommendation by both LO-H at home and our Innkeeper Jim.

Oh my...had a chocolate eclair and a croissant, and a couple of cookies.  DEEE-LISH!

Ate it in the car, cuz we're classy like that.

A Day on the Outer Cape - Sightseeing up to Provincetown

Today we went for a drive all the way up the outer cape to Provincetown.  It was warmer than yesterday...mid to upper 50s, but rained almost the whole time.  It was still beautiful!  I can't imagine how amazing it would be in the summer here.  Definitely going to be saving my loose change for a summer trip here.

We left Chatham and went north up to Eastham, to the start of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  51 years ago, Kennedy declared this a national park, as well he should have.  Beaches, trees, dunes.  It's amazing.

First stop in the wind and rain was Fort Hill Area.  There are open fields, view of Nauset Marsh and the shore.

Fort Hill Area 

Fort Hill Area selfie.

Fort Hill Area

We then headed further north to Nauset Light House - it was raining harder and the wind was kind of crazy.  But the view of the beach and waves coming in was amazing.

Windy hoodie selfie.

Nauset Light Beach

We then headed up past Wellfleet, stopped in Truro at the American Spice Company to do a little shopping, and went to Provincetown, up on the tip of Cape Cod.  It was super foggy as we headed up there, but it broke a bit.

Now, everyone has told me all these things about Provincetown...big LGBT population, interesting statues...well we saw none of that.  Could be it was raining, and foggy, and freezing, and not the busy season, but we definitely missed all the fun.  But we did go up to Race Point Beach, and by the time we got up there, the rain had stopped and it was just windier than hell.  But again, absolutely beautiful!  The first two pictures are of the dunes near there, and the next two are at the beach.

Race Point Beach selfie.

Race Point Beach