Hello everyone: Today is my last FULL day in Maine, as tomorrow I drive down to Boston to pick up Willie at Logan Airport and we go to Cape Cod to get him settled into his second year of the GROW program at Riverview School. This year his dorm is OFF campus, as is typical with the older students. He's just down the road about 1/2 a mile (and it has a pool!) but they are always on campus or at Cape Cod Community College so it's not that big a deal. In any event, time will tell.
So this morning was glorious and I put on my walking shoes and hiked up the bike path along Ocean Avenue with one side big beautiful stately homes, and the other side the crashing ocean. Many people were out & about, most with their dogs. I would describe the homes as some old and big, and others new and big...but all BIG. Most have wide front porches and upper balconies, and some have "widow walks" on the very top. I attached a few photos.
Today I took a drive to Portland, Maine which is about 45 minutes north. Portland is the largest city in Maine with 64,000 people. It was named the state capital in 1820, but then in 1832 it was switched to Augusta. The city is a pennisula that is surrounded by the Casco Bay, and began as a vibrant fishing and trading village. Interesting to note that in 1851 a law was passed prohibiting the sale of Alcohol, and 18 other states quickly followed. On June 2, 1855 the Portland Rum Riot broke out !!! -not surprising since rum was it's #1 import.
The section of Portland that I visited was the Old Port, one of the country's most successful warehouse revitalization efforts. Apparently in the 1990's this area was in a big decline, as the Maine Indoor Mall was built just over the bridge and drew people away from downtown (I guess I'd rather be inside shopping during a Maine winter!). Luckily the city did not let this area sink into oblivion, and instead developed it into a Soho kind of feel with many art galleries, small shops, children's boutiques, and restaurants. The streets are original graystone brick (a bit hard to walk on), and the buildings are red brick - it's really quite charming. One of the stores though took me aback - it was located next to a quaint garden shop, and was called CONDOM SENSE (www.qualitycondoms.com) EKKKKKK!!! A whole store - I peeked inside...it was kinda packed...
After a quick lunch of chicken curry at a small Indian restuarant ($7.95 buffet all you can eat!) I visited a few wonderful "made by Maine artists" pottery shops - the best in my view was the Edgecomb Potters Gallery. Feeling it was time for a little culture, I walked a few blocks over and took a very quick tour of The Portland Museum of Art. Founded in 1882 it is the largest and oldest art museum in Maine, and is full of Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer among many other world reknown artists.
After buying a few postcards I headed back to Kennebunkport. Am I glad I visited Portland, Maine? Yes. Would I go again? No. I must say that despite a real effort on behalf of the city government and local chamber of commerce to create a vibrant and happening vibe, the city just has that old, dull and dreary industrial stuck in the past feel. There are so many colleges in the Portland area - Bard, Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby...I think Lulu should be grateful that she has hopping Boston to party in as Portland is just not happening. (Although I am sure this would not matter to Lulu who spends most of her time in the library).
Upon entering Kennebunkport, I stopped by St Ann's Episcopal Church, a beautiful stone church located right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. What a setting - it was really quite spectacular. There is also an outdoor chapel where the congregation sits on wooden chairs that face the ocean, and the pulpit is situated so that the priest has his back to the ocean. So you are listening to God's word while gazing out at the sparkling ocean and crashing waves. Pretty special! A local told me that "rumor has it young Barbara Bush (age 27) is perched on the edge about to announce her engagement to longtime boyfriend Jay Blount ", and the townsfolk are hoping the wedding will be held here (the stained glass windows are by Tiffany).
Soooo tomorrow's day is pretty much up in the air. My #1 duty is to be at Virgin Airways baggage claim at Logan airport by 7:00pm to meet young Willie. I think Bill is ready for a little R&R this weekend!
Did you know:
Portland is 91% white...there is large Muslim population
The movies The Preacher's Wife and Message in a Bottle were filmed in Portland, Maine
I neglected to mention earlier that another famous person from Portland is Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
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