Walking Around Portland

I just had too...after seeing a tourist being told "Stick to the Old Port Area" for the upteenth time, (like the rest of Portland was a total wasteland full of big dangerous men with guns that will waste you as soon as you cross Temple street). I just had to take you on a little verbal "Where to Go" for those with no idea. (I didn't when I first moved here)

Anywho, yes the Old Port area is the place to go for boutique shopping, fine dining and super-intense people watching. I love getting an ice cream and going to Tommy's park on weekends to see half naked men juggling fire while rope-walking. However, for me the real attraction is the architecture and the overall vibe of the place; you can almost see the bloodied old pirates walking out of the Old Port Tavern...er (oh, well you do see them.) Between the cobblestones of Wharf street and grand architecture on Fore Street you feel almost like you are in another space in time. (until the floppy lookng tourist in a hot pink teeshirt and hotpants walks by anyway).

There are many different opportunities to get out onto the water, from whale watches to Windjammer Tours, to Duck Tours, to mailboat runs. Check out the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal if you have time (Eastern Commercial street). I enjoyed their sunset cruise around the islands. I just wish I had brought warmer clothes, food and someone to talk with. There was a group of friends singing and telling stories, I think they had the right idea on how to do it.

I enjoy spending time more in the center of Portland. Monument square often has free concerts, craft shows, festivals and farmers markets in the summers.(Weekends in the summer are screaming with activity all over Portland.)

Near High and Free Street (and High and Congress) are the Portland Museum of art and the Children's Museum of Maine. If you go east on Congress you will pass "Strange Maine" on your right, an interesting old record, video, CD, tape and book store that has all the things you didn't think you wanted at prices that make you smile:) One the same side of the road further up are "Space Gallery" and the Art College Gallery. (What are they calling it these days the "Maine Art Portland College of Portland Art" ?)

On the other side of the street is the Longfellow House. If you don't feel like going in at least check it's lovely secret garden. Then there is the Maine Historical Society building and the Library. (The bathrooms are downstairs, handy to know)

Go on to Monument Square where there are many stores, cafe's and restaurants, then curve down Elm street to Free and Cross Street, and see if there is anything playing at the Nickelodean cinemas that suits your fancy. (I just saw "Becoming Jane" there, and James Mcavoy sure suits my fancy.) If your done with the center of town, go ahead and mosey on down Middle Street to the Old Port.

The "Old Port" is loosely between Center and Franklin Arteriel and Federal street and the water, but most of the action is on Middle, Fore, Wharf, and Commercial between Union and Pearl Street, with Exchange Street serving as the epicenter. When your done there may I suggest moving on to the beaches in Scarborouh, Cape Elizabeth, or if you like a drive, Ogunquit. If you want to do more big brand shopping, go to Freeport or the Maine Mall.

:)

Mounds of Shells

My mother and I recently visited the "Shell Middens" in Damariscotta Link
Damariscotta one of those charming towns many tourists pass on by on their way up the coast. My brother recently moved there and he loves to walk with us to the "Salt Bay Cafe" then walk the beach or socialize with friends at the lovely bookstore cafe downtown.

The Middens themselves should be seen with their historical and folkloric context in mind, otherwise they are just "a pile of shells". They were used for years by native americans as a sort of "trash heap" but for archeologist they are heaps of treasure; broken pots, arrow heads and tools that help us put together a picture of life on the Damariscotta river before Europeans discovered potatoes. All this can feed a sense of magic and mystery engendered by old folk tales about the region.

I will quote from- David Quimby Cushman's; "The history of ancient Sheepscot and Newcastle, including early Pemaquid, Damariscotta, and other contiguous places, from the earliest discovery to the present time; together with the genealogy of more than four hundred families." (1882)

"It is supposed by many that in this vicinity was the lost 'city of New England' called Norumbega, or the ancient city of Arumpeag which is thought to mean the place of men. And on an island in the beautiful bay above, traditions says, was the place where they used to bury their dead." (pg. 315).

Link

(The Davistown museum has such an intriguing website. It really gives one a feel for Maine and it's history. I hope I can get a visit over to their museum sometime. Link)

We then went for a ride up the "River Road" that goes down the Damariscotta river; an interesting ride made more facinating by our place of mind. It is lined with old stone walls, lovely homes and ancient trees that inspire a certain sense of mystery. We parked for a minute at Dodge Point and looked at the maps. Most of the trails were rather long, although there was one up "old farm road" that wasn't too bad...we proposed to come back one day after we did more research (and brought insect repellant)

Then we drove on to Boothbay Harbor--a lovely shining city by the sea. One of my favorite places on the coast, there are so many things there I want to see and do there before I kick off; like visiting the Aquarium, going on a whale watch or eating at that restaurant right over the water that smells so good.

there are allot of great pictures of Boothbay Harbor on Photobucket Link

And while we are at it; here are some of Damariscotta Link