This week's Photo Hunt theme is 'symbolic'. Oh my. I have an embarassment of riches for this one. The challenge is finding one of two shots with which to play!
I was going through some pictures form our trip to Maine back in 2006 and came upon these shots which were taken in the town of Blue Haven. This vacant lot next to the legion had rows and rows of white flags - each one a symbol of lives lost - American soldiers and Iraqi civilians during the war in Iraq.
It's a tricky day for Travel Tuesday - Sandi's blog round up of travel related posts. Tricky because it is also Vanentine's Day . . . and I had alreayd used my Heart picture from San Francisco for Saturday photo hunt. These are challenging issues for bloggers.
I know, I know . . . get a real problem Jerry!
Anyhow I remembered our 2010 to Maine. We stopped in the lovely town of Rockland, Maine to tour the Farnsworth gallery. They were featuring an exhibit of work by Robert Indiana a 60's pop-art veteran who has made Maine his home for years.
outside the gallery was this piece of art - perfect for a Travel Tuesday Valentine's Day edition!
Happy Valentine's Day y'all!
This week's Photo Hunt theme is 'gather'. At first I thought I had nothing for this week's theme . . . funny how often we photo hunters go there . . . only to find that in our files we have many more pictures than we ever imagined.
I decided to go with some pictures from our trip to Maine a number of years ago - perhaps I'm thinking about summer now that winter has finally arrived here in the Toronto area!
Seals gathered on a rock scatching some rays . . .
Lobster traps gathered on the pier. . .
Gathered for the 4th of July parade . . .
We wondered how many people still gathered at this old church . . .
This week's Photo Hunt theme is mother. Somewhere I have a beautiful shot of a mother duck leading 9 ducklings in a pond at sunset. It's an amazing shot - take my word for it. Do you think I could find it? ARGH
I blame that on the fact that I took my own mom on a wine and food extravaganza in Niagara yesterday . . . perhaps all of that vino wasn't conducive to me being able to manage the PC today! *smile*
Instead a few shots of mom while off on some of our many travels over the years:
Mom enjoying lunch in the garden after a tour of Korbel during our visit to San Francisco/Sonoma. Don't ask about my sister's stupid Diet Pepsi bottle. Don't.
Thinking about getting the 'perfect shot' while we waited for the Art Institute of Chicago to open for the day.
On San Giorgio Maggiore looking towards San Marco Square, Venice. AKA the day we learned how to beat the cruise ship hordes and find tranquility while in Venice.
Touring the Coliseum in Rome (and soon to get lost which resulted in ME getting lost trying to find her thereby resulting in the mom minder rule).
Getting ready to tuck into her favourite - lobster - at the cottage we rented in Maine.
Checking out the goods after a morning of apple picking.
Lots of travels, laughter and fun!
Lots of the slow travel community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below.
This week's Photo Hunt theme is Military/Veteran in honour of November 11th (Remembrance Day here in Canada and Veteran's Day south of the border). For those who don't know why this day is the one selected to honour the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform - this was the day that World War 1 - the so-called war to end all wars - ended. Now if only that had been true.
This picture is one from our trip to Maine in the summer. We spent much of the week on lovely Deer Isle. As we hiked around the island we would often find old cemeteries. While many of these cemeteries had fallen into disuse, the graves of veterans were still identified and clearly marked. Many had american flags placed on or near the grave.
This grave was one we found while we were on a hike. Deep in the woods, hundreds of feet from any street or house, we found this old pioneer cemetery containing about 12 graves from the 17 and 1800s. This gentleman was a veteran of the revolutionary war in the US. It was touching to see that he was remembered, even buried in this seemingly forgotten spot.
Lots of the slow travel community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below.
One of the things we wanted to do while we were on Deer Isle was to hop on a boat and head out to ANOTHER island - Isle au Haut. This tiny island is about 10 km off of Stonington and is famous for its hiking trails and kayaking. Even though the fog was still bad enough that kayaking was out of the question we figured that by hoping on the mail boat we might escape it for awhile.
When we got to the dock to board the Miss Lizzie the fog was still pretty thick. So much for escape.
It got worse as we headed to the island. Miss Lizze was making her way through the hundreds of islands which make up the Stonington archipelago but all that you could see was fog. Thank heavens for GPS!
The 79 people who live on Isle au Haut year-round are a hearty lot. Sure they are connected to the mainland by a fairly regular boat but for the most part it is just them, the trees, lobsters, and birds. We did discover that there were some cars on the island even though there was only one very rough road. Most folks walked where they needed to go.
Shortly before we left for Maine we developed a second reason to head to Isle au Haut - a short feature in the June 2009 Gourmet magazine:
On a remote island off the snaggletoothed coast of Maine, the only edible luxury you would expect to find is lobster. Last summer, however, I hopped the mail boat to Isle au Haut–a sprawling hump of spuce-covered granite with just 65 year-round residents–and found a crooked sign at the edge of a dirt road leading, improbably, to chocolate truffles containing orange-blossom nectar and ganache infused with Earl Grey tea.
The feature writer stressed that the chocolates she found at Black Dinah's Chocolates were so good one had to make the trek. Never being ones to avoid fine chocolates we added this to a brief list of 'things we wanted to do in Maine'.
Once we got off the boat we headed down the road.
We met some real characters as we walked along - the sort of characters you would only find on a small windswept island well off of the coast . . .
Finally we saw 'the' sign . . .
Stepping into the cafe we were immediately transported to a 'happy place'. We knew that whatever we tried would be amazing - and it was!
The staff apologized that the selection of baked treats was less than normal - apparently the entire island had been up all night - a house under renovation had been struck by lightning and everyone had come out to help out. Only on a small island . . .
Nonetheless we got drinks and some delicious cookies.
When we were ready to head out I had a challenge trying to decide what chocolates to buy. Their spring collection featured such treats as rhubarb, wild raspberry, maine mint, strawberry balsamic, blueberry black pepper, and chevre and cocoa nibs. What a struggle. Finally they wrapped up my selections (beautifully, I might add) and we headed off to explore the island some more.
When we got home to Burlington we finally opened the box and had a nibble.
WOW!
These were some of the best chocolates we had ever enjoyed (and we have enjoyed a LOT of chocolate over the years).
At Black Dinah, they make their ganache by infusing locally produced cream with a wide variety of locally grown, organic herbs, flowers and fruits, and whole spices. After carefully straining these out, they add locally produced butter and the very best Belgian, Venezuelan, and rare Peruvian chocolates. The result is a very smooth, appealingly firm ganache that is then enrobed or molded with hand-tempered chocolate into beautiful shapes.
Because the very best chocolates deserve the very freshest, tastiest ingredients, they buy from local farmers and producers whenever possible. And because they believe in sustainable agriculture and feel strongly that farmers of the best cacao in the world should get an above market price for their products, theyuse single-origin Venezuelan couverture that has been fairly traded and grown with respect for the land and the human and animal communities that live there.
Finally, amazing delicious with a soul!
On the morning we were to leave Portland we made a stop at the Whole Foods to load up on provisions for our week at the cottage. We knew from past experience that once we got on Deer Isle we weren't always likely to find the selection of food that we might be looking for! Of course, the Portland Whole Foods was amazing, making our own nearby Whole Foods look as if it was a corner store by comparison. SIGH
We set off up the coast with one stop planned for along the way. We all wanted to see the Farnsworth gallery in Rockland. The Farnsworth is one of the most respected little art museums in New England. Located right downtown, the Farnsworth has a superb collection of paintings and sculptures by renowned American artists with connections to Maine -- not only Louise Nevelson (who lived in Rockland), but also three generations of Wyeths (N. C., Andrew, and Jamie), plus Rockwell Kent, Childe Hassam, and Maurice Prendergast. Clearly this area of Maine is a magnet for artists!
Rockland was a lovely spot but it was teeming with rain so we didn't feel like wandering about. We weren't alone because the streets were rather deserted. It was to rain on and off until the day we left Deer Isle! Every the local paper was full of articles about the amount of rain and the impact it was having on the area farmers.
Now the constant rain might have dampened the spirits of many but we took it as a sign that we were to sit tight, relax, and slow things down. We are never one to ignore a sign.
The first night we we on the island we treated ourselves to some cheese and crackers to welcome us to the cottage (which was every bit as nice as we had remembered - although the knives had grown exceptionally dull over the two years since we were last there! LOL)
Deer Isle is a fascinating mix of contrasts. It is home to Maine's largest lobster fleet and every day during the season 100s of lobster boats head out to check the traps in the morning and return later with their catch. It is also home to some rather hard living folks. Yet at the same time it is home to wealthy people from 'beyond' who live in massive homes and clearly funnel a good deal of money into the local economy. The island has a HUGE art school and the island is peppered with galleries and studios. The islands has restaurants that feature nothing on the menu that isn't fried (yes, I do include dessert in this). It also has a great cafe (Lily's Cafe) where you can get some of the best sandwiches I have ever tasted. The quirky mix of contrasts make it such a fun place to explore.
Unfortunately, while we were there it was also home to some of the worst fog we had ever seen. The fog was so bad that we weren't able to get out in the kayaks! The lobster boats were fine . . . with their GPS they could skirt the rocks and shoals. Unfortunately we Canadians in our kayaks would not be on the GPS and would be at rish of being sliced in two!
We discovered that there were numerous land preserves on the island - each with relatively well-maintained hiking trails. Whenever there was a break in the rain we headed out. One of the trails went through land that was once owned by Frederick Law Olmsted who is more famous as the co-planner of Central park in NYC. The trail went along a rocky cliff with some stunning views of the ocean and the Stonnington archipelago off in the distance.
The wildflowers on the island were amazing this year. Deer Isle has an annual Lupine Festival that had taken place the week before we arrived. Because the weather had been so cool the lupine were still out in glorious blooms.
Paul turned 34 while we were on the island and we celebrated his birthday in style. I thought that we did pretty good to pull off a home-baked cake in a vacation rental 1000 km from home!
Because we didn't take long day trips off of the island we had a lot of time to explore. We saw so many things that we had missed two years ago when we were crossing to the mainland on a seemingly daily basis.
Mom and I were fascinated by the old graveyards we found - the record they gave of life and death in a remote part of Maine was quite telling. The number of women who died in childbirth was shocking. The number of families lost at sea sad. We were impressed with the way the markers on the graves of veterans were decorated with the American flag. This grave marks the final resting spot of a veteran fo the Revolutionary War:
It was nice to not be rushing about. We read lots of books, watched DVDs and took the most glorious naps. I MISS those naps.
Have I mentioned that the lobster was inexpensive and plentiful? How sad for the fishermen that their best season in years came at the same time as the recession had driven the price of lobster to its lowest level in years. We did our best to assist them but I doubt it will be enough.
Is it any wonder that I have just managed to work off my 'Maine' weight? It takes lots of time on the tread mill to work off all of that lobster!
The other day while we were out for our evening walk Paul wondered why I had not featured anything about our recent Maine trip on my blog. I had to laugh - we've been back more than 2 weeks and I haven't posted so much as a picture.
I will correct that today. Things have just been a tad hectic since we returned.
So here goes . . .
Our trip to Maine was amazing! We put more than 3000 km on the car so much driving was involved, yet we sure relaxed a lot. Normally lots of driving does not = relaxing trip, but this time it did.
We stopped the first night in Syracuse and made a return visit to Dinosaur BBQ. It was every bit as good as it had been back in 2007. The only drawback was the HUGE wait for a table - more than an hour. The food made it all worthwhile.
Yes, the diet was on vacation as well! Dear lord, this was GREAT BBQ!
The next day we did a long drive - Syracuse to Portland, Maine. We made a few stops along the way - I have never been the sort who can get behind the wheel of a car and drive non-stop in some sort of bizarre catatonic state.
We LOVED Portland. In fact, it is one of my favourite American cities that I have visited.
Yes, I have visited more than Portland.
We checked out an amazing seafood shack on the coast south of the city. here we had the first of many lobster rolls consumed on the trip.
While in Portland we visited the wharves where I took a this picture of a cat patiently waiting outside of a fish store. Who says cats aren't smart?
I was amazed at how well preserved Old Port is. Old Port is one of the most successful revitalized warehouse districts in the US. Seamlessly connected to the waterfront, the Old Port is both a working waterfront and a chic shopping, dining, and entertainment district.
Taking a walk at the water’s edge along Commercial Street provides a window into the working waterfront. Just steps from the water, we strolled down the cobblestone streets and experienced the charm of this district. The boutique shopping, one-of-a-kind stores, restaurants serving Maine’s famous lobster dishes or the latest nouveau cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife are all unparallel to any other New England city.
The smell of the sea air, the sound of a foghorn, and the chatter of seagulls add to an atmosphere that is undeniably Portland, undeniably Maine. Did I say that we REALLY liked Portland?
We checked out some of the amazing shops and visited a few galleries. We all agreed that Portland was a place to return to!
We also had the best meals of the year in Portland. Funny how a city in Maine of just slightly more than 60,000 folks has so many great restaurant choices. Two of Food and Wine's best chefs of the year have restaurants in the city. I treated mom and Paul to dinner at 555 where the food was just amazing.
With food like this it was easy to see why chef Steve Corey was selected as one of the best new chefs in the US! The food is all made with locally sourced ingredients where possible and the menu changes regularly in order to make the best use of seasonally products - with one exception.
This is one item that is always on the menu - regardless of seasonality - lobster mac and cheese with shaved truffles. Oh WOW! This was amazing. The chef was generous with the lobster and the truffles. This was a dish of decadent flavours - after one bite one could immediately see why it is the most popular item on the menu.
Oh yes, did I say the diet was on vacation too?
We were sad to have to leave Portland. In fact, if we hadn't had our cottage reserved on Deer Isle I suspect we might have extended our visit.
More on the rest of the trek to come . . .
This week's Photo Hunt theme is "rocks".
OUCH
That was the sound my head made as I tried to decide which photo to use. And no, comments about rocks in my head are not helpful.
We recently returned from Maine where rocks are EVERYWHERE. I am sure some folks think of nice, sandy beaches. Nope. Rather there are huge tumbles of rocks lining the shores with waves crashing up against them. Beautiful.
This shot is from one of Maine's 'best' lobster shacks (there is a best lobster shack along every 4 miles of the coast) at Cape Elizabeth. You order your food and can eat inside or out on the rocks. INSIDE? I was shocked at the concept. Thank goodness because it was the few times on our trip where eating outside was even a possibility.
We did a lot of hiking on our trip and I was always amazed at how life managed to spring forth on the rocky coast.
Lots of the slow travel community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below.
First up - Happy 4th of July to my American friends south of the border!
This week's PhotoHunt theme is "pink". There was all together too many pictures to select from this week. An embarrassment of riches . . . In the end I went with this one:
I took this picture of water lilies on July 4th, 2007 when we were on Deer Isle, Maine. Given that we're back on Deer Isle THIS July 4th it seemed like the perfect selection.
Happy photo hunting y'all!
Lots of the slow travel community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below.
