One of the things I like about how Jen and I structure our vacations is that they, by and large, aren't. We create a list of things we'd like to do, make reservations for the things that require them, and leave the rest to be determined as we go along. We leave a lot of room for things that we discover along the day, and try to only have one big structured activity on any given day. It keeps things feeling fun and leisurely, and really helps vacations remain stress free.
Today was an unstructured day. Now that the storm had passed, we were eager to explore the town, particularly the beaches and boardwalks of the East Escarpment that we'd seen on the train ride the day before.
Breakfast at Le Petite Jacqueline, another bistro just across the street from the hotel. The Regent really is in a great location.
Another shot of the hotel, in sunlight. Maine has amazing flowers, and Jen fell in love with their hydrangeas in particular.
One of our surprise finds. We strolled down Congress Street before heading down to the beach, and saw this: the house Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up in. The house proper was closed (by appointment only) but the garden that surrounded it was not.
There was almost nobody there, and it felt like a secret place that only we knew about, that we had all to ourselves. Such a simple little thing, but it was a wonderful treat.
The waterfront trail. This was a little gravel footpath that ran parallel to the harbor, and could be hiked down to the beach.
These pier remains were from the industrial waterfront whose warehouses were behind us. Abandoned after Portland's importance as a trade and wartime port (it was a significant defensive concern during WWII), the piles are still standing, like a small forest of memories.
Turns out that there are in fact some sandy beaches here. This one was very busy with folks iut enjoying some post-storm sunshine.
These stairs lead up to the cliffs of the East Escarpment, overlooking the beach and trail.
There are many maritime memorials in Portland. Its importance as a trade center may have faded, but tourism and lobstering maintain its dependency on the sea.
Dinner al fresco at the hotel. This garden area is across the front courtyard from the hotel entrance, and was beautiful at sunset.
