My birthday was last week and we were on vacation.  We try to plan a special vacation during this time because kids are in school, the weather is usually beautiful and it’s my birthday (duh…). I even celebrated a Big One in Paris a few years back so I’m pretty committed to this whole birthday/celebration/travel thing…

Yup, that Paris.

This year we took a trip to Maine because

1. it’s close

2. it’s Fall and the leaves are changing

the leaves are changing; it must be fall

3. we had always talked about going there

4. it’s less expensive than, say, Denmark or Amsterdam.  (Recent events have put a strain on our checking account that are sending shockwaves through my heretofore wonton spending habits.  My attempts at frugality are only proving painful and not actually showing appreciable results as yet.) 

So, in an attempt to be spendthrifty we hopped on a plane to Portland with our flight benefits (having a Pilot for a Life Partner Better Half is only fun when there are seats available; otherwise the free flights are usually overshadowed by the sheer irritation of it all).  We rented a Fiat 500 – an “economy” car that was really, really Fun to Drive and set off on our Downeaster Adventure. 

Fiat 500. Good for driving. Not good for hauling.
My carry-on suitcase and 1 itty-bitty backpack filled up the trunk.

The sun was bright as we tootled over to Downtown Portland. 

I’m guessing this is what Portland used to look like since it was painted on the side of a building.

A beautiful, salty city with lots of history and interesting things; it was also overrun with lots of cruise-ship passengers of a geriatric nature. 

I love this narrow building!

We walked at our normal clip, weaving in and out of the slower movers, trying to get out of the crowds (New Yorkers walk appreciably faster than most of the rest of the country).  But, alas, we realized they were everywhere and seemed to spring up on all sides as we stopped to look at something or take a picture, too eager not to miss something. 

I took this picture. I was in a crowd.

This exasperated my Life Partner Better Half. I detected a certain spirit in the air of Not Having Fun.  We stopped at a Pub and soothed the irritation with the best salve I know: alcohol. 

This is what it looked like before I drank it.

By 11am our empty glasses were hitting that copper-topped bar.  A basket of fried mushrooms was ordered.  A second round was ordered.  Then my Life Partner Better Half realizes that we are not in NYC and we actually have to drive to our destination.  Oops.  Slow down there, Suzy. 

We walked back to the car and charted our drive.  Destination: a small town on a small island off the coast.  Our way: as near to the coastline as we could make it.  Sounds fun, right?  It was!  The drive was lovely and we saw loads of interesting things

We stood in line for about 1 minute. I did not come all the way from NYC to stand in line; I can do that here.

and beautiful little towns and very pretty boats.

This was in a harbor in a town that started with a “C”. It’s not a clue, I just don’t remember…

It took a while and we had to stop a few times to stretch our legs.

Make of This Picture what you will…

I found out that my iphone is worthless in some areas; I had an oddly irrational feeling of panic when I couldn’t “find” us on the map.  What do you mean, No Service?  We aren’t in a Subway tunnel we are Outside!  (How quickly one forgets – the No Service thing used to happen to me all the time in rural Ohio). 

I need a Young Bridge and an Old Bridge! I need a Young Bridge and an Old Bridge!

However, no major mishaps and we arrived at our destination just as the sun was setting.