Provincetown, MA may be one of my favorite new places. It is at the very tip of Cape Cod, which is about 7 hours from Boston by train. By speed boat, however, the trip is only 2 hours.
Mike and fled Boston on September 1st when students return en masse for the new school year. The sky was clear, the weather was warm, and everyone in Provincetown was smiling.
Provincetown has been home to one of America's largest concentrations of homosexuals since the turn of the century, the last century that is. It's rural character, at the time, appealed to artists and writers, and it continues to do so today with over 80 art galleries serving a population of just over 3,000. The gay community has been firmly rooted in P-town's tourism industry since the 1970's.
Why was everyone smiling when we stepped off the boat and breathed in that salty sea air? They felt safe. Accepted. It doesn't matter where you're from, who you're with, or what you believe. To truly enjoy Provincetown you have to check that personal baggage at the door and enjoy the moment.
The architecture is what I imagined in a New England seaside village. The slatted cottage-style houses are dressed in hues of gray-blue to match the Atlantic, and flower gardens, high-end boutiques, and stylish restaurants abound. I even found a painter who received a Masters in Journalism from LSU. Geaux Tigers!
We started the day off with a stroll down Commercial Street. It's basically Main Street. We got some breakfast, bought some memento paintings from the LSU grad, walked to the far end of the city, stopped to enjoy the sea, and did some more walking.
You could really just spend the whole day eating, drinking, and walking it off. Of course we did all three, and we even found a margarita.
So here was our day in moveable feasts:
Joe's Coffee and Cafe- A necessary stop on Commercial St. There was a line out the door. Worth the wait? If you need coffee hells yes.
Bubala's by the Bay- Lunch! The margarita was pretty tasty here. I went for strawberry to mix things up. Mike insisted that I try steamers/clams. Once was enough. Other than my picky seafood palate the food was great, and you can sit outside and people/dog watch. There are so many dogs.
The Red Inn- Happy Hour on the deck admiring the ocean and watching the White Party parade go by. Since you can't wear white after Labor Day P-town makes sure you get that one last hurrah out of your summer whites. This was my favorite stop of the day!
Relish- A bakery and sandwich shop. It's a good walk from the center of town, but their motto, "Hey Cupcake!" should be reason enough. Must try- the vanilla cupcake with pistachio frosting.
Sal's Place- A cute Italian place nestled away with a great wine bar and scrumptious cheese tray. Everyone next to us at the bar got jealous of our cheese and ordered the same.
I have more pictures to post, since it was a gorgeous day and I just couldn't stop the photo frenzy, but the internet is being testy. Needless to say, I highly recommend a day in Provincetown for wonderful food, views, and company.
No comments:
Post a Comment