Tag Archives: tourists

If a little lobster is a good thing…

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Then the world’s largest lobster roll must be even better.

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The Taste of Maine is a family owned and operated coastal restaurant that’s been a staple for tourists for the past 45 years.

You might recognize it’s giant lobster from my previous posts.

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Yes, it really is that big.

What’s also big is the price tag for that super sized crustacean sandwich.

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You read correctly. $160 for what amounts to two pounds of lobster on a roll.

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No self respecting Maine native would ever order one or pay such a ridiculous price, but a week after they opened for the season they’d already sold quite a few….

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For that price you should get it any damn way you please.

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Damariscotta Lake

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We ducked into Damariscotta Lake State Park recently for a quick picnic lunch. It was on the way to the motorcycle repair shop and we were hungry.

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Take out Italians always taste better by a body of water.

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Being after Labor Day we had the place pretty much to ourselves which was sweet.

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Bye bye tourists.

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I know we need your money, but it really is much nicer without you.

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A little of this and a whole lotta nothing.

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The husband and I reluctantly stopped at a tourist-centric restaurant last week which is something we try hard to avoid. Why do we dislike the tourist places? The seafood is usually sub par, ( it was ) the decor is usually tacky ( plastic lobsters, fake fishing nets) and the menu usually contains pictures they think tourists want to see.

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This is the world’s largest lobster roll, it sells for $100 and if you finish the whole thing by yourself? You’re made a member of the clean plate club. But that picture? Just… no.

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Required photo of Lord Dudley Mountcatten watching a flock of starlings.

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Finally…. An advent calendar I can get behind. Or under as the case may be.

👍

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It poured the other night and as you can see…. the husband’s latest roof repair did not hold up. And if that wasn’t bad enough, my latest patch job turned out to be perfect for funneling water down the wall and creating liquid filled bubbles. This has been going on so long I’m tempted to just wrap the house in plastic and call it good.

🥴

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I’ve been known to have an epiphany or two while drinking, but wine that tastes God? That’s a whole other ball of wax.

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Color me surprised. I had absolutely no idea.

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Dinner in Baileys Island

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It was a lovely drive along the coast…

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And though I would have loved to stop and snap some photos, the husband was hungry… so you’ll have to make do with a few quick shots from the car.

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Here’s the famous Cribstone Bridge.

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And as you’ve probably guessed, lobster reigns supreme.

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This was our destination, Cooks Lobster and Ale House.

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A local landmark built in 1955 on a long spit of land with panoramic water views. Popular with locals and tourists alike (although we locals don’t appreciate the tourist prices) it’s a no fuss, traditionally rustic waterfront restaurant.

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But what it lacks in decor? It makes up in scenic vistas. The view from our table was pretty sweet.

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The cocktails are potent.

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And two Cosmopolitans were all I could handle if I wanted to remain upright.

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Pardon the fuzzy pic, it was taken through a screen.

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The food is simple but delicious. Caesar salad (with the most amazing homemade herb butter croutons evah!) for me, a tasty French onion soup for my other half.

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Perfectly cooked lightly battered fried sea scallops for me….

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And lazy lobster for my rat bastard husband who ate it in front of me without feeling the least bit guilty. (I came up allergic 7 years ago and can no longer consume the delicious crustaceans without becoming seriously ill. 😩)

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Dessert? Of course it was blueberry pie. And as we waddled out to the car… we stopped for a moment to take in the beauty.

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And realized the husband might have backed up a bit too far upon arrival.

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Maine rocks. They’re unforgiving little devils.

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Talk like a Mainer… part two.

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So you can understand what the natives are saying when you visit.

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When I first moved here I thought this was a ridiculous adjective. 43 years later? I still do.

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Never let a dubbah be responsible for the beer. No good can come from that.

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If you live in the back of beyond? Behind the puckerbrush, in bumblefuck Egypt? You live in the willywacks… and really can’t get there from heah.

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Maine speak… part one.

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If you’ve ever visited my state and had a conversation with the locals, you might have been baffled by some of our regional expressions. You had no idea what the hell we were talking about? No worries… I’m here to help.

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We say this a lot. (But please ignore the ‘how’. It should be now.)

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Hint – “The County” is usually uttered with derision in southern Maine. Aroostook is potato country, way up by the Canadian border…. we have to pump sunlight to those people.

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This a is a very popular word in my neck of the woods. It affirms a position as well as cutting off the need for further discussion. Mainers can be a taciturn bunch.

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Personally, I don’t use this term. The word tourist and it’s synonyms… snowbirds, outta staters, Massholes ( specific to people from the Boston area ) are much more common. But these people do swarm our best areas from June to September and are extremely easy to spot.

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Like this couple we saw the other day.

Mainers. Do. Not. Wear. Bibs. When. Eating. Lobster.

Ever.

🤣

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Who doesn’t want to visit that?

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Maine. Land of lobster, rugged coastal shores and more than a few quirky tourist attractions.

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Next time I’m in Bangor, I’m totally going to see that!

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A wall of sardine cutting scissors? Count me in!

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This is an oddity I’ve always meant to see, but never have.

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A concrete slab to keep her soul imprisoned? Mary sounds like my type of gal.

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I think I have to try it. Heck, I wiggle and wobble after a few margaritas…. we should get along fine.

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Maine, glorious Maine.

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I think you all know I adore my state. It’s scenically beautiful and far enough off the beaten path for our weirdos to be considered delightfully quirky. So let me share a few other reasons Maine is a wonderful, if slightly odd, place to live.

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You’d be surprised how often these potentially fatal conversations take place.

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And yet they all try.

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If you’ve never seen a real live moose in person? Trust me…. they’re huge and will total your car when hit.

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Many people will tell you it still tastes like horrible medicine, but I love it. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Mm, mm, good.

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I personally know of 7 Hardscrabble Roads… but hey, no one said living in Maine is easy.

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I think I have to go there!

 

(Please try to refrain from telling me where to go, although I know it’s tempting.)

 

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Fair enough.

But since we’ve previously established my fondness for rocks…. it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I had a sudden itch to visit Spain when I saw this:

 

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A town that’s literally built into a rock?

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Oh, yes….

Hell yes!

 

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I’m in.

 

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Singular?

How about fan-fucking-tastic!

 

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Check it…

 

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These people love rocks more than I do!

 

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Is this wonderfully bizarre… or what?

 

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I totally want to go.

 

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Free air conditioning!

 

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Sign me up.

 

 

 

Things that fall into the WTH? category.

 

When checking out at the grocery store last week I saw these….

 

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Rap Snacks.

I’m sorry, but no one needs Cardi B. flavored potato chips.

The woman wore a coffee filter to the Grammys. Enough said.

 

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Something else no one needs?

This….

 

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I believe I actually said WTF when I first saw it.

 

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Now come on…. if you have that much facial hair to catch?

 

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Skip shaving altogether and put your beard in a pony tail like all fashion forward men do.

 

I think by now you all know of my lifelong aversion to dolls.

They’re creepy…. and if you don’t want me to spend the night? Put a few of them in the spare bedroom and watch me run.

But this?

 

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This is the stuff of nightmares.

And speaking of that?

I was cruising Atlas Obscura a while back for an interesting day trip and their recommendation gave even me pause.

 

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Yes, you and your significant other can visit the picturesque vistas of Turkmenistan and tour the Gates of Hell.

And if you think I’m kidding?

I’m not.

 

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Admittedly…. as tourist attractions go, it’s a little strange.

But I’d still rather go there than back to Busch Gardens.