Just got back from a week in Maine. First real vacation since COVID-19 reared its spike proteins. It was a very needed change of scenery.
Have you been to Vacationland? Maine was a place I’d always wanted to go. Mostly for the bucolic New England scenes imprinted in my mind’s eye in sepia tone. More like Polaroid film, overexposed on the edges. It fulfilled most of my fantasies, but surprised me in several ways.
I thought it would be more commercial closer to the most-frequented summer towns. There was a decided lack of commercialism compared to my little corner of the Mid-Atlantic. Even in my rural area we can find most major retailers and restaurants in a thirty to forty minute radius. Not so in Maine. Or at least from what I could tell.
I also noticed the landscape was different than my daydreams. I didn’t see those great cliff drops I imagined would plunge you right into the mermaid-infested waters off the coast. The trees and foliage were different, but not so dissimilar from home that I felt like I was in a completely separate world. I was thinking it would be more like the Pacific Northwest.
Of course, most of the architecture was classic New England, so that gave me endless pleasure as we travelled through the quaint towns. They were well-curated towns- filled with comforting places to nosh and expertly-merchandised shops to grab souvenirs from. Even Bar Harbor, which I had assumed would be filled with cheap tat and the kind of somewhat-grungy sweatshirt outposts we have here in our beach destinations (Ocean City and Rehobeth, I’m looking at you) was classier than most. In fact, Bar Harbor gave me Disney vibes, but without all the creepy, be-suited characters walking around.
All in all, it was a good trip. We hit some snags- not least was the unexpected humidity- but I have to say, it was so nice to get away from it all again. Keeping our distance and wearing masks, of course.
*This is a good time to note that we are all vaccinated
The Defiant Romantic 