Drizzly showers and the damp smell of a seaweed smothered shore. Our bus dropped us right in the center of Hyannis, Cape cod. The newly re-vamped station is just off the dainty styled Main Street and only footsteps from our cheap motel - America's Best International Motels.
Couldn't cover up my disappointment as the heavens opened and there was a continuous downpours of rain which was worsened by the battering sea salted winds. Nevertheless, molls and I layered up and braved the elements to make the most of the Cape's beauty, stumbling across a store piled high with bargains and unique trinkets which we shuffled through for a while to keep dry and pass some time.
Matt rolled up late evening and joined us for a seaside supper at Baxter's Boathouse. Baxter's is one of the oldest Cape Cod restaurants, built
entirely over the water and has great views of the harbor activities,
including the ferry boats going to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and
local commercial fishing boats unloading their catch. The fresh breaded fish with tartar and chunky fries were definitely a coastal dream for our city tamed taste buds. A gent played hits on the piano, his tip jar crammed with notes, and the familiar tunes backed the bar chatter and restaurant buzz.
Back to the motel for some card games over a glass of wine while the thunderous skies and torrential rain continued to loom over our weekend escape.
Our morning walk was slightly elongated as our illustrated map didn't quite have the distance in proportion but we managed to see the length of Main Street with its independent stores and sea side flare. The beach was mushy with seaweed that had been swept up from the previous nights storm and the harbor was alive with boats and locals fishing off the decking.
Matt drove the length of the Cape Cod peninsular to get to Provincetown. As we cruised the highway, the heavily wooded surroundings soon turned to sand dunes and coothy cottage hamlets. From the moment we pulled into the chilled-out town, I knew I loved it. Rainbow colored peace flags swaying from windows, art galleries galore, a poignant sense of content from the locals and a bright love for the jolly little streets that were perched right on the sandy beaches. Sometimes called "
P-town" or "
P'town" the town is steeped in history dating back and beyond the Pilgrims’ First Landing in
1620 and the Mayflower Compact, but alive today with a cosmopolitan
community!
Provincetown, both as a cause and result of its thriving artistic
community, is also one of America’s most open-minded and accepting
communities. Since the
1970s, the town has embraced its active and growing gay
community—the Gay Carnival, held in August, is now a world-famous
spectacle that brings out people of all orientations to enjoy the
excitement.
We browsed the stores and embraced the Provincetown mood. I even met a cheery chap who was playing his harp on the street!
A swift drive up the coast and you find yourself submerged in leafy neighborhoods, in the proximity of Ipswich. We should have known that traffic would hit regular standstill when traveling on Memorial Monday but it was no hindrance and the parades were all adding to our spontaneous roadtrip. Rebecca and I pulled up at Cranebeach and following a friends recommendation, we were all set to sprawl out in the sand with our picnic for two in tow.
