Portland, Maine

Buoys, originally uploaded by quimerizar.

Thursday October 18

Today we docked in Portland, Maine. We really didn't know what was in store for us that day and played it by ear. Kenny had rented a car for us the day before, so we had that one piece of the puzzle put together. I am not sure how we ended up decided to go to Kennebunkport, but everyone seemed to be in agreement. So, off we headed.

Once arriving in Kennebunkport, we proceded to park at an Honor System parking lot next to the democratic headquarters (which I found amusing considering Bush was famous for having a home there). A few of us had to find a bathroom which just happened to be the same place they had maps and tourist info... There was a pretty large and smelly lady sitting behind the desk in the tourist info office where the bathroom was. She talked my ear off while I held my breath - then I finally snaked a free map out of her and promptly left the building. Everyone thought it was the bathrooms that smelled, but I can attest to the fact that it was actually her - so greasy I think she probably hadn't showered in a week. It was pretty nasty but I was still nice to her.

Since I had the map, I took over as tour guide for the day - besides, everyone else had pretty much been tour guide already. I saw an advertisement for the "Worlds Largest Lighthouse" on the free map I had gotten and wanted us to head over there - to Wells, Maine. So, we did. What I didn't realize, is that I didn't read the entire advertisement. It was the Worlds Largest Lighthouse STORE... not lighthouse. One of the pluses was that the place had homemade fudge. I'm not kidding when I say that I think I 'tried' every kind. Marshmallow, pumpkin, peanut butter, walnut, snicker bar, halloween with m&ms, etc etc. So, we got there and shopped. We bought a ridiculous amount of homemade fudge and a REAL lighthouse map of Maine.

I wanted to see some lighthouses so everyone agreed to let me commandier the minivan. We saw Walkers Point, Cape Porpoise, Goat Island, Wood Island and the twin lighhouses at Cape Elizabeth. At Cape Elizabeth we decided to eat lunch at the Lobster Shack. Its a little old place where we can get together - Lobstah Shack, baby, lobster shack. Little play on Love Shack there.

So, Ron proceeds to order a whole lobster - we'll call him Ed. I was ordering my onion rings when I saw the guy at the oounter grab Ed from the water and chuck him in the to boiler. Poor Ed. It was pretty sad. A few minutes later, order 361 was called and Ron went to pick up Ed from the order sideboard. Ed was all in one piece, missing none of his parts (meaning, he still had his head, eyes, and everything else.) He looked at Ron, and looked pissed.

This didn't stop Ron from tearing him apart, limb by limb. Each time he tore, water and other things (I dont know what they were, or I would have identified them properly) oozed out of Ed. Finally, Ron got to the main part of the body where the green stuff (the Tamale as I am told it is called) was covering what I would consider the "good" part of the lobster. I am also so told that this green stuff is the best part of the lobster. Ron ate it and grossed us all out. Denise and Gloria couldn't finish their lunches after that.

After Lobstergate - we headed back into town and Dad, Denise, and Kenny dropped the rest of us off in town for some shopping. Gloria and Ron bought a $160 candy dish (on sale) with a Gecko that stood in the middle of it. She had eyed it early and wanted it badly - the clerk threw in the Gecko for free since it didn't technically come with the disk.

Back to the ship, I went to the place where you can post meetings for people on board the ship. I had been posting for the last two days for someone to meet me if they had a charger I could use for my laptop - but apparently none of the blue hairs on board even knew what a laptop was (ok, im kidding). No one met me again. I really wanted to upload my pictures and keep track of my writing so that I wouldn't have to write everything down after the fact (but alas, I am doing that anyway).

It was then time for dinner again. Every night we seemed to learn interesting things at dinner from our helpful waitstaff (waste disposal, what the hours and schedules are like working on a ship, etc etc). Tonight was no different and we learned about why a little boat follows our big boat into the harbor each time. Apparently, they don't really trust the captains of our ship to steer it properly.

After dinner, we went to the Schooner Piano bar- where our waitress showed us a few tricks. Jocelyn and Maureen came over to join us... the rest of us ditched dad to go to bed and he hung out with them the rest of the night. 330 am and dad finally arrives back at the cabin and SNORES the night away. At this point I am really deciding that I need some of those air traffic control ear plugs because mine aren't cutting it.