Portland, Quick
I'm here. After two consecutive days of being stuck inside O'Hare terminals, it was like a breath of fresh air to arrive. Now that the worst day of the year is done, its time to get on with things.
I wandered through Old Port most of the afternoon. Maine's winter weather has been described by some as "character building," and by others as "cold, but damp." It was indeed cold, hovering between 15 and 20 degrees for most of the afternoon. But the Dakotas have hardened me beyond this measure; after the weekend before last when the temperature stayed below 0 degrees and the wind blew ceaselessly, I almost didn't need my Columbia jacket. Almost.
The streets were narrow and cobblestoned. There were many small coffee shops mixed between art galleries and gift shops.
I saw the after effects of the storm that kept me in Chicago. Although the snow was piled everywhere, the roads were in excellent shape. The hotel clerk said that the snow plough drivers "live for this."
As I left the parking garage expecting to see snow drifts and quaint coffee shops, I was confronted by a mural.
Up close.
An attempt at the full wall. I'm getting better at photo stitching, so bear with me.
I ducked into a coffee shop to check email. I found yet another reason to love Old Port: an abundance of WiFi.
Portland has many old, beautiful buildings. I found the elaborate facades beautiful.
I spent some time walking by the Portland Harbor. All the boats looked weatherbeaten and hardy. I thought I could imagine the tough sorts of fishermen that would venture out into the Atlantic on them until I saw one: she was walking up from one of the wharfs towards a payphone. She had massive wellington style boots and even though her clothes were layered below her coat, I felt cold looking at her. It's one thing to experience cold as a drifter walking between buildings, it's another to be exposed for hours, working with one's hands.
I've always resisted the notion of a provincial accent. I would never voluntarily talk like I was from Mississippi, for example. But I like the way people speak here, all the dropped Rs have a great sound: Fo-ah (four), or Cah (car), or Sho-ahts (shorts).
So far, I'm in love. I'd be a Mainer any day.
5:51:54 PM 
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