Hello again! I have said in my recent post that my former work took me to places, and it really did. And these are places I wouldn't be able to go to on my own, or maybe I could, but it would cost me so much, ha ha! So I was very fortunate to have gone to the places I went to, and experience all the things traveling entailed.
This post will be about one summer spent in Nantucket, a tiny island 30 miles south by ferry from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. The National Park Service cited Nantucket as a National Historic Landmark District in 1966, for being the 'finest surviving architectural and environmental example of a late 18th and early 19th century New England seaport town.'
Nantucket is a tourist destination, and also a summer colony. I say summer colony because during the summer months, the population balloons up to 50,000 people whereas normally, it is just around 10,000 year round. Forbes Magazine cited Nantucket for having home values among the highest in the United States, meaning, the people who have houses there are rich, if not super rich.
So let me take you on a tour, if you'd let me, along Nantucket, with the pictures that I have. And this was way back in 2007, by the way.
These are the kind of houses you see all around Nantucket. Not all of them are as big, or as well kept as this, of course, but almost all of them are built using the same materials, gray shingles, thus preserving that late 18th-19th century architectural look.
This is the port of Hyannis, where we would usually take the ferry into Nantucket. Hyannis is also a major tourist destination during the summer months, and the primary ferry boat and general aviation link for passengers and freight to Nantucket Island. It also provides secondary access to neighboring island Martha's Vineyard.
Notice that almost all the buildings have the same characteristics, the materials used for building, the colors and such. I guess they have a building code to follow.
At the dock, there was a restaurant that served a very delicious clam chowder- a soup made of clams of course., and I loved it so much! Also had lobster sandwich, as this area is famous for their lobsters and other seafoods.
To get to Nantucket, we had to drive from New York for about 4 hours all the way down to Hyannis, and then get on this ferry, cars can go in as well, and people can then get off and go on the upper decks.
The ferry ride takes about 2 hours or more, and you have the freedom to roam around. There is also a deck where you can go and enjoy the sea breeze.
After the 2 hour ride, you then start to see the island. The structure with the spire is the First Congregational Church, the historic bell tower can be climbed to see magnificent views of the island.
During my stay there, I have managed to find fellow Filipinos who also spend their summers in Nantucket and we usually chat and eat together. Here we are standing on a place called the Children's Beach, and it is called as such because the water of this part is quite shallow and safe for children, there is also a playground in the area, a field, and a restaurant nearby.
I have met all kinds of people while I was there. I even met a practicing doctor in the Philippines who was there as a tourist but was working part time while on vacation! Ha ha!
Notice that even if it is summer, I had a cardigan on. Summer time there is like the -ber months we have here. It can get pretty chilly at night, to as low as 16 or so degrees Celcius. One thing I miss about Nantucket, their delicious ice cream! That is just one scoop and it is so big already!
In Nantucket, people don't have fences. The things that surround their houses are called hedges, and they are trimmed very neatly, and these is what fences the house in. Notice in this picture that there are also flowering plants that decorate it. Rose trellises are also a common sight there, and the roses are in full bloom during the summer months and they climb the roof and they are full of pink or white flowers.
In the afternoons, I'd usually take a walk around and take pictures of the beautiful houses and plants all around. There are also some tours arranged by the tourism office where you can tour certain houses in the island.
This is the dock, where most private boats are marooned. Wait til you see the pictures of the huge yachts, some even having helipads on them.
This is the beach near the house we were staying in. It is just five minutes walk away. It's nice to just walk along the beach in the afternoons. At night, it is still full of people, especially youngsters partying and having some fun. We stayed in Sconset, which is about 10-15 minutes drive downtown.
If I remember correctly, this is the grounds of the Nantucket library in town. Anyone can go there and read, and it's a place to cool down when it's too hot. It has a main library building, and a smaller building for the kids library.
This is the chapel in Sconset, and the house where we stayed in is just a hedge away. We just have to go through the hedge and we'd be there already.
The flowers in there are very nice. They appear to be in an explosive arrangement but the overall look is so nice. I don't know how else to describe it.
I got so tanned for being on the beach almost every day. Hanging out with more friends, although now I can't remember their names. FB was non-existent then.
Where Filipinos gather, there is always food. And there would be trays of food brought by everyone, like there's a party going on. :-) We Filipinos, we like to eat, and chat away. And they came from all over the US, some even from Canada, spending their summers there.
Here are the yachts, and notice how big they are. They are moored side by side, some are big, and some even bigger.
Beautiful sunset with the boats on Children's beach.
During the day. So this is where the smaller boats are moored.
I do not remember from where I took this picture from. I don't remember climbing the bell tower of the church, and this seems to be in town, so, I'm at a loss.
Looks like a picture for a post card. The people who own these boats must be so rich. And the houses they have on the island are not their houses year round, it is their summer house, so they have other properties somewhere else in the US!
Look how huge this is! It is practically a house in the water! And like I said, some even have helipads on them. And yes, it's okay to take pictures, as they know it comes with the territory. It's what people come to see. :-)
If there are big ones, there are also small ones. Some are for rent, for day use, to go fishing and all that.
Sail boats. Some join regattas- which is a sporting event, a race, if you must call it that. How cool it is to see all the sails up and the wind blowing on them when that happens!
More big ones. The wharf is full of them, and you can just walk around, admire and take pictures of them.
Nantucket Island has several lighthouses, and this one is called the Brant Point lighthouse. It is the first light house you see coming in from Cape Cod.
More of the same so just enjoy the pictures! There are just too many.
Taken almost sunset so the look is different.
More of the harbor. And small boats. Ha ha.
Looking at these pictures, I realize that these are memories are to be treasured forever, and that I am indeed so blessed to have been able to see and experience these things.
And that not every one is given the opportunity to experience it, that is why I am very grateful.
No amount of money will be able replace these lifetime memories.
This picture was taken from the ferry itself just as it leaves the port in Hyannis. So Long Nantucket! Hope to see you again someday!
Well, this has been one summer to remember, and I hope you enjoyed it as well. More adventures will be shared, so stay tuned.
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