Painting color drenched artworks of places and things I love
Beach vacations are pretty much similar where ever you travel, some more luxurious than others. We’ve been to quite a few different places where the beach is the main idea and each destination is unique.
Cancun, Acapulco, Nassau Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Greece, Long Island, Las Vegas, oops Las Vegas has pools, all have some aspects that are similar and different. Some have sandy beaches and others have rocks.
The Mr. was born in a Greek island with rocky beaches so that’s what he looks for in a beach. In fact, most Greeks are lured by calm waters and a rocky beach, something that resembles home to them. But I’m a New York girl so what do I know other than sand and waves like Jones Beach and Pt. Lookout? Rarely did we travel to the Long Island Sound with it’s calm waters. It’s fine with me, I’m drawn to the water, rocks or not.
One fascination Greek island people have is watching the ferry arrive with it’s passengers, trucks loaded with produce, cars and stuff. The ferry is so huge and things keep coming off. Then it gets loaded back up with the same stuff going the other way.
In Greenport there are ferries that shuttle all the same kind of stuff and people to Shelter Island, all day and night, back and forth. So of course, we’re fascinated by all the action. They loaded a huge tractor trailer onto this little ferry, plus people in cars, people with bicycles, and just people on foot! I was in awe, just like we are when we’re in Greece! I know, whacko.
When we were finished gawking at the ferry coming and going we were ready to head back to the beach. The sun was high in the sky and glistening off the clear blue water. Not many people were on the beach so it was all for us to enjoy. Like I said, Heaven is an empty beach!
Except for the seagulls. No matter where you go seagulls will take your food, throw it around the beach and eat it.
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| ©2009 Dora Sislian Themelis |
I thought I would try to paint every day on the trip, but thinking about doing it was stressful. I needed to wind down my brain and think of nothing and of doing nothing. Once I started painting I guess by that time I was really ready for it.
What kind of amenities do you look for when you travel? If you ask me, I need a clean and quiet room. No bugs. Close to the water and restaurants. That’s pretty much it. Now, if I’m in Las Vegas or the Bahamas, that’s a whole other set of priorities and expectations except for the a fore mentioned amenities, but on a more luxurious scale. We were interested in getting away to change our scene as close as possible with the least amount of stress involved. This was perfect.
In little towns like Southold and Greenport you can’t expect luxury. This is farm country, wine country, old maritime fishing villages. You’re not getting luxury here. Maybe the Bed and Breakfasts are a little more plush, but don’t expect too much. I certainly don’t. Like I said before, clean and beach is what I need, and what I got. The Long Island Sound was so clean and clear this year it was a pleasure to be so close to it.
The one thing that made us crazy was a noise we figured out was a cricket in the wall. It chirped at intervals with the refrigerator, all night long. I wanted to find it and kill it, but we couldn’t do either. So we decided we’d nap on the beach, eventually. Seems there’s a lot of history here on the north fork of Long Island especially during the Revolutionary War. Along the main road there are these signs telling of raids and war activities. There are tales of pirates, too.
We visited Greenport for dinner every night. Many restaurants there have outdoor dining and a few are right on the docks. Boats large and small can pull up to the docks of the marinas and stay for dinner or moor for the night. When the weather is good it’s a beautiful place.
We had great food at Claudio’s Clam Bar right on the water, surrounded by boats, the water, Shelter Island across the bay and the most beautiful sunset you could imagine. As I’m not so great at remembering to take pictures of everything, we were half way done with dinner before I thought about it! We really enjoyed the freshest seafood around. After dinner we walked around Greenport investigating all the boats docked at the piers, window shopped at the antiques and quaint shops, listened to jazz at a gelato and dessert bar. The sun was setting so spectacularly that we had the great idea to grab some coffee to-go and run back to our hotel to have the amazing apple tart we bought on our way from Briermere farm. Dessert and coffee, the beach and the setting sun were the perfect end to a perfect day.
We’re back from our quick trip to the east end of Long Island, New York in the town of Southold near Greenport. These few days were a great break from our normal routine and I must say it was much needed. Do you ever realize how much you need a vacation until you actually go? I knew it was the right idea as soon as I made the reservation for three nights out there.
To me travel is stress. Being able to just get in the car and drive to a destination was the least amount of stress involved, unless there is traffic. But really, if you’re on vacation with no timetable, no one expecting you, no reason to be anywhere at any time, who cares if there’s some traffic? Yes, we had a little bit of traffic. The usual suspects were involved, meaning people who need to see all the aspects of a three car accident. OK, there were police cars and tow trucks, one really beat-up-from-all-sides car and two other beat up cars on the Long Island Expressway heading east. Rubberneckers abounded. After we passed it we had smooth sailing.
First stop on the way was in Mattituck at Cooper’s Farm. This is the best farm stand out east with the most vegetables you can pick on your own, or just buy what they’ve already picked. We go all U-pick. The most beautiful and large beefy tomatoes, long crunchy cucumbers, glossy eggplants and peppers, sweet as anything watermelon. Delicious.
Actually, our real first stop was at Briermere Farm for the best buttery apple tart there is in New York. We can’t visit the north fork without a stop here. Neither can anyone else. Every time we stop in there’s a line out the door. Each time the door opened, out wafted the smell of butter crust and sweet fruits. Breathe deep! I was so excited I forgot to take pictures.
We arrived at our little hotel/motel around four o’clock in the afternoon. The sun was behind some hazy clouds, but the air was still hot and humid. Just how I like it. We settled in, put our things away, donned our bathing suits and headed across the street to the almost empty beach, where we sat until well after 7 P.M. The waters of the Long Island Sound were calm as oil, the Mr.’s phrase. The summer air had almost no breeze, but the clouds above kept changing patterns as the sun went down over Connecticut.
Heaven is a warm summer day and an empty beach.
While I tried to get the Mr. to take a trip to somewhere this summer, the only idea he liked was to stay local. Forget Greece, Las Vegas, Bahamas, or Florida. A short road trip it is, with no housework in sight!
We’ll be visiting the east end of Long Island, on the North fork, in farm and winery country. While I don’t know if we’ll be going to any wine tastings, I am hoping the weather is hot and humid, perfect for sitting on the beach. Weather is not something you can predict with any measure of accuracy and any outside activity depends on the weather. Being a person who likes the heat, the weather better cooperate. Earlier it was cloudy, rainy, but hot and humid. Now the sun is showing up. It better!
Last week the humidity lifted and we were left with temperatures in the low 80’s and high 70’s. That’s cold to me! That’s get out the woolies weather! I never complain when the temps go up into the high 90’s! Nope, not me! I am in hog heaven when it’s hot, hot, hot! I know what New York winters are like and I never complain about a sweltering New York summer. Yup.
So I will probably..scratch that, definitely be AWOL from the blog. I don’t have a Blackberry, or a netbook, or an iPad. You’ll all have to carry on without me. Rest assured that pics of my days will be forthcoming. I plan to bring along my travel watercolor set and my ink pen with a drawing pad. Morning pages will be coming along too, which I will have to sneak because the Mr. always wants to know what I’m writing about. Will I get to do some art while I’m sitting in a beach chair all day long? We shall see, won’t we.