The Cape

We took a little trip to Cape Cod early in the week - three nights.  I always worry about driving through Boston even though the route is straight.  There's a long tunnel under the city with four lanes of travel and exits going left and right.   Then there's just stop-and-go along the way.  Sunday was no picnic, but once over the bridge and onto the Cape things thinned out.  I guess everyone was going to the beach for Mother's Day since it was gorgeous weather.

We drove to the very tip and stayed in Provincetown for my first time on the Cape.  Our B&B was right in the heart of things, with restaurants, shops, wharves, and historic sites nearby.  Monday, we walked to the top of the Pilgrim Monument - quite a hike, but quite a view.  In the museum at the base, we learned that the Pilgrims first landed near Provincetown, choosing to head closer inland after discovering there was not enough potable water and land suitable for farming.  The town cemetery holds graves of many notables who summered or lived there year-round, including Norman Mailer and artist Robert Motherwell.  In the afternoon, we took a dune tour which was fantastic - the highlight of our stay.

Tuesday, we drove over to the National Seashore's visitors center and also visited a restored lifesaving station.  Men took turns staying there during the winter months to rescue sailors on ships that had run aground.  It was remote but very beautiful.  A walk through the east end of Provincetown turned up homes of some famous authors (e.g., Susan Glaspell) and dramatists (Eugene O'Neill), as well as a lovely little garden.  We had some very nice meals in local restaurants and just dipped into the shops along Commercial St.