For once, a work trip that allowed enough time to see the host location! My recent week (is 4 days equal to a week?) in Gloucester, MA was not only worthwhile at the work level, it was a great reminder of my love for New England. A field trip on Wednesday morning, led all us fisheries nerds to Whole Foods' Pigeon Cove seafood processing plant. Action at the plant was a little slow because in the Northeast region fishing season really opens in June, and we arrived for our tour at the plant around 9-9:30 am. The plant receives orders from about 100 Whole Foods' stores across the nation and on Wednesday, they were shipping Norway salmon, New England scallops, and Vietnamese-caught tuna to various stores. Additionally, I'm not sure I really want to eat a salmon burger or salmon sausage, now that I know from what both are made. Like they always say: "If you like the law, and you like sausage, don't watch either being made." Unfortunately, I've seen both made and regardless of how I feel about either process, I participate in the former, and still grill up the products of the latter.
After the fish processing plant, our group of about 20 folks headed over to the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center. The pier of the Center was used in the filming of The Perfect Storm as the dock outside of The Crow's Nest - a local dive bar actually located about a mile away from the Center. Hollywood constructed a facade over the Center's building by the dock and attracted more gulls with bread crumbs thrown on the roof to make the location look "more authentic."
The Center is undergoing a renovation right now, and they are constructing replicas of the ships that were involved in the Boston Tea Party. One of the boat builders offered a VERY detailed description of events preceding the party, as well as of the tea party itself. I listened to tidbits, but mostly focused on the man in the background, preparing hemp for use as caulking in the hull of one of the replicas. It was a beautiful day to be outside and near the water. Even a person more acclimated to Florida's spring heat and humidity could appreciate the blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and air temperatures with a hint of crispness. In fact, for the time I was in Gloucester, I preferred it - that is, until the rain came on Thursday.
Ultimately, I would like to go back to Gloucester and to Boston - a town which I never explored. (I don't think the area surrounding Logan Airport is the best face of the Bosox's hometown.) Gloucester has a great little downtown area with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants - quintessential New England - that reminded me of family trips to Maine, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod. And it made me realize how much I miss the northern landscapes of the Atlantic Ocean.
Summary:
Lobstas eaten: 1 (and it was buttery goodness)
Cups of chowda devoured: 1 (and I should have brought some home)
People pooped on by overfed seagulls: 1 (it was NOT me and they say that's "lucky")
Fisherman's Brew enjoyed: 3 (clearly, I liked it enough)
Wrong turns on the way to return the Dodge Magnum rental: at least 1
Trips to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast and coffee in lieu of poor service at the The Ocean View Inn's restaurant: 2
Fishing boats named after space shuttles: at least 3 (including the one named after "Challenger")
Awards received: 1 (and it was for just showing up to the workshop)
Recommendations:
Passports, 110 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Alchemy, 3 Duncan Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Valentino's, 38 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
P.S. All can rest easy as I did get to watch the season premier of So You Think You Can Dance.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment