I like Portland. We’ve been here a couple of times, the first time on a roller coaster trip, June 2013, and the second time as a stop on our first Maritimes cruise, October 2019. So with this being 2025, it seems like we’re here around every six years or so. The last time we were here, it was later in the year, and the fall colours were out.

I should’ve gotten the companion shot earlier today, when it was bright and sunny out, but you can still see the difference. We had really nice weather for most of the day, but a rainstorm seems to be rolling in at the moment, so it might get nasty later when we go out to dinner.

I was wearing my new t-shirt that I got in Halifax. Have to laugh at my dour expression in the photo. We were enjoying a nice, leisurely coffee and a family came in with four small children who were running amok. Amok, I tell ya. One of them started screaming and crying when her brother took the seat that she wanted and I knew that we were going to have to have the rest of our coffee to go. Le sigh.

Aaaaaaanyway, the shirt had been getting thumbs-up and other compliments all morning, both on the ship and off. Then there was one guy who was coming the opposite way on the sidewalk. I smiled and he quickly averted his eyes, looked at ground, and stiffened. Here we go.

“Go trump” he said angrily under his breath as he passed. So I turned my head and cheerfully suggested that he fuck off, then went about my merry way. That might not have been the most Canadian way to handle that, but hey, I’m on US soil here, and when in Rome, as they say…

We were on our way to lunch then at a place called The Eighty8 donuts. Yes, we had donuts for lunch, don’t judge.

They’re little mini donuts, made when you order them, and these had bourbon cream filling, maple glaze, and were topped with candied bacon. Yum, but very, very sweet.

We enjoyed walking around town a bit, just enjoying the vibe.

I love a good pun in a business name, so of course I had to snap a photo of a grilled cheese restaurant named Cheese Louise! (And I just noticed in the window, it says “Sweet dreams are made of cheese”)- LMAO

I was a little bit hungry still (we didn’t eat all the donuts), so I stopped at this little kiosk joint on the waterfront for a “Red Snappah” which was advertised as a “steamed red hot dog”

It’s advertised as red, but it was shocking pink. The flavour was pretty good, like a regular hot dog, with slight hints of Vienna sausage. I liked it a lot.

I’m glad we went out and got back to the ship early, because around 3pm the skies opened up and it poured. We were even under a tornado watch for awhile. It did clear off a bit in time for dinner, but we still all piled into an Uber to go about 1km, just in case. We got dropped off at DiMIllo’s on the Water, which is a place we discovered on our first visit here. We came back on the next visit, and we’re back now. The reason: lazy lobster.

The concept is so simple, I’m surprised it’s not a common option in every seafood restaurant. It’s lobster. But instead of having do deal with the shells, digging out all the little morsels, spraying yourself and everyone at the table when you’re trying to crack the claws, asking for a lobster bib to keep your clothes clean…. how about they do all that for you and just bring you a bowl full of lobster swimming in melted butter? Hell yeah.

It’s crazy good. It’s good enough that we make it a point to come here any time we’re in Portland. The owner (Tony DiMillo) came by the table and we told him so.

Back to the ship and it’s time to start packing… we’re off the ship tomorrow morning, but fear not: the trip’s not over yet!

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