Day 8: Back to the Maine[land]

Portland, ME

We had a very low key Saturday which started with us making the five hour voyage back on the ferry from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portland, ME. As we pulled into the open water we got one last glimpse of the Cape Forchu Lightstation we got to see during our first full day in Nova Scotia. Onboard, we enjoyed some R&R, the views of the open water, and later snacked on some fresh made pizza and one last plate of Digby scallops for lunch. Getting through customs as we disembarked was quick, and we soon were free to explore Portland. We made a brief stop at our hotel to check in and drop off our luggage, then immediately his the winding, brick streets. The streets of Portland were lined with a variety of stores we enjoyed popping in and out of…from kitchen gadgets, fresh Himalayan salt, and gift shops to common retailers and local boutiques we enjoyed our stroll. We had all intentions of sharing a whoopie pie at Two Fat Cats Bakery, but had found the rain earlier in the day made them a popular stop and left them sold out of almost all their goodies. We decided we’d pop back in the morning to get some fresh baked good for our bus ride! As we continued down the street we stumbled upon Shipyard Brewery, so stepped in for a tasting and checking out their little gift shop. They had a lively tasting room and we had fun sampling a few new options that have the potential of getting voted into production….our favorite one available only at the brewery right now was the Fire Berry Tea Ale. Hopefully we’ll get to purchase it at a store near us one day! We took a casual walk back down Middle and Fore street to get to another recommended dinner stop (thanks again, Tessa!)…as we rounded the corner, we saw the line to get seated at restaurant opening had already formed. We squeezed in line as it continued to build, and knew we’d be in good hands sat Street & Co! The staff warmly greeted us without a reservation and we enjoyed a brief wait in their cozy entrance (doors open at 5PM and they start serving at 5:30PM). Our early dining time was perfect, as we found our stomachs to still be on Atlantic time. The ambiance was so charming – warm, and casual with a touch of elegance. Our server, Kirk, was extremely knowledgeable and shared his recommendations about tonight’s dinner options from the freshly printed daily menu. We started with a variety of three types of Maine oysters…the earthy flavor of the Wild Dams earned our keep as favorites. It was hard to choose from the several unique menu items, but we were not disappointed with our choices (lobster over linguini for Bryan, and broccoli soup & linguini in white wine sauce with calamari for me). Our dinners were outstanding and we loved how they were served in their pans fresh out of the kitchen. We also enjoyed their fresh baked bread from a local bread co. and couldn’t pass trying their blueberry crumb pie from Two Fat Cats Bakery we had stopped into earlier in the day. The employees said their pecan pie is to die for, but they rarely have this specific pie…so we had to try it al a mode style. Despite being quite full from dinner, we managed to find room for this scrumptious treat 🙂 After this perfect meal, we took a short walk with a few stops into the surrounding area establishments and decided to end the night with a cocktail at “Top of the East” located in the Westin. This provided a cool view of the city and a nice nightcap to wind down the night.