When people from the Ellsworth area say they’re going to the “big city” they usually mean Bangor. To most of the world, Bangor (with a population of around 35,000 according to the 2010 census) would hardly qualify as a city, let alone a big one. But if you’re from Ellsworth (which clocks in at around 8,000) Bangor can provide you with all the joys of urban life.
When visitors ask me they should go for the day, I usually direct them to Mount Desert Island. The beauty of Bar Harbor and the surrounding towns is known the world over. However, I should not forget that there are other options for vacation spots in Maine. If you’re looking for an urban experience, spend a day in Bangor. Here’s a look at my day in the “big city”:
The Penobscot River
After discovering that I was 20 minutes too early to get breakfast (everything seemed to open at 8) I strolled around downtown and took plenty of pictures. People probably thought I was a tourist, but I was enjoying the morning, so I didn’t mind much.
Hannibal Hamlin (15th Vice President of the US and Maine native)
No squawking seagulls this morning, but I did see these two on the side of a building.
Then, it was time for breakfast. I decided to try Giacomo’s, a breakfast and lunch place known for the painted instructions on how to parallel park in their front window. It was a response to an amusing parking mishap, which you can read about in this Bangor Daily News article. Anyway, I have always wanted to go there, but it just never happened. Until today, when I had what may be the best breakfast sandwich of all time:
A steaming cup of Mighty Leaf tea and a vegan breakfast sandwich. What a great start to my day!
After breakfast I headed over to the Maine Discovery Museum for the Lost in a Graphic Novel workshop presented by the Maine Humanities Council in partnership with Down East Publishing. Donn Fendler, Lynn Plourde, and Ben Bishop spoke about their experiences adapting Lost on a Mountain in Maine into a graphic novel (Lost Trail). The event was very informative, and also a lot of fun. Meeting Donn Fendler was something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do. He is very down to earth and humble about his experience on Katahdin. I plan to write more about this workshop in future posts, but for now, I’ll just include this picture:
Lynn Plourde and Donn Fendler signing books after the presentation.
To top it all off, the weather was absolutely perfect for window shopping and gazing at the river. I definitely plan to spend more time in Bangor this summer!
Related articles
- Tween Graphic Novel Review: Lost Trail (thelupinelibrarian.me)
I guess “go to the circus” is another thing I can check off my bucket list.
