Lill here, sending you greetings from Cape Cod!
Well, it’s been a whale of a visit to Provincetown, at the very tip of Cape Cod, as evidenced by this video taken by my grandson! Just watch until you hear the scream 🙂 – you’ll have seen the amazing dive
We took him whale watching for his 13th birthday last Saturday. Provincetown never disappoints! And — he is not using a zoom on this video. We were standing on the bow, right next to the water and yes — they really were that close! Many many years ago, in its heyday, Provincetown was a fishing and whaling town, populated mainly by Portuguese immigrants who made their livelihood by the sea. Today, it is a seasonal, vibrant arts and gay community…home to many galleries, shows, restaurants, and the Center for Coastal Studies which is very much involved in whale research and protection. We’ve stayed here every year for two weeks since 1998. Our rental is right on the water….looking left we watch the breaking dawn and sunrise, and looking right we see amazing sunsets.
No edits or color changes done on these photos! I took them all and it really looks like this. The changing hues of Provincetown! One can see why it’s been an amazing muse and summer home to Eugene O’Neill, John Dos Passos, Tenessee Williams, Norman Mailer, Arthur Miller and the beloved Mary Oliver.
Beautiful homes, cottages and gardens here. That’s the stone made when we donated to the special park at the end of town here, First Pilgrims’ Landing Park; my photo from when Skyler (my grandson) was making the video. That’s my daughter and Styler standing on our deck looking out at the ocean….and finally, that’s me with the Provincetown Town Crier. Did you know the pilgrims landed here first…didn’t like it and went to Plymouth?
So, now that I’ve taken you to this wonderful place, it’s time to participate in our OLN – that’s Open Link Night. For those of you new to dVerse, that means you are invited to post ONE poem – form, length and topic of your choosing. Enter its URL to Mr Linky below….AND BE SURE to include a link or tag to dVerse so others can find us! Of course, please do read and comment on others’ posts too – everyone likes feedback!
I’ll be reading from Provincetown….we’re here until we return to Boston on Saturday. Internet is a bit spotty….so not to worry if I don’t get to your post immediately. I shall finish all the reading once we get home on Saturday!
dVerse 
Greetings from Provincetown! It’s another beautiful day here and I’ve just come in from the deck to host the pub. Gin and tonic with a twist of lime is perfect for me on this glorious day, thank you. Looking forward to reading your posts!
Hi Lillian! Thanks for hosting from your wonderful vacation spot!
Always happy to tend the pub!
Hello Lillian and All. Wonderful shots in video and film of the whales. How cool is that? The sunsets and colors over the water are spectacular.
It is a very special place indeed….and what a 13th birthday our grandson had, seeing these two whales up close…..and at one point, our boat was literally surrounded by blow spouts. At the end of the voyage, the naturalist reported we’d seen 30 different whales!
oh my word! they just went about their business peacefully. a lesson for us all.
🙂
Hi Lillian – thank you for sharing your holiday with us, I feel like I’ve been on a little jaunt with you!
Glenn’s link doesn’t go anywhere. Just letting you know.
Always glad to share our trips with folks! Yes — I already saw that Glenn’s link is in error. I went to his blog and left him a message there to relink….and when he does, then I’ll remove the nonworking one.
I thought you probably had, but there were so few links up when I was reading, I thought I’d be a good citizen…
Thank you, Sarah….it’s been resolved and oh what an installation of his western scene it is!
Good evening all, and thank you Lill for sharing your holiday home with us – I love the photos!
So glad you enjoyed the pics, Kim….it truly is a remarkable place!
Wow. Love that shot of the whales. I’d always wanted to visit P-town when I lived in CT. Maybe someday…
Oh you must keep it on your must-visit list. And might I add…..to come in the two weeks after Labor Day, it is so quiet with all the crowds gone and the water is actually warmer as it has been in the summer months’ sun. We much prefer this time of year to the hectic summer rush.
I will have a Cape Cod in honor of your vacation, please. I love watching the whales. Your pictures make me envious.
It is truly a remarkable place! A Cape Cod coming right up!!! For those of you not in the know, a Cape Cod drink is cranberry and vodka 🙂
Wow! How lucky to be so close. That dive was amazing. Incredible creatures of the deep. I saw a great whale in San Francisco bay and wrote a poem.. wayback. Admire the video too, very steady for on a boat and whales nearby!
My grandson was so incredulous! He wondered why we arrived 45 minutes before the boat was to board. To be the first ones on board so we could stand at the bow…literally the front of the boat and nearest to the water. He understood when he saw this! 🙂
What a lucky boy to have you both!
What a sweet thing to say! 🙂
A fact! You have inspired me to write a poem based on all the ‘stuff’ happening today. I am travelling but will catch up when back on good wifi. This is why I love Dverse, it makes me write and there’s so much good stuff to read.
dVerse: best pub on the cyber waves! 🙂
Hi Lillian- thanks for hosting and sharing your video and photos. What a lovely place to visit!
It truly is! 🙂
I see no linky. 😦 Loved your video and pictures. I posted a couple of poems today, but this one seems to be the best: http://jellicoswritingnook.home.blog/2019/09/19/hear-the-wind/
Hello Bear, just press the white banner saying Mr Linky and it will take your there
The white banner doesn’t appear. It showed a broken link at first, now nothing. grrr….
Try this
https://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=dversepoets&postid=18Sep2019&meme=12507
thanks! I will.
Not connecting… just spinning new tab – then goes to “problem loading page” access denied alert.
Mayb shut down completely. Then go to Safari and go to your blog/post. Click on the title of your post. Then go up to top of your blog and click on the URL and it should give you the exact URL to your new post. Copy it. Then close out of it. Then go to https://dversepoets.com on Safari. Then scroll down to end of dark yellow print and see if you see Mr. Linky.
Click on it. Then go to the open number where it says something like “you’e next” and paste your URL there. BE SURE to also click on the square at the bottom…and then hit enter. That should do it.
So sorry you’re having problems.
I do not run windows so that may be the issue. I’m also on public wifi, and they may be blocking it. Thanks for helping try to solve the issue. It is what it is.
Are you opening it on your phone or a computer?
computer. Bjorn sent me a link.. won’t connect. Oh, well, at least I tried.
Thanks, Bjorn: I just explained it as well.
The white rectangle….at the end of the yellow print, right above the twitter, Facebook and more emoticons….above the Reblog and Like buttons. Please click on that white rectangle that says Mister Linky and already has 14 links (posts) on it. That’s where people will click to read your poem. They won’t click on the link here in the chat. You can also click on everyone else’s link there and read their posts as well.
We always use Mr Linky at dVerse. We don’t put the links to poems in the chat here.
Let me know if you can figure it out.
The rectangle showed a broken link, and then when I refreshed it disappeared altogether. grrr…. I think that’s why I haven’t participated and just added tags to my poems.
I came home late from our first concert for the season…. I will read a few poem before going to bed… I might post something later.
Always good to see you here, Bjorn. Hope you enjoyed the concert!
P’town was the summer home for almost 60 years of my beloved friend Lynn who just died (her family still has a house on Commercial Street, but on the non-beach down market side lol). It’s so lovely to see your posts and read your poems from there.
As far as the linky, always tough to choose from the archives! I went with a rather light-hearted couplet.
Oh, and I’m off the booze because of my pesky gallbladder, but I’d love a nice minty limeade!
Minty limeade coming up…..sorry to be so late to respond. Have been enjoying our last Provincetown day. So very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend….glad to provide some photos of this place….it is definitely a beautiful place to transition from this world to the next.
Lillian, thanks for the heads up. Somehow I had not fully cut out the complete URL; thanks to Sarah as well. I hate it when that happens.
tech guru I am not….glad to help! 🙂 AND wow what a post! 🙂
How wonderful to watch the whales! Love your beautiful photos!
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed!
Hi Lillian sounds like the pilgrims lucked out! Love your pics but the video isn’t downloading for me. I’m a whale freak, used to go whale watching at Hervey Bay once or twice a year. Have found they are just as curious about us and come up to take a peak .. I even stretched out on the deck once and stroked one as he eyeballed me 🙂
oh….so sorry you can’t see the video. There’s a dive, right close to us, of two whales and my grandson’s reaction as he is videotaping is so fun! They are amazing creatures!
yes, totally bewitching! So intelligent, huge but gentle 🙂
Good Evening, I was feeling this one tonight so I hope you enjoy it. See you on the poetry trail.
Nice to see you here at the pub tonight, Truedessa!
Okay folks….heading out to dinner but leaving the key under the mat by the dVerse pub! Please come on in and post….help yourself to some beverage left on the bar. I shall return early tomorrow morning to read!
Hi Lill, what a great video and experience for your grandson…and all of you! I loved hearing the awe in everyone’s voices while watching. I actually wrote a couple of things this week and decided to join in tonight. See you in the morning! xoxo
It was truly awesome seeing these magnificent creatures so up close and personal! Glad you could join us at the pub!
Hi Lillian, wonderful to go whale-watching with you! Thanks for sharing the video. We are beginning harvest so I may be infrequent at the pub in coming weeks.
…not to mention awaiting new grandchild, which I wrote about 🙂
Loved our “waiting” poem. New grandchildren … such a miracle and a continuation and a renewal and on and on….a true joy!
In answer to your question Lillian, I have indeed enjoyed being close to whales, so wonderful. And thank you for hosting.
They are marvelous creatures, yes? Glad you could join us!
🙂
How I love this video, and your grandson’s awe and excitement. Here is a secret: whales love children. They can feel the energy of those on the boat, and they come close when the energy pleases them. I loved that big tail up close! Here on the west coast, by the end of the summer, we have “friendlies” who have hung around all season and sometimes come right to the boat – occasionally allowing someone to pat them. I once had a whale come as close as yours did and it thrilled me to my toes. Thanks so much for sharing this. And it is true – sunrises and sunsets are at their best at the beach.
Okay folks…..last day and evening in our beloved Provincetown so I will read a few posts now and then return tomorrow afternoon when we arrive home in Boston. Must enjoy this last sunset and the sound in the dark of the high tide coming in!
Sharing a whale poem that I posted at the very last moment of the sestina challenge that I wrote with homonyms. Didn’t get many, if any, views. Love that you shared your Provincetown vacation with us, Lillian. Makes me think of Mary Oliver, RIP.
Oops. Forgot to link my post.
The books of Mary Oliver that I’ve purchased, I purchased all in Ptown….seemed only right 🙂
Just now finishing my reading. Must say, not as fun to wake up this morning with a Boston view from our high-rise deck as the beautiful ocean from our Ptown deck! Ah….but there will be next year 🙂
Thank you for hosting OLN Lillian. And yes, we do the 2-hour drive over to the Oregon coast twice a year to watch the whales head south to Mexico in the fall and back north to Alaska in the spring.
Great video Lillian! About 11 years ago my wife and I were fortunate enough to be up close to a pod of pacific grey whales when, over a period of about 10 minutes, three of them fully breached, lifting almost their entire bodies out of the water. It was spellbinding!
OOOOh….that is the only behaviour I’ve never seen. And to see a pod….wow! We have seen them “bubble feeding” right off the bow….where suddenly a ton of small gulls squawk and fly above a circle of green colored water with bubbles and UP comes the ENORMOUS open mouth of a whale….and then closes simultaneously as the gulls fly up….they’re getting the tiny fish inside the whale’s mouth just before it closes. My husband had to hold on to the belt of my shorts I was leaning so far out over the water in all the excitement!!! 🙂