Day 107 - and the Blessing of the Fleet27 Jun 2010
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Goodbye to our campground on the Cape
Entering Boston
Amazing! That tunnel ahead took us clear across the city..underground! (You may...
We had a 2 1/2 hour drive from Brewster to Gloucester (pronounced Glahstah for all you Westerners) and arrived in time to set up and head to town. There was a party goin' on!
The annual St. Peter's Fiesta - a 4 1/2 day festival hosted by the Italian community here in town - was going on downtown by the docks and we were hurrying to get to the Fishermen's Memorial so we could watch the Blessing of the Fleet. It is a once a year event held on Fiesta weekend and I was just lucky enough to have it on my itinery at the right time.
There weren't as many ships as in the past, but I was told there aren't as many fishermen as in the past - mainly due to government regulations that make it so difficult. However, it indeed was a wonderful sight with the boats, the statue, the priests and the sea. And to make it even more special...it was here in Gloucester (did you say it right?) where the six fishermen lost their lives during the perfect storm. We watched the movie tonight before we went to bed and dreamt of large waves.
We walked down to the festival, sat and enjoyed the Navy band for a bit, then explored the area where we found Hammand's Castle. Who wudda thunk...here at the sea in this poor fishing town!
