Nantucket MA - 41 17.38N 070 05.03W
OOJAH's AWESOME ODYSSEY
Peter & Christene Tanner
Sat 19 Jul 2014 21:21
When the wind eased we set off 20nm East out into the Atlantic to visit Nantucket. It is one of those wonderful sounding places that I have always wanted to visit. It's an old whaling harbour, the principle one in the world in its prime & was the home port of the Essex, which was rammed & sunk by a sperm whale in 1820 giving rise to the novel Moby Dick (unlike Martha's Vineyard where Jaws was filmed). A fire destroyed the harbour & business district in 1846 & it never recovered but has become a thriving watering hole for the rich & famous in the summer, many in their super yachts. Some 800 buildings from the 18th & 19th century survive giving it one of Americas largest historic districts, clustered round the cobbled high street - the cobbles were unwanted ballast from the old sailing ships.
We we're told the current resident are mostly Republicans & CEO's whereas Martha's Vineyard attracts Doctors & lawyers, of a Democrat leaning. We saw only tourists, gardeners & cleaners with few owners in residence. There's plenty of up market retail opportunities but no signs of the poor & under privileged on either island. What ho ...
With lots of love to all at home, Peter & Christene