chez caesar: travelogue

Last day in Maine...

Just before leaving Bar Harbor, we went back to Jordan's for breakfast. Tried the home fries... Delicious!

After leaving Mount Desert Island, we took the Blue Star Memorial Highway (Route 1) along the coast. We passed Fort Knox and continued on to Camden.

Our first stop was Mount Battie
Camden Hills State Park

The views and the weather were great. Nice day to be here. Somewhere out in the distance, you can see Cadillac and the other peaks of Mount Desert Island.

The photos do not capture the expanse... Looks like the mountain top leads right down to the trees and shore; but actually, we are about 780 feet up, and the edge of the summit was quite steep.

Mt. Megunticook
1385 feet

Belted Galloways at Aldermere Farm
Rockport, Maine

Affectionately known as "Belties" or Oreo Cows

After Rockport, we reached Rockland. Lots of rocks means lots of rock names going on. Our destination in Rockland was the Farnsworth Museum, famous for its Wyeth Center. We saw works by James Whistler, Alex Katz and Andrew Wyeth, whose most famous painting is Christina's World. You can't see the painting here, as it is on display at MoMA in New York. You can however visit the Olson House, which is the setting of the painting as well as the place where it was created. After we toured the Farnsworth, we headed to the house, which was only about 30 minutes away in Cushing, Maine.

I think we saw this horse

Me at the Olson House

One of the docents offered us a brief tour of the home, starting in the kitchen. On the wall there is a photo of Andrew Wyeth and Christina Olson. Wyeth and his wife were friends of the Olson family and would often visit for extended periods.

The house was the subject of many of Wyeth's paintings. As you walk through the house, the rooms contain prints of the paintings they inspired. This print, Woodstove, hangs on the wall in the kitchen. Christina liked to cook, and the artist would often find her as he depicts her here...

In front of the woodstove

Sitting at her table, preparing meals

Christina liked to keep geraniums in the kitchen window

A print of Alvaro and Christina hangs on the wall between the doors which comprise the subject of the work

Pantry

The docent also mentioned that Mr. Wyeth, 91, still comes around from time to time and that he likes to read the guest book.

Christina's Room

Second Floor

Christina's Crib

Third Floor

Wow... I still can't believe we were here. How often does one get to visit a scene from a famous work of art? What an enchanting experience.

On our way down to the family cemetery, we passed this old wagon

I think the darker horse (right) is the one shown on the admission ticket

This fanatic couple attempts to recreate the famous scene...
Sam: Tacky!

These things were blowing around

Big Lots! in Brunswick, Maine

Udder Place Coffee Co.

McDonald's
Freeport, Maine

In the historic district, even McDonald's is forced to take up residence in an existing structure.

Freeport, Maine
Famous for retail outlets

Bridgham & Cook, Ltd.
British Goods

This is one of the places we have been looking forward to visiting, especially after Angel brought us back those tasty treats from her trip to England. (Here's your shout out!)