Several years ago I bought a timeshare while vacationing in Cancun. The asking price was relatively reasonable and I liked the concept because I could trade my week in Cancun for just about any place in the world. I've vacationed in some really top notch resorts and had zero complaints but I have stayed at a few that were, let's just say ...... strange.
Some timeshare owners prefer to return that same exact week, year after year, (boring) to the same resort whereas I like to go to different resorts. The ones that return yearly, like the swallows of Capistrano, get to know one another very well. Sometimes too well. The "clicks" have been established and outsiders are rarely welcomed unless you are that funny guy half plastered at the pool bar. I really don't mind the dynamics at timeshares because there is more to do than stay poolside all day long.
The weather on the Vineyard (Edgartown) was cool and damp and when it rained it poured. Poolside was not the place to be. The regulars took their socializing to the indoors.
This place was like a social club come mid-day and well into the evening. A simple swipe with your plastic room key got you in. I've stayed at many resorts but never saw anything like this.
When I saw this kitchen my first impression was "Home Economics 101" from high school. Here I was able to get my weak morning coffee. Being the "newbie" in the crowd the two in the back stopped talking as I poured my first cup that morning. I'm telling ya, this was the strangest resort ever!
Each fridge was shared. Three guests per fridge and no more. I used the fridge on the far right for milk, sugar and a can of coffee. I never opened the can of Maxwell House coffee because that was not allowed. The coffee supplied was horrible and when I doubled up the packages for a stronger brew, I was scolded by one the the regulars. I apologized with a sincere smile, introduced myself and offered to make a new pot. Did you ever see the movie Deliverance?
One morning I decided to skip coffee and just sample martinis. Nah, I sampled them in the afternoon really. This martini was my friends, I had a beer. The Atlantic restaurant loves bacon so much that they strategically places these baskets of bacon around their bar for snacks.
The beaches are long and super clean but the water is ice cold.
Here at the "Cliffs" is the place to be for the sunsets. This area reminded me of a trip I took years ago to Block Island, The Bermuda of the North.
Although I do have an appreciation for nature, this particular day on the Cliffs was not the place the be. Next destination, Oak Bluffs.
Being that is still off season, parking was ample in Oak Bluffs. I parked directly across from these homes which look out into the harbor.
There's a small section in town that is very similar to Ocean Grove, NJ.. These painted ladies sit on leased land from the church and there seems to be a strong sense of community. They even have their version of the Great Auditorium like the one in Ocean Grove.
This particular day while walking around I heard a flute playing. I soon realized that the flute was being played inside the auditorium and it was being recorded with a make-shift recording studio. While the fluteist played the birds nesting in the rafters were chirping away. The accoustics were incredible!
The auditorium.
Even though I cut this trip short by a day, the week ended on a very high note. A friend and I have been trying for 2 years to get together. Timing was always off. A few weeks ago she sent me an email telling me she would be in New York city for a day before she set off for a month long cruise to Europe. I told her in an email that I would be away in Martha's Vineyard. Turns out that her next stop was the Vineyard so we finally met after endless emails and 2 years of bad timing!
Cruise ship coming in.
We had almost a full day to catch up, have lunch, drinks and lots of laughs.
