Monday, July 19, 2010

New Bedford, Massachusetts

As most young candidates for the pains and penalties of whaling stop at this same New Bedford, thence to embark on their voyage ... --from Moby Dick by Herman Melville, 1851


Ishmael, baby, no worries. You're in good hands. New Bedford know boats. New Bedford know fish.

What'd you say, Ish?

Oh, that. Call me Erin.


See? Lookie here: they even gotta fish-dude statue.


And plenty o' boats.


Ish, do me a favor and hold my purse for a sec. I gotta check in here for a buddy of mine.

Hey Quint? You in there?


I think I found your buddies, Ish!

Queequeg? S'that you? Man, it's too hot to be on that ol' boat.

Whaddya say you come on with me and Ish and get a beer? Come on, already! Round up Stubb and Flask.


What, no time for a beer? Aw hell, okay. I understand.

You guys go on and catch you a fish. I'll just have a walk about.

* * *

8 comments:

Ken Houghton said...

Moby-Dick, that should be.

New Bedford is (or should be) famous for two things:

(1) The hockey dad assault and

(2) The prescience of the National Lampoon in the opening line of one of their songs "Out of New Bedford 21 years, on the good ship Columbine."

Anonymous said...

New Bedford was happy to have you for a visit. I think it's a great place. I have to say: CLASSIC - Ken from NEW JERSEY doesn't like New Bedford. I hear that New Jersey is almost near perfect - right Ken? (I know NB doesn't have Snookie and clan but we some how manage) So good for you Ken!

Matt Conlon said...

Are you in the area or something? It's only about a twenty minute ride from me, but I'm sad to say, I've never taken the tour down there. I believe that's where the whaling museum is too, unless that's Fall River... I always forget.

If you're indeed in the area, I highly recommend finding a place to have some sea food, especially Clam chowder. We in the North East Coast don't get to boast about much other than horribly unpredictable weather, and our Seafood. =]

Erin O'Brien said...

I am already back home. Sorry I missed you, Matt, and that clam chowder.

As for New Bedford, I was completely captivated by the fishing boats and could have walked among them all day long.

Unfortunately, I has some camera trouble (and NO it WAS NOT operator ERROR because I am PERFECT and never have ANY trouble with ANYTHING ever), and my few pix are lo-res.

Too bad, really, because everywhere I turned another photo op presented itself.

Kirk said...

Seeing as you mentioned Quint:

Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it went right to my head
Where ever I may roam
On land or sea or foam
You will always hear me singing this song
Show me the way to go home

Erin O'Brien said...

Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain ...

The Fool said...

Cool. I've been through the book, and the town, so that's two sparks for memory lane. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

If a book were published today beginning with the sentence "Call me Ishmael." it would be vilified by the Right as a celebration of Islam.

As for me I always chuckle about ole Abraham layin' up with Sarah's hand maiden.

Looks like a fun trip.

RJ