Inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, we wanted to see Montauk in the winter. With so many people from the west coast in the group, we hardly believed it could snow at the beach. It does though!
Dustin, Celia, Laura, Sharn, Tania (aka Roommate), and I met at Penn Station and caught the 11:47am train to Montauk, where we arrived near 3pm.
Not knowing what to expect when we got there, we disembarked to a desolate location. Snow covered the ground and one paved street stretched out before them. A restaurant that was sure to be bustling when serving the spring and summer tourists stood quiet and lonely at the edge of the train station. Fortunately, they were not closed for the winter and pointed the direction to town- a short 30min. walk along the sidewalk-less road. "Town" was a gazebo centered square with closed restaurants and gift shops surrounding it. Hotels were boarded up on either side of the walk to the beach, reinforcing the idea that we were the only tourists crazy enough to visit this beach town in mid-February. It was everything we hoped for when we saw snow mixed with sand and heard the glorious sound of waves crashing on the shore.
Most of us dared to walk close enough to touch the foamy receding waves, but Sharn in her rubber boots ventured further out. The sea, unhappy with her boldness, attacked. A sudden wave, larger than the others, swept over her boots and soaked her pants and socks.
A trip to the local drugstore, where she bought new socks to keep her feet dry and warm, meant our adventure could continue. We wanted to see the lighthouse, so we called a taxi because it was too far to walk. Montauk's lighthouse is the first one built in New York, and it was commissioned by President George Washington.
As the day darkened and our stomachs growled, we called the taxi to come back and pick us up. While we waited we played on the playground.
Not knowing what to expect when we got there, we disembarked to a desolate location. Snow covered the ground and one paved street stretched out before them. A restaurant that was sure to be bustling when serving the spring and summer tourists stood quiet and lonely at the edge of the train station. Fortunately, they were not closed for the winter and pointed the direction to town- a short 30min. walk along the sidewalk-less road. "Town" was a gazebo centered square with closed restaurants and gift shops surrounding it. Hotels were boarded up on either side of the walk to the beach, reinforcing the idea that we were the only tourists crazy enough to visit this beach town in mid-February. It was everything we hoped for when we saw snow mixed with sand and heard the glorious sound of waves crashing on the shore.
Most of us dared to walk close enough to touch the foamy receding waves, but Sharn in her rubber boots ventured further out. The sea, unhappy with her boldness, attacked. A sudden wave, larger than the others, swept over her boots and soaked her pants and socks.
A trip to the local drugstore, where she bought new socks to keep her feet dry and warm, meant our adventure could continue. We wanted to see the lighthouse, so we called a taxi because it was too far to walk. Montauk's lighthouse is the first one built in New York, and it was commissioned by President George Washington.
As the day darkened and our stomachs growled, we called the taxi to come back and pick us up. While we waited we played on the playground.The cabbie recommended a place called the Shagwong for dinner, so we took his advice. They offered an early bird special with soup or salad, entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. We all went for it. The seafood was delicious and in large portions. We walked back to the train station feeling full and satisfied and headed home- a day well spent.
1 comment:
Hmm, are you writing a book of memoirs at your "internship"? Looks like a beautiful day!
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