Cape Cod--Vacation with (almost) no schedule

Years ago advertisements for a Florida vacation said something like, "Leave your watch at home." I planned to do just that while in Cape Cod. I only had to plan for the arrival and departure of my flights. But when I arrived at Logan International Airport, the bus to the Cape was delayed due to construction and repairs on the Sagamore Bridge. Once I got to the Cape, I would leave the watch behind.

The next day, my son and I left for Martha's Vineyard. This time, our schedule was based on that of the Steamship Authority ferry, which left from Woods Hole.

And once on the island, our walks, sightseeing and coffee stops were dictated by the #13 bus, which ran between the dock at Vineyard Haven, Oaks Bluff and Edgartown. We wandered streets--Oaks Bluff, with its ornate, painted houses, and Edgartown with a more traditional or classic architecture. We were curious about the history. Who was Martha? Where were the vineyards? And why weren't there more cafes! But there was no time to find out. We had the 3:45 p.m. ferry to catch for the Cape. The only people who didn't seem to have a schedule were the shopkeepers.

Saturday--generally, a leisurely day for my son and his fiancee. But after breakfast at a corner cafe and a quick walking tour of Sandwich, settled in 1637, we had a meeting with a realtor to look at houses.

We visited Boston on Sunday. Given the traffic from the Cape back to Boston on Sunday, we had to leave by mid morning to get in sightseeing before my early evening flight. Ah the cafes in the Italian district. A latte at the Caffe Vittoria (ca. 1929)on Hanover Street in Boston.

Past the wharf, a quick peek into the opera house and King's Chapel burying ground. Our walk took us over many brick streets and sidewalks (NOTE--heels and historic cobbled streets do not mix). We needed some time on Newbury Street, where I hoped to do some shopping. But by now my quick strides had slowed to a hobble (what with all the blisters on my feet from wearing heels). Shopping, as well as the library, art museums,Freedom Trail and Cheers bar, would have to wait until the next trip. My son and his fiancee dropped me off at the airport for my flight. We hugged and waved goodbye. I raced to the check-in counter. My flight had been delayed, then rescheduled. Once en route, it was diverted due to storms. Eventually, I got back home at 2 in the morning. But even with the frantic schedule of a vacation, I had a wonderful trip to Cape Cod. But maybe I could learn about schedules from the shopkeepers on the Cape. . . .