July | 2015
July 1, 2015 — Planning out my trip up north to the Canadian border has been a bit more challenging than I expected. I've been told by many: "What's there to see in the Canadian border, but pine trees and wild animals?"
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July 17, 2015 — Today I crossed this bridge bordering Auburn and Lewiston, Maine around 9:30 a.m.
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July 17, 2015 — In 2012, there were about 1,000 Bantu immigrants in Lewiston, Maine.
The Somali Bantu Community Mutual Assistance Association of Lewiston/Auburn Maine (SBCMALA) serves the local Bantu community, focusing on housing, employment, literacy and education, health, and safety matters. It also runs an agriculture program for resident Bantus.
Before I left Rhode Island, I searched and found a listing online for the SBCMALA. It is located on Lisbon Street in Lewiston. My E-Mails went unanswered so I decided to make the trip anyway and hoped for the best.
As soon as I crossed the bridge into Lewiston, I quickly found Lisbon Street.
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July 18, 2015 — For the past 25 years, my family and I have attended the
Yarmouth Clam Festival in Maine. Every year I enjoy seeing many of the same or similar vendors and often purchase local art. Today, however, I was pleasantly surprised to meet a local Portland resident at the festival with a familiar accent … it was not Steamer (the festival mascot) and he did not have a Maine accent!
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July 18, 2015 — Today, I drove through downtown Portland to soak in the familiar streets and local culture. At the end of Congress Street I came upon this corner grocery. Markets or
bodegas like these are a true sign of Latin American presence in a city or town. Like
Fefa's Market on Broad Street in Providence, they become a local place for Latinos to gather when they miss their culture back home.
Pleasantly surprised, I pull over and walk inside to see what I could learn.
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July 21, 2015 — Today my travels take me up North Coastal Route 1, through Ellsworth, Bar Harbor and then Columbia Falls, Maine. Through the corner of my eye in Columbia Falls, I spot this blue building and then notice that the sign in front is written in Spanish. Needless to say, my foot hits the brakes and then I pull in to see if anyone is home.
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July 22, 2015 — After four days on the road, I drive into Calais, Maine on a beautiful breezy day. Calais is Maine's northern-most international border city between the U.S. and Canada.
I don't know why, but I find myself feeling a bit nervous and apprehensive at the thought of crossing this border line that separates here from there -
aquí y allá. Read More...July | 2015
July 23, 2015 — On my last day in Canada, I head back across the border. I don't feel nervous this time, just sad that my trip has to come to an end already.
This time, there is a ½ hour wait as I sit in traffic. I stare at this spot and when realize I am cusping two countries, I lean over and snap this photo with my camera phone (above).
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July 25, 2015 — It's my last day in Maine and I spend it back in Portland. Time is running out, so I never make it to
Taco Trio to see Jonathan, but I do return to
La Bodega Latina. Neither Margarita nor Juán are there, so I just buy one more package of tortillas
gorditas to take back to RI with me.
On the way into the center of town, I stumble upon these tents set up at
Deering Oaks Park. There is a banner at the top of the road announcing the local farmer's market.
I park and walk over.
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