Provincetown, Massachusetts
Joy at the Tip of Cape Cod
Provincetown, Massachusetts is home to the eternal Pride Parade. It is beautifully located on a gorgeous coastline, and is quaint, adorable, and potentially decadent at the same time. On any given day, you can see a family wandering its narrow streets buying chachkas and fudge, or a group of queer folks fabulously attired as their authentic selves. There are Pride flags everywhere, and our LGBTQ selves are in the majority. Like Fire Island in New York, Provincetown is the fabled land of Queerdom. The Queens rule.
The day we arrived in Provincetown, we had actually planned to go to a beach on the Lower Cape (and if you have no idea where the Lower Cape is located, neither did I; suffice it to say, it is not where Provincetown is located). It was, however, a cloudy day, and as we had traveled many hours from our home in New York, we needed someplace that would not rain on our vacation parade. Provincetown was just what the doctor ordered. So off we went to Provincetown.
Provincetown has been home to sailors, fishermen, painters, and authors for centuries
Now, we like food. To brighten our rainy day, we indulged in a few treats. My favorite was found at a smoothie stand called the Grab n' Go Health Bar. You can't miss it. You will see people waiting on benches for their orders. I ordered a ginger and pineapple concoction. As a ginger lover, I can simply not get enough ginger, and I am usually disappointed by how low the ginger content of a particular drink is — but this was by far the best ginger smoothie I have ever had.
After a few treats and walking around, we knew we had to head back to our hotel in Brewster. Had we had more time, I would have definitely gone to this store that sells malas (spiritual beads for mantras). I went there once and accidentally cut the string of the beads while trying to remove the tag, and the owner of the store ran out and gave me another one — without charge! That is good mala karma for that owner, and I highly encourage you to shop there. I know Rosie loves a restaurant called Ross' Grill that overlooks the beach, and I am sure we would have eaten there, too.
A little-known fact: I went to Provincetown when I was a teenager, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was back in the 80s when there was so much homophobia, and I just rejoiced being there. When I returned home, it was not like Provincetown. But coming to Provincetown with Rosie has been a great joy for me. First, I am with the love of my life, my wife. And second, I can express my love for Rosie publicly — holding hands and even giving a peck on the lips.
Cape Cod National Seashore beaches are accessible from Provincetown
Rosie is very patient with me. She knows that after so many years in the closet, all of these changes in my life can seem a bit daunting, but she patiently loves me as I patiently love her. Being in Provincetown allows me to be completely relaxed loving Rosie. I can think of no finer compliment.
For these reasons and more, I give Provincetown Five Pride flags. 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 I highly recommend it.
Liz
