Published: 13.07.2016
After breakfast, we drove to the Visitor Center of Acadia National Park at about 28 degrees.
There we experienced for the first time that we had to queue to buy tickets for a national park. That gave us a little taste of what to expect in the park. We left the car in the Visitor Center parking lot and used the shuttle buses in the park. They were all overcrowded, sometimes we couldn't even get in. Our first destination was Sand Beach, where swimming was allowed on a long sandy beach. Accordingly, it was crowded there. The associated parking lot was overcrowded and the cars were parked for miles along the roadside.
We quickly found a trail and then walked along the shore. The further we went, the fewer people surrounded us and the road noise subsided. The people coming towards us also became slimmer. Who knows how long they had been on the road.
The park is, soberly considered, a dream. On the left, the sea with dreamlike bays, on the right, the mountains begin, which rise directly behind the shore up to 500 meters. And all under a radiant blue sky!!
After the hiking trip, we took the shuttle bus to Bar Harbor, the largest town in the park. There we boarded a catamaran to enjoy the 'Sunset Whale Watching'.
When we arrived at the pier, we saw .... crowds of people! The whale tour was also crowded, but luckily the ship was big enough for everyone to have a seat.
The organizer spared no effort to introduce the guests to the topic of 'whales'.
There was already a whale family on the ship, which was made recognizable by wearing colorful, flashy clothing in xxxl. The social behavior was presented in small role plays, and feeding was not neglected either. The mother bought a giant ice cream with a small plastic card, which was devoured by a young whale with two bites. To show his joy, the young whale burped loudly to the delight of the whole society. Absolutely adorable!!!!
But we could also admire the large organisms in the water. After a short wait, three humpback whales appeared, two of which were chasing each other. Observing these huge animals up close is very impressive. Here you realize how small humans actually are. At least some...
The boat trip was pretty bumpy because of strong winds. We enjoyed it, but some passengers were seasick.
The wonderful day was concluded in the country's tradition with a burger. Without a little burp...