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From Rockport to Freeport
A three-hour cab ride and a superstar organic chef
"Prompt and reliable" are the least of the selling points for a Taxi Tour with Panama Geddy and his rescued mutt from Cuba, "Starr". As Geddy, a Maine local who sailed the Caribbean for two decades will tell you whether you want to hear his life story or not, Starr was so desperate to leave Castro's Cuba, she stowed away on his yacht, aptly named Opportunity. The sweet but gamey little lady is part of every ride with Geddy, and she has no compunction about taking the window seat for herself.
On the comfortable three-hour drive from Bar Harbor to Rockport in his air-conditioned '70s-style van, Geddy asked no questions but spoke rapid-fire about the lovely countryside of Maine (pretty as its pictures). He became even more animated when speaking about a day he spent as personal driver for Barbra Streisand ("a little anxious, but a nice lady"). And he loves to tell the story about how he started, ran, and then sold the famous Bar Harbor lobster- theme restaurant Geddy's (it's still there). And now he's planning on opening a beach resort in Panama, where he lives part of the year (thus, his name).
Rockport was a bit stodgy after bohemian Bar Harbor though the Samoset Resort was playing host to their first annual Wine Festival (free booze seems to follow me around). The wine expert the night we arrived was an Owen Wilson "Butterscotch Stallion" lookalike named Seth Box, a young winemaker who worked in New Zealand and Italy, and now represents the Italian portfolio of wines for Moet Hennessy. The ladies of all ages at my table had a go at flirting with Mr. Box, who was very attentive and answered all of our annoying questions. The wines were also very thoughtful and well-paired with the resort chefs cuisine, and really, after five or six glasses of the stuff, who isn't having a grand time?
On the comfortable three-hour drive from Bar Harbor to Rockport in his air-conditioned '70s-style van, Geddy asked no questions but spoke rapid-fire about the lovely countryside of Maine (pretty as its pictures). He became even more animated when speaking about a day he spent as personal driver for Barbra Streisand ("a little anxious, but a nice lady"). And he loves to tell the story about how he started, ran, and then sold the famous Bar Harbor lobster- theme restaurant Geddy's (it's still there). And now he's planning on opening a beach resort in Panama, where he lives part of the year (thus, his name).
Rockport was a bit stodgy after bohemian Bar Harbor though the Samoset Resort was playing host to their first annual Wine Festival (free booze seems to follow me around). The wine expert the night we arrived was an Owen Wilson "Butterscotch Stallion" lookalike named Seth Box, a young winemaker who worked in New Zealand and Italy, and now represents the Italian portfolio of wines for Moet Hennessy. The ladies of all ages at my table had a go at flirting with Mr. Box, who was very attentive and answered all of our annoying questions. The wines were also very thoughtful and well-paired with the resort chefs cuisine, and really, after five or six glasses of the stuff, who isn't having a grand time?
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