It's been a while i've blogged, and as always, it's certainly not due to lack of will. Why linger, let's turn the page to this day, today I'd like to tell a tale. The one of a little amazing city called Ocean Grove. As every other story written by me, it is the one of an underdog. Ocean grove: "quaint and idyllic" like my friend adequately baptized it. Let's not pretend like I know New Jersey on my backhand. Actually, I think this story is more about writing, I've missed doing so. Thankfully the outlet is Ocean Grove, the town leaves me quite inspired, inhibited with it's beauty, yet finds a way to be sober, literally dry, historic, as well as whimsical.
For memorial day I was looking for a town, with a beach, far from the crowded Ocean City and all it's neighboring towns, removed enough to be on its own, however not lacking the vibrant feel to a holiday town. The postcard of this town reads everything I've eluded to in the intro. This is a "dry" town. Breathe! the next packie is 0.5 miles away. End to end, as small as your jogging route. Heavily Christian, methodist; the church bells ring gospel tunes to enlighten every hour. The beach is as I've imagined: quiet, family friendly, but also very private. Old, Victorian houses grazes the shore, stacked like a straight deck so every balcony has a straight view to the ocean. Friendly are the foes, everyone here is eager to usher a greeting.
It's neighbor Asbury Park takes all the crazies away, inadvertently creating the excitement that Ocean Grove needs. Both towns are torn, evidently by past hardship: with a destruct casino, and an empty lot that used to be a park. However this also is a blessing, leaving Asbury to be the center of entertainment, high end bars and food, an amazing boardwalk and like everything good, short, leaving you in lackluster. The effort of building new and lasting impression experience is a result of the desolation these town faced. I feel guilt giving it all away, all I can try to tease you with is, this place is not short of myth and mystical, it is simply a must experience!