Welcome to our 2017 American Adventure! (commencing 11th September)
Image
7
Author Archives: Simon and Sandra
Day 17 – Atlanta to Heathrow and Home
Well, we have arrived back at our abode and are now enjoying a good old cup of tea for Si and a cappuccino for moi. I only had one the whole time we were away!
Atlanta Airport is very nice but it’s huge and was extremely busy. Our flight was, once again, completely full. We arrived back at Heathrow an hour ahead of schedule but they wouldn’t let us land and so had to circle for about 45 minutes, eventually arriving on the stand one minute before our original scheduled time!
At least we were very quickly through Immigration, because we have the bio-metric passports so we can use the e-passport gates. You just put the passport on the glass and hey presto you’re through. Even our cases arrived quickly. We met our driver and where home within about an hour.
I am pleased to report that for the first time in like ages, our suitcases had not been opened and checked by U.S. Security! Hooray!
The one bad thing about holidays is having to unpack the suitcases and get all the washing on the go. A good lesson there not to take too much in the first place!
We’ve had another great time in the good ol’ U.S. of A, met some wonderful new people and connected again with some old friends, namely Denise and Desiree. We saw some memorable things, suffered in extreme heat and humidity but it was all worthwhile. We drove 1416 miles this year, so not many compared with previous holidays.
It’s time to say ‘farewell’ once again, to sign off the blog for another year and to thank you all for travelling with us and for the comments you posted. It’s always good to know that it’s not just us reading it!
So, until we all meet again, we would just like to say, as always, ………………..
arrivederci, adeus, hejdå, 再见, zoi geen, zai jian, tot ziens, au revoir, tschüss, shalom, ciao, じゃね, anyeonghi gasyeo, poka/Пока, adios, hejdå, tạm biệt, vΘleft, farvel, ya sas, tókša akhé
and see you all next time. Bye!
(I do not own the video or its contents)
Day 16 – Savannah to Atlanta
Surprise, surprise, I didn’t think I’d get to write the blog today but as we arrived at the airport in plenty of time and there’s free wifi I thought I would make use of the time and get it done.
We checked out of our hotel this morning at the latest time we could 12.00, because our flight tonight isn’t until 10.10 p.m.
It was another glorious day and the drive was very pleasant. We decided that we would stop for lunch once we found a Cracker Barrel (CB). We had to drive a couple of hours before we found one but I saw the CB sign from way, way down the road and shouted at the top of my voice ‘Cracker Barrel’. I shouted so loud that Margaret (sat nav) asked me to speak my instructions. It was so funny!
Cracker Barrel!!
Sadly, this one was not ‘up to scratch’. The service was awful! With CB you can be in eat and out in a jiffy but today it took well over an hour.
The food was good though. Si had his shrimp and I decided that as it was the final day of our holiday that I could ‘let myself go’ a little and I had a burger with cheese and fries! It was just fabulous. We ordered an apple dessert but the poor young waitress who was under great stress got all flustered and delivered us a cobbler with cream and ice-cream. It was huge and we didn’t manage to eat it all.
Si with his shrimp
Sand with her naughty burger!
On the table they have a little game that customers can play while they wait for their food. It’s a form of solitaire!! We both had a go but of course after a few tries Si managed to win the game. Well he would, wouldn’t he!! Bless!!
Si’s success
It was more or less a straight drive here to Atlanta Airport but at the last moment dear Margaret (sat nav), rather let herself down and started giving us instructions in all the wrong direction. Luckily, the signage was very good so we were able to follow that instead.
Road to Atlanta
Saw this interesting water tower along the way!
Town of Effingham!
When we arrived at the Avis Car Rental Returns we were met by a very pleasant young man who found great delight in telling us that his first foster Mum was English and how he loved our trifle, roast beef and yorkshire pudding and what fantastic cooks the British are! Crumbs, that’s a first, most Americans think our food is just awful.
It was a quick trip on the bus to the airport terminal and we waited anxiously whilst they weighed the cases!! I’m very proud to say that both cases weighed in just under our allowance!! Hooray!
For the regular blog followers you’ll know that whenever we come on holiday we usually end up purchasing an extra suitcase to accommodate all the purchases we’ve made during our travels. Well, we didn’t buy a suitcase this time but we did buy a back pack instead to take the extra load. I’ve made a note that the next time we come on holiday to remember to pack a back pack for all those ‘little extras.’ We must have six at home already!!
Thing is, the backpack is quite heavy and poor Si’s ended up carrying two, the new one and his camera bag! Hey ho!
After the bag weighing we made our way to Homeland Security and there was the biggest queue we’ve ever seen at an airport. It must have taken us 30 minutes just to get through. They use the full body scanner here. I made sure to hold my stomach in so as not to give the poor person watching the scanner a shock!
So, we’ve purchased all the nibbles to take on board. Although they give you things to eat and drink there are times when one just needs a few of their favourite things.
The flight coming out from Heathrow was an hour shorter than expected so we are hoping that the 8 hours 10 minutes back will just be 7 hours 10 minutes instead.
The weather forecast for tomorrow looks good so fingers crossed we won’t need the wet gear!
I suddenly remembered a couple of things I forgot to write in the blog yesterday!
First, do you know what they call peanuts in South Carolina? Answer: Goobers!
Secondly, there’s a house in Savannah called the Juliette Gordon Low (JGL) house that is open to the public. The owner was a very interesting lady and I wanted to tell you about her.
JGL was born in Savannah in 1860 and died in 1927. She was the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. After her husband died she travelled to Scotland and met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement. They shared a love of travel and support of the Girl Guides. In August 1911, JGL became involved with the Girl Guides, an offshoot of the Boy Scouts for girls that was headed by Agnes Baden-Powell, Sir Robert Baden Powell’s sister. JGL joined the Girl Guide movement, forming a group of Girl Guides in Scotland in 1911.
In 1912, JGL and Baden-Powell took a trip to the United States to spread the scouting movement. She hoped to spread the movement to her hometown, Savannah, as a way to help girls learn practical skills and build character. She formed the first American Girl Guide troop in Savannah, Georgia that year. In 1915 the United States’ Girl Guides became known as the Girl Scouts and JGL was the first president. She stayed active until the time of her death.
Thought that was all rather interesting.
Must close now as we are due to board shortly.
Speak to you again from ‘across the pond.’
Day 15 – Savannah
First of all let me just say that some of you may have noticed the blog is missing its sidebar! Why, goodness only knows. I’ll work on that when I get home. I think the humidity has affected it somehow!!
Well, goodness, gracious, I’ve just published this post and the sidebar’s back!! Who knows how long it will stay!?
So, today was our final full day here in Savannah. As the day was forecast to be hot and humid again we decided to spend the day visiting the Savannah History Museum and then the Georgia State Railroad Museum Historic Site rounding off with a walk back to our hotel to make sure Si had as many photos as possible and then finishing off for dinner again at The Olde Pink House.
We walked to the Museums and along the way we came across this brass statue of Johnny Mercer. In 1961, he wrote the lyrics to “Moon River” for Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Sand and Johnny Mercer
The Savannah History Museum allows you to walk through the city’s history from 1733, spanning the American Revolution and Civil War, all the way to today! It was very interesting with one item in particular being of great interest, that was ………………. the bus bench from Forrest Gump.
The Georgia State Railroad was constructed in 1853 by the Central of Georgia Railway before the outbreak of the American Civil War and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
The complex is considered the most complete antebellum railroad complex in the United States. The historic railroad structures at the site include a partial roundhouse with operating turntable, partial machine shop, Tender Frame Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Boiler House, Storehouse and Print Shop, Lumber and Planning Sheds, Coach and Paint Shops, and a partial Carpentry Shop.
Train Depot
Turntable at the museum. We rode on the train!
Sand on the train at the museum
Si on the train too – looking thoughtful!
After that we stopped for lunch at The Six Pence Pub again and this time I tried their Cottage Pie. It was very good, just needed a little more gravy. Si had crab cakes.
On the way back and as it was rather hot, we jumped on the tour bus again to take us to Forsyth Park so that Si could photograph the famous fountain. The fountain was added to the park in 1858 and is reminiscent of fountains in the Place de la Concorde in Paris and in Cuzco, Peru.
Sand in Forsyth Park
We arrived at our stop to get off and who was getting on the bus but Forrest himself!! Well, obviously not the real one but a guy just like him. He was so funny.
Forrest Gump on our tour bus!
Sand with Forrest
For those who have seen the film, right at the start it shows a feather falling from a steeple. This is the steeple it is supposed to have fallen from.
Steeple from Forrest Gump
One of the carriages showing people around Savannah
Around Savannah we’ve seen a lot of these fish downpipes on many mansions, they are supposed to be considered good luck!
Fish downpipes
So, we had dinner at The Old Pink House again! They sat us in the ballroom but it was packed and so noisy we couldn’t hear each other so they moved us to a much smaller, quieter room. The meal was lovely. Si had fillet mignon and I had pecan-crusted chicken breast followed by blueberry pie and ice-cream.
Si with his fillet mignon
Sand with her pecan-crusted chicken
Si with his blueberry pie
And Sand with her’s!
Tomorrow we drive back to Atlanta and then fly home to Heathrow so there will be no post tomorrow. The next time you’ll hear from us will be ‘across the pond.’ See you on Friday!
Day 14 – Savannah
Well, we thought it would never stop raining but it did! The day started grey and overcast but in no time at all the sun came out and it was hot and humid again.
Brief history of Savannah coming up!
The city of Savannah, Georgia, was established in 1733. It is known as America’s first planned city and attracts millions of visitors, who enjoy the city’s architecture and historic structures. Savannah’s downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States (designated in 1966).
The Yamacraws, a Native American tribe, were the first known people to settle in and around Savannah. In the 18th century, under their leader Tomochichi, they met the newly arriving European settlers.
In November 1732 the ship, Anne, sailed from Britain carrying 114 colonists, including General James Oglethorpe. On February 12, 1733, after a brief stay at Charles Town, South Carolina, Oglethorpe and his settlers landed at Yamacraw Bluff and, in an example of some of the earliest “Southern hospitality”, were greeted by Tomochici, the Yamacraws, and John and Mary Musgrave, Indian traders. The city of Savannah was founded on that date, along with the Province of Georgia. Because of the friendship between Oglethorpe and Tomochici, Savannah was able to flourish unhindered by the warfare that marked the beginnings of many early American colonies.
The city was laid out in 1733 around four open squares, each surrounded by four residential blocks and four civic blocks. The layout of a square and eight surrounding blocks was known as a “ward.” The original plan (now known as the Oglethorpe Plan) allowed for growth of the city and thus expansion of the grid; additional squares were added during the 18th and 19th centuries, and by 1851 there were 24 squares in the city. In the 20th century, three of the squares were demolished or altered beyond recognition, leaving 21. In 2010, one of the three “lost” squares, Ellis, was reclaimed. Most of Savannah’s squares are named in honor or in memory of a person, persons or historical event, and many contain monuments, markers, memorials, statues, plaques, and other tributes.
Here ends the history lesson!
So, this morning after a quick visit to the Post Office we visited some of the squares and one of which was Chippewa square. The square was named for the Battle of Chippewa and is famous for Forrest Gump’s bus bench. The bench was actually a Hollywood prop and has since been moved to the Savannah Visitor Centre. Also, this diner is where Jenny was working when she heard about Forrest’s run across America.
Forrest Gump at Chippewa Square
Jenny’s restaurant
Live Oak
River Walk
Brown Thrasher (thanks to Desiree and Denise)
Denise and Desiree, can you name the bird?
The Owens-Thomas House is a historic home and museum is on the northeast corner of Oglethorpe Square and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, as one of the nation’s finest examples of English Regency architecture.
Owens-Thomas House
We also walked down to the water front and saw this huge container ship. At one point we feared for the bridge of the ship as we felt there was no way he was going to make it under the bridge, but of course he did!
Container Ship
Sand on the river walk
On our travels this morning we came across two lovely children with their Mum selling homemade lemonade in aid of a cat charity. We purchased two glasses and told them we would include them in today’s blog. The lemonade was just what we needed, cold and very refreshing. So, Rafi, Lila and Mum Michelle, here you are!
Michelle, Lila and Rafi selling their homemade lemonade!
Today, I think for the first time on our trip we had lunch!! We happened across The Six Pence pub, together with the red British phone box outside, so decided that was the place to eat. The food was delicious. Listed on the menu was ‘Shepherd’s Pie (Cottage Pie) made from beef! We felt it our duty to point out that actually ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ is made from lamb and Cottage Pie from beef. I think they had probably been told that a few hundred times from visiting Brits! To make up for a lack of food photos recently Si took this pic.
Sand at The Six Pence Pub (do you like my crown?)
After lunch we decided to do a bus tour and spent a couple of hours being driven around the historic squares by our tour guide, Anna. She’s only been doing the job for a couple of weeks but she was very good and had us all in stitches.
Anna our tour guide
This evening for dinner we went to The Olde Pink House, Savannah’s only 18th Century Mansion which just happens to be situated next door to our hotel. It’s one of Savannah’s most popular restaurants, offering new southern cuisine in a sophisticated, yet casual setting. The food was excellent and we enjoyed it so much we are going back again tomorrow night for dinner!
The Olde Pink House restaurant
Si with his soft shell crabs
Sand and her flounder!
Si and Sand with their puds!
Tomorrow is our last day in Savannah before we head back to Atlanta on Thursday for our flight home. The weather is set fair so please join us again for our last day’s adventures.
Day 13 – Charleston to Savannah
Today was a driving day and it’s been pretty miserable! The area is under threat from Tropical Storm Colin and flash flood warnings are in place.
We decided this morning to pack our wet gear in the suitcases because we hadn’t used it and we didn’t think it would be needed now! Wrong!!
Just as we were leaving our hotel in Charleston it started to rain and then it rained and rained and rained. It was a horrible drive down to Savannah and it’s still raining now. Better weather is forecast for tomorrow so fingers crossed they’re right.
Rainstorm on the way from Charleston to Savannah!
On the way down we saw a sign for a Cracker Barrel so of course we had to stop and have lunch. The special of the day was roast chicken in a lemon sauce, it was fabulous. It came with a handmade stuffing and mashed potatoes. For dessert we had peach cobbler and ice-cream, again wonderful. Alas, again I forgot to take a photo!!
Regular followers of the blog will remember that during our past couple of holidays we have played the ‘licence plate’ game.
The Licence Plate Game
This trip we decided to do something a little different and so every time we see a Cracker Barrel sign or restaurant we raise our arms up in the air and shout ‘Cracker Barrel’ …………. well it helps to pass the time when we are driving!!
We were quite close to an outlet mall so it seemed rude not to go and do a little shopping!! They had a Talbots too so I knew that I was meant to shop there. I managed to find a few things to purchase and the savings were incredible. We also purchased a backpack to carry all those little extras we’ve managed to purchase during our trip.
We arrived at our Savannah hotel, the Planter’s Inn. It’s a 18th Century boutique hotel in the historic district of Savannah. It’s very nice and the staff are all very friendly and helpful.
The Planter’s Inn
Our room at the Planter’s Inn
Between 5.30 and 7.30 p.m. they hold a wine and cheese event for the guests of the hotel and a lady entertains by playing the piano. It’s all terribly civilised and just our kind of ‘thing.’
Sand at the cheese and wine ‘gathering’
Si and the cheese and wine ‘gathering’
The weather forecast for tomorrow is better so we are crossing our fingers that it stops raining, at least for a while. We’ve been to Savannah a couple of times before but it would be nice to get out in the sunshine and revisit the history that is Savannah.
One of the things I forgot to mention in yesterday’s blog was the fact that Charleston is ‘dry’ on a Sunday! Came as quite a shock to Si I can tell you!! No alcohol with his lunch!
Join us tomorrow for more from Savannah and to see if we’ve survived Tropical Storm Colin!!
Day 12 – Charleston
Another hot, humid day ……………….. this morning it was about 95º with humidity supposed to be at 99%. I can certainly confirm about the humidity, we were all drenched during our walk around Charleston.
We met Denise and Desiree for breakfast and then headed into Charleston. It’s such a beautiful city and the historic houses/buildings are magnificent.
Charleston, the South Carolina city founded in 1670, is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel pre-Civil-War-era houses, particularly in the bustling French Quarter and Battery areas. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbor, while Fort Sumter, a Federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, lies across the water.
We’ve had another lovely day full of laughter, fun and lots of photo-taking. We were so pleased to be able to soak our feet in this lovely fountain, it was very cooling.
Charleston Fountain
Sand and Desiree cooling their feet!
Here are some of today’s photos:
Si and the Gals
Charleston Market
Weavers at the Market
Historic homes in Charleston
King Street, Charleston
Kids cooling off
When we first visited Charleston some 20-odd years ago we stayed at a hotel called The Omni, it was lovely. The hotel is still there but under a different name now but we re-visited it just to take another look at its magnificent staircase and chandelier.
The gals are on their way home now to North Carolina. Safe trip ladies and we hope to see you in good ‘ol blighty very soon.
At last some food pics! We decided to eat early today so had Sunday brunch at the hotel.
Si with his roast beef! Makes a change from shrimp and pork belly!
Nothing quite like a good Sunday roast!
Tomorrow we move on to Savannah, another very historic city. See you there!
Day 11 – Charleston
Well, we were told today was going to be hotter than yesterday and boy, were they right!! It’s been a scorcher and very humid. It felt as though we’d done a three-hour spin class, the humidity was so bad. But hey, we are British, we can cope with just about anything!
Si had us up and out early to visit Charleston for him to take photos and me to ‘do a little shopping.’
Charleston
Charleston
Sand at the U.S. Custom House
Si managed a few photos, including accidentally wondering into a fashion photo-shoot for a magazine that was taking place at the U.S. Custom House. The lady in charge wasn’t happy about Si taking pics and actually put her hand over his camera! What! I don’t think so. Si pointed out to her that we were in a public place and he could take whatever photos he liked and he did. This is one of them ……….. very nice too!
After our photo and spending expedition we headed back to the hotel to meet up with Denise and Desiree. We’ve had a fantastic day together.
First of all we visited Middleton Place, which is a plantation built in several phases during the 18th and 19th centuries. The plantation was the primary residence of several generations of the Middleton family, many of whom played prominent roles in the colonial and antebellum history of South Carolina. The plantation is home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States.
Middleton Place
In 1865, toward the end of the U.S. Civil War, Union soldiers burned most of the house, leaving only the south wing and gutted walls of the north wing and main house. An earthquake in 1886 toppled the walls of the main house and north wing. The restoration of Middleton Place began in 1916 when Middleton descendant John Julius Pringle Smith (1887–1969) and his wife Heningham began several decades of meticulously rebuilding the plantation’s gardens.
Middleton Place
Denise at Middleton Place
Desiree at Middleton Place taking that perfect shot!
The plantation is home to various animals including horses, goats, pigs, sheep and lambs, water buffalo (newly discovered records show that Middleton Place imported water buffalo from Constantinople in the late 18th century, the first in the United States), beautiful peacocks and a guinea fowl. We also saw a small alligator in a pond and a gecko. Animals in abundance today!
Alligator at Middleton Place
Gecko at Middleton Place
Goat at Middleton Place
Water Buffalo
Peacock at Middleton Place
Peacock’s rear!
The peacock display was amazing. It occurs to me that I have never seen a peacock, feathers extended, from behind! Well that was a wrong put right today and I have to say what a magnificent view it is too. Also, when feeling threatened he did a magnificent job of vibrating his feathers!
This evening on the recommendation of one of Desiree’s friends we went for dinner at The Glass Onion just down the road from our hotel. The restaurant describes itself as ‘Upbeat spot serving refined, locally sourced soul-food favorites in charming environs.’ Well, it was lovely and the food was great. For some reason and for the third day running, I forgot to take photos of our food! What on earth is going on? I think I’ve become a little too laid back. I send my apologies to some of our blog readers who consider this an important part of the blog.
Desiree, Denise and us two at The Glass Onion
Luckily, Desiree was ‘on the ball’ and brought this oversight to my attention. She saved the day by taking a photo of Si and I eating our bread pudding dessert. Thank you Desiree. I will endeavour to get ‘back on track’ tomorrow.
Me and Si with our bread pudding …. delicious!
For the record, this evening Si and I had fried green tomatoes to start, whilst Denise and Desiree had the water melon salad (we tried that too and it was delicious), Si then partook of ribeye steak and I had Spanish mackerel, followed by us sharing the bread pudding. Denise had shrimp and grits, well she’s a southern gal, whilst Desiree had a ribeye too and both then shared key lime pie.
Some of you will remember that earlier in the blog I was asking what all the fuss was about grits! Well, Denise was telling us that we should be ordering shrimp and grits as they are a totally different ‘kettle of fish.’ We are still not convinced but she’s going to send me the recipe so that we can give them a try.
It’s a miracle that this blog is being written today because after wine with dinner and then Disaronno with my coffee I’m feeling a trifle fatigued!
It’s been a lovely day and tomorrow after breakfast we are all heading into Charleston for some site-seeing and photography. Fingers crossed it will be a little cooler than today! See you all tomorrow!
Day 10 – Charleston
Boy, was it hot and humid today! I felt sure we would expire in the heat. The day started well but didn’t finish as we had expected!
For our first full day in Charleston we decided to visit Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. It is one of America’s oldest working, living plantations and has been continually growing crops for over 320 years.
More history coming up!
The earliest known reference to the site is of 1681. It originated from a land grant given to Major John Boone. The land grant of 470 acres was given by Theophilus Patey as a wedding present to his daughter, Elizabeth, and Boone. The original wooden house was constructed in 1790. The house was a two-story, wooden house with a one-story front porch.
This photograph was taken in about 1900 and shows the former house on the grounds.
The house that stands now was built in 1936 by Thomas Stone, a Canadian who purchased the land in the early 20th century. He wanted a “grander style” home than what was there, so he built the Colonial Revival-style house.
Boone Hall
On the grounds today, besides the house, sit nine of the original slave cabins which date back to 1790-1810, a smoke house dating back to 1750, the Cotton Gin house 1853 and the grand Avenue of Oaks that was created in 1743 by Major Boone’s son, Captain Thomas Boone. He planted two evenly spaced rows of trees and it has taken 200 years for the trees to meet overhead to form the present-day scenic corridor. He was a man with great vision as he knew that he would not be alive to see his work come to fruition. In fact he died just three years after planting the trees. The live oak trees run 3/4 of a mile long from the entrance to the front house gates. Boone Hall Plantation today spans 738 acres. The oldest oak on the plantation is 600 years old.
Slave cabins
Cotton gin (under restoration)
There have been many owners over the years including English, German, Georgian, Canadians and Americans. Mr Harris M. McRae and his wife, Nancy Thomas purchased the property in 1955 and opened the plantation to the public in 1957 and have made great efforts to preserve the original structures and gardens.
Boone Hall and gardens
Avenue of live oaks planted in 1743
Si and Sand at Boone Hall
Sand at Boone Hall
There are various tours and presentations on the plantation but one of the favourites of visitors is the one called ‘Exploring the Gullah Culture’ a unique culture adapted by African slaves.
Gullah presentation
“Gullah” is a term that was originally used to designate the variety of English spoken by Gullah and Geechee people, but over time it has been used by its speakers to formally refer to their language and distinctive ethnic identity as a people.
Singing a Gullah song
Boone Hall has appeared in a number of films and TV programmes, notably the film, The Notebook, TV series North and South and Alex Hayley’s Queen. Also, the avenue of oaks at Boone Hall were used for the oak trees at Twelve Oaks, the Wilkes family in Gone With The Wind.
Boone Hall holds on average three weddings a week and they were preparing for one today. Also, another newly married couple came to have their wedding pictures taken there too.
The bride and groom!
The wedding venue by the river
We left Boone Hall in beautiful sunshine, but just ten minutes down the road drove into another storm the same as yesterday’s. Jet black sky, torrential rain, thunder and lightening. To make things worse, we suddenly had a notification in the car that there was a fault with the engine and service was needed now!!!! Charming, here we go again!!
Luckily there was an Avis facility close by so we drove there to discover it was a Sears Auto and not an actual Avis Rental office. They said the car would have to be changed over. The only problem was they had two cars of similar type but they were of a lower spec to the one we were driving so we turned both of those down. Eventually, they offered us the only other vehicle available which was a Nissan Infinity of a very high spec. I don’t think the guy was particularly happy giving us that one but he agreed to. Fingers crossed we don’t have any further problems or Avis will be receiving a very strong letter from us.
So, a very stressful ending to a lovely day. Tomorrow we meet up with Denise and Desiree and we are told it’s going to be even hotter than today!! Where’s that cool towel to mop my fevered brow!!??
Day 9 – Gatlinburg to Charleston via Hildebran, North Carolina!
So, some days you just don’t know how things are going to pan out and today was just one of those days!
Today was a driving day, from Gatlinburg to Charleston, with the drive scheduled to take about five hours. However, that five hours turned into eight hours due to a slight diversion!
I’ve been meaning to post a pic of the current ‘beast’ and this is it.
The ‘Beast’ – at least I can get in and out of this one without the need for a ladder!!
It all started when we had been driving for about an hour when I happened to pick up Si’s mobile and noticed that he had an email from a lady called Denise. Now who’s Denise you may ask and I will tell you!
Some of you will know that Si’s a member of Flickr (the photography site) and way back in May 2012 one of Si’s friends on Flickr, Denise, won the landscape picture of the year in the Sony World Photographer of the Year Competition (sorry Denise if I haven’t got that 100% correct!) and together with her sister Desiree, they were both coming to London so that Denise could collect her prize and her photograph was to be shown in an exhibition at the same time and Si and I went to London to meet them both.
Now both ladies live in North Carolina and when they knew we would be visiting this part of the world said they would drive down to meet up with us here in Charleston and I’m very excited to say that this will be happening this Saturday.
Well, back to my story. The email this morning was from Denise and as she knows I’m a movie buff, was telling us that if we didn’t mind a little deviation from our planned route to Charleston, that we would be within driving distance of ………………….. heads up you Hunger Games fans …………… the location that was used as District 12 in The Hunger Games!! Well, what were we to do, of course we deviated from our route and went immediately to Hildebran in North Carolina to check it out. I am pleased to report that I am now the proud owner of a District 12 Tribute t-shirt! Am I a happy bunny or what!!??
Sand at Peeta Mellark’s Family Bakery
Sand at Peeta’s bakery
House in District 12 of The Hunger Games
House in District 12
Thank you Denise.
The drive from Gatlinburg went through the Foothills Parkway, a very lovely area.
Foothills Parkway
We’ve been a little worried about how the weather was going to be as Tropical Storm Bonnie touched down here earlier in the week and caused flash flooding. Fingers crossed, it all seems okay now although on the way here we had a scary ten minutes as we drove through the most horrendous storm. There was thunder, lightening and the rain was so heavy and hard that cars were pulling over until it passed. However, our British bull dog spirit endured and forced us to carry on regardless! Thankfully, the rest of the trip was dry and sunny.
We are now ensconced in our hotel and looking forward to exploring Charleston over the next few days.
Day 8 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We were up and out early again today ………………… I’m so looking forward to a lie in tomorrow! Today was our last here in the National Park.
We were saying how we hadn’t seen any wildlife during our stay here, well today that all changed! We’ve seen some wild turkeys, an elk and a groundhog, although we couldn’t get a photo of the groundhog.
Turkey crossing!
Elk enjoying a meal
– Eastern Bluebird
Driving through the Park today we saw this fog bank below us in the valleys.
Fog bank
Our first port of call today was Mingo Falls on the Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary), just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At 120 feet tall, the waterfall is one of the tallest and most spectacular in the southern Appalachians. The hike to the waterfall is a round trip of only 0.4 miles in length, but is considered moderate in difficulty. Unlike the hike to Rainbow Falls we did on Monday, someone had been thoughtful enough to lay 161 concrete steps for most of the way to the Falls so making it a much easier climb. These Falls were magnificent and more than made up for the disappointment with Rainbow Falls.
Some of the steps to Mingo Falls
Mingo Falls
Si and Sand at Mingo Falls (this pic was taken by a very tall man!)
Our next visit was to the Mountain Farm Museum. The Museum is a collection of historic log buildings gathered from throughout the Smoky Mountains and preserved on a single site. Buildings include a house, barn, applehouse, springhouse, and smokehouse.
John E. Davis house at the Mountain Farm Museum – began in 1899 and took two years to build from chestnut trees. A family of nine eventually lived here!
In the late 1920s, the states of North Carolina and Tennessee began buying the land that they would deed to the nation to become Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although most of the land was owned by timber companies, more than 1,200 families also had to sell their land and homes for the creation of the new national park.
Side view of the John E. Davis house. That’s the kitchen the left
Inside the John E. Davis house
Hinge made from an old horseshoe at the Museum in the Blacksmith’s shop
The Mountain Farm Museum is part of an effort to preserve some of the cultural heritage of the Smokies. The buildings most dating from about 1900, were moved from their original locations throughout the Smokies to this site to create an open-air museum.
Sand at the John E. Davis house
Our final visit today was to Mingus Mill. Built in 1886, this historic grist mill (grinds grain into flour) uses a water-powered turbine instead of a water wheel to power all of the machinery in the building. It still stands at its original site. It was the largest in the Smokies and its wooden flume that carries the water to the Mill is 200 feet long.
Mingus Mill
The wooden flume
Part of the wooden flume
Sand on the bridge at Mingus Mill
I’m afraid to say that we do not have any food photos tonight! I think everything’s catching up with us ………….. we actually forgot to take pics! For those who like to know these things, Si had fillet steak with ribs and I had filet steak. Everything was delicious. We went again to the Texas Roadhouse.
Thanks for travelling with us through the Smokies, see you tomorrow in Charleston.
Day 7 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We were up before the ‘cock’s crow’ this morning as we were bound for Clingmans Dome here in the Park and wanted to get there before the crowds.
It was Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S. and it has been extremely busy in Gatlinburg and although most of the crowds have all gone home, it’s still holiday time for lots of people some schools have ‘broken up’ for the summer.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 and there isn’t one straight road in the whole Park. The road to the dome is no exception, it’s like riding a roller coaster twisting right and left the whole way. Just the thing for someone who suffers from motion sickness!!!
A ‘dome’ in Smoky Mountain vernacular is a “rounded mountain or ridge top.” Clingman’s Dome is 6.643 feet above sea level, the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains and the third highest summit east of the Mississippi River. A paved, but very steep trail, gaining 330 feet in elevation in a half-mile, leads to a concrete observation tower to the top of the dome. During good weather the view from the tower encompasses a seemingly endless sea of mountain ridges and valleys. The tower provides a panoramic view of 360 degrees and offers a look at the whole of the Great Smoky Mountains and beyond, including five states. It holds the distinction of being the highest point along the Appalachian Trail, a 2,174 miles footpath that runs from Georgia to Maine.
Sand on the Appalachian Trail
The area is made up of Fraser fir trees and this is one of the few areas in the world where they grow wild. Unfortunately, the firs are being attacked by a tiny non-native insect called the balsam woolly adelgid, believed to have been introduced from Europe in the 1950s.
Smoky Mountains from Clingmans Dome
The tower at Clingmans Dome
Smokey Mountains
We met a lovely young man called Thomas from Belgium at the dome. He’s walking part of the Appalachian Trial and then will be meeting his sister in Charleston and travelling on to Savannah. As that mirrors our itinerary there’s every chance we may meet him again!
Si and Sand at the tower on Clingmans Dome
Si and Sand at Clingmans Dome
Our next port of call was the Cherokee Heritage Museum in the town of Cherokee. We met some people on our Coca-Cola tour who told us this was a place not to miss and they were right.
At the Cherokee Museum
It tells the story of 13,000 years of Cherokee history. The Cherokee were the original inhabitants of the Great Smoky region. All of the southern Appalachians were once the Cherokee homeland. In the 1800s, the increasing westward movement of white settlers, coupled with fraudulent treaties with state and federal governments and the discovery of gold in Georgia, led to an escalation of conflicts. At his inauguration, President Andrew Jackson presented a plan for the removal of Native Americans to western territories (now Oklahoma) and in 1830 Congress pass the Indian Removal Act.
In May 1838, Federal troops and state militias began a brutal roundup of the Cherokee for a forced match, now known as “The Trail of Tears,” to unknown western territories.
The Museum was very thought provoking and when we had finished we decided our morale needed a little boosting so stopped off at the Cherokee Casino Resort. Well, we would wouldn’t we! It turned out to be very profitable and one of the Monopoly machines was very generous indeed!
As we are now a week into our holiday we felt it was time to right a wrong …….. Si hasn’t had any ribs yet and regular followers of the blog will know how Si likes his ribs! So, we went to Calhoun’s Restaurant here in Gatlinburg because according to them they have the “best ribs in the USA.” It turns out this could be true, Si said they were excellent.
Si’s ribs (not the best photo in the world ….. no 10 for this one!)
We started the meal with fried green tomatoes. We don’t see them on menus very often, in fact we’ve only had them once before. I’m sure you will all remember the film ‘Fried Green Tomatoes‘ and if you don’t then please get a copy immediately and enjoy. It’s a wonderful film.
I must say that I had the most wonderful beverage, well two actually, called Tito’s Mountain Mule. They were made up of handmade vodka, house made ginger ale, muddled lime and fresh mint. They were magnificent and when followed by Disaronno it’s a miracle this blog is being written tonight!!
Sand and that drink, Oh dear, by the look on my face I think this must be the second one!!
Tomorrow is our last day in the Great Smokies before moving on to Charleston so please join us again as this part of our holiday comes to an end.
Day 6 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There’s nothing I like more than a day spent soaking up history and that’s just what we’ve doing today at Cades Cove in the National Park.
Cases Cove is an 11 mile driving loop ………………. those 11 miles took us 4.5 hours to complete! At least it wasn’t as exhausting as yesterday’s hike!
Cades Cove is an isolated valley located in the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The valley was home to numerous settlers before the formation of the national park. Today Cades Cove, the single most popular destination for visitors to the park, attracts more than two million visitors a year because of its well preserved homesteads, scenic mountain views, and abundant display of wildlife.
Today’s history lesson coming up!!
For most of its history Cades Cove has been a place to visit. But for more than 100 years it also was a great place to live and before that, starting no one knows how long ago, Native Americans visited the cove. They hunted for food, deer, elk, bison and bears. Cherokees camped and hunted in the Cove for weeks, perhaps months, at a time but there is no evidence that they ever lived there.
The Cove was first settled in 1821 by about eight families and the graves of the early settlers can be seen today in the local graveyards.
John Oliver and his wife Lurena Frazier were the first permanent European settlers in Cades Cove in 1818 and were accompanied by Joshua Jobe, who had initially persuaded them to settle there. While Jobe returned to Carter County, the Olivers stayed, struggling through the winter and subsisting on dried pumpkin given to them by friendly Cherokees. Jobe returned in the Spring of 1819 with a herd of cattle in tow, and gave the Olivers two milk cows to ease their complaints.
John Oliver’s Cabin
Primitive Baptist Church settled by some of the earliest settlers in 1827
The Preacher!
Methodist Church – the original was built in 115 days for $115 in the 1820s. This one replaced it in 1902.
Gravestones of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and John Oliver and his wife, the first European Settlers of Cades Cove
In 1821, William “Fighting Billy” Tipton bought up large tracts of Cades Cove which he in turn sold to his sons and relatives, and settlement began to boom. In the 1820s, Peter Cable, a farmer of German descent, arrived in the cove and designed an elaborate system of dykes and sluices that helped drain the swampy lands in the western part of the cove. In 1827, Daniel Foute opened the Cades Cove Bloomery Forge to fashion metal tools. Robert Shields arrived in 1835 and would erect a tub mill on Forge Creek. His son, Frederick, built the cove’s first grist mill. Other early settlers would build houses on the surrounding mountains.
Grist Mill
Between 1820 and 1850, the population of Cades Cove grew to 671, with the size of cove farms averaging between 150 and 300 acres. The early cove residents, although relatively self-sufficient, were dependent upon nearby Tuckaleechee Cove for dry goods and other necessities.
Cantilever Barn
An old wagon
Cades Cove had telephone service as early as the 1890s, when Dan Lawson and several neighbors built a phone line to Maryville. By the 1850s, various roads connected Cades Cove with Tuckaleechee and Montvale Springs, some of which are still maintained as seasonal passes or hiking trails.
Reminded me of how I felt yesterday on the hike!
Sadly, we didn’t see any wildlife although at one point a Ranger told us that three bears were in the hills.
The Cove is a very beautiful place, a meadow surrounded by huge tree-covered mountains.
Cades Cove Meadow
There was an abundance of butterflies as we travelled round today
Thought the meadow was the perfect place to try out our new selfie stick! It’s a grand item and thanks goes to my good mate Toni and her hubby Colin for finding it in the first place! Cheers you two!
Si and Sand in Cades Cove meadow
Oh my goodness …. two soppy old geezers!!
Tonight for dinner we decided on Italian. We went to a restaurant recommended by the hotel. The food was okay but not exceptional. They say they serve the “Best Bloody Mary in Town” so of course I had to try one. Well, it nearly blew my head off! The staff were very friendly and the man who greeted us was once a circus performer, an acrobat and had toured the whole of the U.K. That was some years ago and he now writes songs and plays music at Octoberfests.
Sand and her Bloody Mary!
Si and his Beef Tip Linguini
For the older generation reading this blog, he also told us that he had met Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits on a few occasions and proudly showed us the photos. You just never know who you are going to meet!
We are now going to rest our weary blistered feet ready for our next Park outing tomorrow. See you there!
Day 5 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
So, today we decided to take our first real hike of the holiday and go to Rainbow Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Officially, the round trip we were told was 5.4 miles! Strange that, my Apple Watch told me the round trip was a total of 7.83 miles! We were not the only ones commenting on the fact that the trail seemed a lot longer than it should have done.
When we arrived at the trail head the world and its mother were there too and everyone was clambering for a parking space. We drove further on down the road and managed to find one but it was quite a hike back to the start.
Parking at the trail head!
The day started overcast and as we made our way up to the falls we were very grateful that the sun had not appeared as I don’t think we would have made it to the top if it had. The downside was that as the sun was not shining at the Falls there was no rainbow. If it hadn’t been for the humidity that felt like 100% the hike would have been much easier. By the time we reached the Falls we felt as though we’d done a 10 hour hike in the Rain Forest! We were glowing profusely!
Sand suffering from the humidity!
The climb to the falls was up hill all the way. We climbed approximately 1500 feet. The highest point is 4285 feet above sea level and according to the map we had the hike was classed as ‘strenuous’ although officially they say its ‘moderate’ with a difficulty of 8.77. All I know is that it was hard going with fallen rocks, tree roots, mud and water along the way. I now know why Si didn’t mention the classification to me before we left!!
Si on the trail up to Rainbow Falls
On the way up the trail someone told us about an owl sitting in one of the trees and sure enough there he was. At one point he swooped down into a stream and grabbed a bite to eat.
Owl on the trail
Once we arrived at our destination there was a little disappointment with the Falls themselves. Perhaps we’ve been spoilt by the beautiful ones we’ve seen in other National Parks. Everyone told us on the way up how wonderful they were. They were certainly pretty but not as magnificent as we had expected.
Rainbow Falls
On the trail
On the trail to Rainbow Falls
Small fall on the trail
A few photos showing the hard life of a photographer on the trail trying to get that one perfect shot!
Some fauna on the trail ….
It was a relief to get back to the hotel for a clean up and then dinner. Tonight we ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. A restaurant based on the film Forrest Gump. The food was great and we managed to answer most of the questions when tested by the waitress on our Forrest Gump knowledge.
Si and his favourite shrimp!
Crumbs, that corn is nearly as big as me!
Because we ordered two particular drinks with our meals, we are now the proud owners of two ‘special’ Bubba Gump glasses. Exciting or what!? Just got to get them home in one piece!
I think we will sleep well tonight! See you all tomorrow.
Day 4 – Atlanta to Gatlinburg
Today was our first long drive of the holiday, four hours from Atlanta to Gatlinburg but after stopping for breakfast, petrol and site seeing it turned out to be six hours but we can now officially say we are back on the ……………….. holiday road!
Press to play and sing along!
Of course, this is not Si but I thought he looked like him!
I forgot to mention in yesterday’s blog about the scare we had when we were driving from Coca-Cola World to Margaret Mitchell’s house. We turned on to a road and suddenly there was a sign that said we were driving the wrong way! Well, you can image, we ground to a halt immediately in complete panic just waiting for a vehicle to come along and smash into us and then suddenly another car went past us going in exactly the same direction. It seems the sign had been turned round and was facing the wrong way. Not funny!
At one point this morning we were driving in seven lanes of traffic so it was a relief when we saw a sign on the side of the road that indicated a Cracker Barrel establishment was just a mile away. We didn’t need to be told twice, we were off that highway and in there for breakfast. It was 9.30 and the place was heaving with people eating breakfast. It’s a country store and restaurant and you can buy a rocking chair if you wish or a jar of jam.
Cracker Barrel is one of those establishments that no matter where in America you stop to eat in one, you know exactly what it’s going to look like inside and the food will be great and good value. I had one of the healthy breakfasts while Si had one of the most unhealthiest! Are we surprised?
Sand and her healthy breakfast
Si at Cracker Barrel with his unhealthy breakfast!
His breakfast included grits! My goodness what is it about grits? Answers on a postcard please! 
We stopped at various points in the Great Smoky Mountains on the way to Gatlinburg to take photos but we will be going back over the next few days so there will be more to come.
Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains
Sand in the Great Smoky Mountains
The Reservation is at the southern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The State line runs across the National Park and this sign is at Newfound Gap
We are staying at the historic Gatlinburg Inn. It was built in 1937 and has accommodated U.S. Presidents and Hollywood stars since it was first opened. We are going to try and find out who has actually stayed in our room over the years.
Tonight we went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Our very dear friends Dot and John first introduced us to this great eatery a few years ago and as soon as we saw one here in Gatlinburg we just knew that was where we would be having dinner. The food as always, was wonderful.
Si at the Texas Roadhouse
Sand having dinner at the Texas Roadhouse
Skinny Lime Margherita
I had a Skinny Lime Margherita to drink which was made up of Tequila Gold, triple sec, lime juice and a hint of orange, it was delicious but not the kind of drink to have on an empty stomach!! Good job Si was there to guide me back to the hotel!!!
Tomorrow, less food photos and more from the Great Smokey Mountains!
Day 3 – Atlanta
Well, we are now into Day 3 and I’m getting into my blogging stride! It takes a while for the old grey matter to start functioning again. A year’s a long time in the life of the elderly!!
So, today we headed out for our VIP Tour of Coca-Cola World. It was truly magnificent. Our tour guide Steve, originally from Miami, was very knowledgeable and it made the whole tour a truly memorable event.
Coca-Cola World
Confederate Colonel John Pemberton who was wounded in the American Civil War, became addicted to morphine and began a quest to find a substitute for the dangerous opiate. The prototype Coca-Cola recipe was formulated at Pemberton’s Eagle Drug and Chemical House, a drugstore in Columbus, Georgia, originally as a coca wine. He may have been inspired by the formidable success of Vin Mariani, a French coca wine.
John Pemberton inventor of Coca-Cola
In 1885, Pemberton registered his French Wine Coca nerve tonic. In 1886, when Atlanta and Fulton County passed prohibition legislation, Pemberton responded by developing Coca-Cola, essentially a nonalcoholic version of French Wine Coca. The first sales were at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 8, 1886. It was initially sold as a patent medicine for five cents a glass at soda fountains, which were popular in the United States at the time due to the belief that carbonated water was good for the health. Pemberton claimed Coca-Cola cured many diseases, including morphine addiction, dyspepsia, neurasthenia, headache, and impotence.
The exact formula of Coca-Cola’s natural flavorings (but not its other ingredients, which are listed on the side of the bottle or can) is a trade secret. The original copy of the formula was held in Sun Trust Bank’s main vault in Atlanta for 86 years. On December 8, 2011, the original secret formula was moved from the vault at SunTrust Banks to a new vault containing the formula and the vault is on display for visitors to see at the World of Coca-Cola museum.
The Coca-Cola vault that holds the secret recipe! Note the Coca-Cola bottle on the fault handle!
As Coca-Cola has been a sponsor of the Olympics since 1928 they have an exhibition at the museum and one of the highlights for us today was when Steve arranged for a torch from the London 2012 Olympics to be brought out so that Si and I could hold it and have our photographs taken. It was very exciting.
The 2012 London Olympic torch! (We forgot to remove the audio headsets!)
Us with the Coca-Cola bear!
The first Coca-Cola six-pack (on the left) was sold in 1923!
Sand at Coca-Cola World soda fountain (again, forgot to remove the headset!)
How about this then! Si with hair!
Sand with the statue of John Pemberton
We then went to visit the Margaret Mitchell house (author of Gone With The Wind). Being a big movie buff this was very exciting for me. In fact, Margaret and her husband only rented an apartment within the building. The building has burnt down twice and been renovated but the apartment where she wrote the book managed to survive. It was quite small and even when she made a lot of money through the book and movie she never actually owned her own house.
The Margaret Mitchell apartment is the three windows on the left
She wrote GWTW in 1926 when she was laid-up at home with a broken ankle and having read the local library and becoming bored, it was suggested that she may like to write a book. She wrote the book never intending for it to be published. At one point when a publisher came knocking about her book she denied ever writing one. She considered it not worthy of publication and thought her own writing was awful. She was eventually persuaded to let a publisher look at her manuscript and the rest as they say, is history.
Once it was published in 1936 it became an overnight success and she became an instant celebrity and earned her the Pulitzer Prize. The film version, also lauded far and wide, came out just three years later. More than 30 million copies of her Civil War masterpiece have been sold worldwide, and it has been translated into 27 languages.
Margaret wrote most of GWTW at the desk in the window
Scarlett’s portrait from the movie hung in Rhett Butler’s bedroom
The original door to Tara, Scarlett’s home as seen in the movie
Scarlett’s home, Tara, from Gone With The Wind
Sadly Margaret died on the 17th August 1949 at the age of 49 after being knocked down by a speeding car. She only ever wrote the one novel.
Margaret Mitchell
Dinner this evening came in the form of fish and chips!! Oh dear, boring! But there really weren’t many restaurants from us to chose from and so we ended up in Fado Irish pub. I have to say the meal was delicious. I, of course, had the smaller lunch portion whilst my ‘dear one’ had the dinner portion which consisted of two pieces of fish plus chips and coleslaw!! The bread pudding dessert with ice cream was pure delight. We shared that!
Si’s dinner tonight
A question for the ladies reading the blog ………………. what is it about men and them never listening to what their good ladies tell them!!?? I went out of my way to purchase sun-tan lotion with insect repellant because I knew that coming here with the high temperatures and humid conditions would equal mosquitoes. I’m very prone to mosquito bites so covered myself from head to toe yesterday, Si didn’t and of course what happened ……….. we were no sooner in the woods and bing, bang, bosh, he’s bitten half a dozen times! Today, he’s covered in lotion!
I’ve been meaning to post this photo of the courtyard at our hotel here in Atlanta. A lovely place to sit for a drink at any time of day!
The courtyard at our hotel
Before we came to Atlanta we were told there wasn’t really much to see here but our experience has been that in fact there’s lots to see but we will have to save everything else for another day as we are off to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park tomorrow.
See you there!
Day 2 – Atlanta
We were greeted this morning by a slightly overcast sky and there had been a shower. Not what we wanted to see! However, in no time at all the skies had cleared and were blue with brilliant sunshine and it soon heated up. At the moment it’s a barmy 93º.
After breakfast we headed out to the Atlanta History Centre to explore Georgia’s past. It was fascinating. They have many exhibitions, historic houses and 22 acres of gardens and trails to explore. The one exhibition that stood out was about the American Civil War. It was very moving and the artefacts on show were just mind blowing. There’s a total of 1,400 original Union and Confederate items on show and is one of the largest Civil War exhibitions in the country.
Roughly 2% of the population, an estimated 620,000 men, lost their lives in the line of duty. Taken as a percentage of today’s population, the toll would have risen as high as six million.
One of the houses we visited was called the Swan House. In 1924 Edward Inman who was heir to a large cotton brokerage fortune that was amassed in the post-Civil War “New South” era together with his wife Emily, hired an architectural firm to design a house and gardens for them. They moved in in 1928 but just three years later, Edward, at the age of 49 died from a heart attack. This left Emily and their two children with the large house and 28 acres. Emily lived in the house until she died at the age of 84 in 1965. It was at this time that the Atlanta Historical Society purchased the property and opened it to the public. Most of the items in the house belonged to the Inman family.
The house and the furnishings underwent a four-year $5.4 million (£3.72 million) restoration in 2004. There are living history characters in the house who play the parts of the houses’ former owners and servants and they keep in character the whole time.
The magnificent staircase at Swan House
Now, you Hunger Games fans sit up and pay attention for the ‘hot news’ of the day …………………. Swan House was used in the filming of Catching Fire and Mockingjay as President Snow’s mansion!!!!
President Snow’s House in The Hunger Games
Sand on the porch of the Wood Family Cabin at the Atlanta Historic Centre.
We went for lunch at the Swan House Restaurant. It’s been a restaurant for 50 years and apart from two things added in the past few years, the menu is still exactly the same! It was full of mainly ladies who ‘lunch’. The most popular item on the menu is called ‘Swan’s Favourite’ and is a chicken salad served in delicate hand-made timbales with their famous creamy frozen fruit salad and Swan Coach House cheese straws. It may sound strange but it was fabulous.
The Snow House Restaurant
Simon at the Snow House Restaurant with the Snow House favourite!
This evening we went to see the Atlanta Braves baseball team play the Milwaukee Brewers. The 1996 Olympics were held here in Atlanta and the Olympic stadium is currently the Braves’ home. This will be their last season as they are moving to a new stadium. On the entrance road to the stadium they still have the Olympic rings. As you can imagine, it’s a huge stadium and was mostly empty tonight. It’s a shame, the Braves are not doing very well this season. There wasn’t any atmosphere at all. Not like a football match back home where regular abuse is thrown at the team if they are not ‘up to scratch.’ Baseball is a very family-orientated game and there were lots of babies and young children there tonight. I was amazed at the amount of food and drink consumed during the game.
Simon at the Atlanta Braves’ Baseball Game
Unfortunately, very dark clouds rolled in and ‘rain and thunder stopped play.’ Most of the fans got up and left at that point and sadly, the Braves, were losing!
It sure has been hot and humid today, not that we are complaining of course. Tomorrow we are off for a VIP tour of the Coca Cola factory and if we get time, to visit the home and museum of Margaret Mitchell the author of …………………. Gone With The Wind!
Day 1 – Heathrow to Atlanta!
So, Day 1 of our 2016 adventure begins!
We awoke to grey overcast skies in the UK but my weather app was telling me that when we arrived in Atlanta it should be 82º …………… I think we can cope with that!
The car arrived on time to take us to Heathrow and turned out to be the same guy who drove us last year! We arrived at Heathrow T5 in plenty of time which was lucky really as earlier in the day the M3 had been completely closed!
Unlike Virgin Airlines where you can drop your bags off at anytime, with British Airways (yes, flying with BA this time) it’s timed so we couldn’t off-load the bags until 1.00 p.m. and decided a spot of lunch was in order while we waited!
We ate in Carluccio’s and very nice it was too. We both had Venison Tortelloni, yes that’s what is was, not tortellini, (handmade fresh tortelloni filled with wine braised venison), it was delicious. Simon had a soft drink, Limonata, (he’s driving later) and I had a Gin Giardino (gin, elderflower, Prosecco and fresh apple juice served with a slice of cucumber) and very lovely it was too! Here’s the first of the food photos!!! Well, it wouldn’t be the blog without a few food photos!
I must confess to having two cream teas yesterday! One in the airport lounge and another on the plane. Well, it seemed rude not to!
Had to make the usual Duty Free run for perfume (a girl can never have too much perfume!) and on to the lounge to sit and relax until our flight was called.
I think we must have done well over our 10,000 steps (that’s good as we missed our spinning class!) as the aircraft was about 10 miles across the airport (well, not really but it sure felt that way the amount of time it took us to reach it).
It was a good flight and although we were told it would be 9 hrs 10 minutes it actually turned out to be only 8 hours so that was a bonus.
Those of you who have travelled to the US will know that there’s usually a long queue to get through Border Control and you have your finger prints and a mug shot taken. Well, here in Atlanta they have ‘booths’ were you do all those things yourself and then you end up with a ‘receipt’ confirming who you are and on the ‘receipt’ is a very grainy grey face shot (not a pretty sight!)
Once the bags were collected (only two I might add and well under our allowance!) we got on a bus to take us to the car rental facility. ‘Hold on to your hats’ comes to mind here! We had a very pleasant lady bus driver who obviously liked her speed! We were taking 15 mph bends at 50 mph! It would have been funny if it wasn’t quite so scary. We were holding on for dear life. There was a young lady with us on the bus and she said she was going to report the driver as she was positively dangerous.
We decided on an upgrade when we get to Avis, they did us a very good deal on a Ford Escape, that’s an SUV to those in the know! For our regular blog readers, you will remember that was the vehicle we had about three versions of on our ‘big trip’ back in 2013. Photo will follow at some point.
So, here we are at our hotel. We arrived at 10.30 p.m. local time so that was 3.30 a.m. to us and we were worn out. Still, we’ve had a sleep of sorts and it’s now 5.09 a.m. and hence I think it 10.09 a.m. so decided to catch up on the blogging.
Tonight we have tickets to a baseball game so looking forward to that. As for the rest of the day we haven’t decided yet but I think a nice big breakfast is ‘the order of the day.’
Welcome to our 2016 American Adventure! (Commencing 25th May)
Image
Day 23! Home
Well, here we are at home.
I managed to spend some more dollars at the Duty Free in Newark Airport before we took off. Well, when a girl sees a bargain, what is she supposed to do!? Perfume this time but at least it didn’t take up too much room.
We didn’t have the pleasure of flying back on the Dreamliner last night, we had to make do with an Airbus but it was fine. The flight was uneventful and we even arrived back early at Heathrow.
We whipped through the e-passport gates, our luggage was practically first off the plane, met up with our driver and were heading out of Heathrow within 15 minutes!
When we arrived home and opened the cases it came as no surprise that one of them had been opened ‘for security purposes’ at Newark and searched. At least this time it was left tidy!
We had a great time, met some wonderful people and saw some memorable things. We drove 2684 miles.
So, it’s time to say ‘farewell’ once again and to thank you all for travelling with us and for the comments you posted.
Until we all meet again, we would just like to say ………………..
arrivederci, adeus, hejdå, 再见, zoi geen, zai jian, tot ziens, au revoir, tschüss, shalom, ciao, じゃね, anyeonghi gasyeo, poka/Пока, adios, hejdå, tạm biệt, vΘleft, farvel, ya sas, tókša akhé
and see you on the next ………………………. holiday road:
‘Bye’ Hope to see you all soon!
Click to play:
Day 22! Lake George, NY to Newark, NJ
So, we left Lake George after our very short visit to head back to Newark for our flight to the UK. Lake George is a real tourist area but very nice.
We had re-weighed our suitcases before we left Dot and JB’s just to make sure, but they seemed okay.
The Luggage 2015
Before we left we stopped off to see Prospect Mountain at Lake George.
Prospect Mountain
Prospect Mountain is one of Lake George Region’s iconic landmarks. This beautiful mountain, located in the foothills of the Adirondacks, has a 2030 foot summit with magnificent panoramic views of Lake George and Adirondack Region. It is very popular among tourists, locals, and hikers because of its 100 mile view at the peak, and anyone can either hike or drive up to the top. The views are so spectacular and breathtaking, one must not leave Lake George before going to Prospect Mountain… it’s so unbelievably amazing!
Lake George Village from Prospect Mountain
Sand and Lake George from Prospect Mountain
Old Cable Railway
Old Cable Car on Prospect Mountain at Lake George
The Adirondacks
Prospect Mountain originally had to use an incline railway car to access the house at the top where people could dance and eat. Construction on the railway began in January 1895 and cost $120,000 total. Construction was finished six months later, with the railway opening on June 15, 1895. After failing financially, the railway system ceased operation in 1903. The area was bought and soon donated to the State of New York.
Prospect Mountain House
In 1932, the building at the top of the mountain burned down and was replaced by a steel fire tower. For 30 years, people studied what to do with the land, which was owned by the state, and in 1954, New York Governor Tom Dewey signed legislation to build a highway up the mountain. Twelve years later, in 1966, then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller made funds available for the highway. The Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway was opened in 1969, dedicated to war veterans and providing access to the 2,021-foot (616 m) summit with a 100-mile (160 km) view at its peak.
The drive to Newark was a short one for a change, about four hours and as our flight was not taking off until 10.30 pm we decided to have lunch (eating again!) along the way. We found one of the places we like to eat at, Cracker Barrel, it’s a country restaurant and store, they sell lots of interesting things, including rocking chairs.
Whenever we eat at one it’s always packed full of the ‘older’ generation. The meals are great and a good price too. I had the most gorgeous Apple Cider Chicken. The sauce was so lovely I’m going to try and replicate it! Si had chicken fried chicken, yes that’s what it’s called.
We were then back on the road. It was an uneventful trip most of the way ……….. until I saw a man bent over the bonnet of a Police car being handcuffed!! Oh, plus these lorries being transported, all on the back of each other!
Lorries
Welcome to New Jersey
I must make one final mention of Margaret (sat nav). She was doing beautifully, until we were just a short distance from Newark when she suddenly went to sleep. Whoosh, she was gone, black screen, just what you need when you are in loads of traffic. She re-booted eventually and we made it to the Hertz return facility.
It’s probably best not to say too much about what happened at the Hertz facility!! All I’ll say is that we were fortunate to catch the flight back to the UK!!!!!!!!!
Day 21! Elmira, NY to Lake George, NY
Today we said ‘Farewell’ to Dot and JB. It’s always sad to leave but fingers crossed we shall see each other again very soon.
Our journey to Lake George was uneventful but we thought this was rather interesting …………….. a sign for a ‘Text Stop’, soon to arrive in the UK I’m sure! It indicates that a ‘Rest Area’ is imminent so anyone who wants to read or send a text should wait until they reach the rest area rather than texting/reading whilst driving!
Text Stop
Once we had checked into our hotel we made our way to Fort William Henry.
Those of you who know me well will understand why I wanted to visit the Fort ……………. it was portrayed in the movie ‘The Last of the Mohicans’ and you know I love a movie location!
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George in the province of New York. It is best known as the site of notorious atrocities committed by the Huron tribes against the surrendered British and provincial troops following a successful French siege in 1757, an event portrayed in James Fenimore Cooper’s novel, The Last of the Mohicans, first published in January 1826.
The fort’s construction was ordered by Sir William Johnson in September 1755, during the French and Indian War, as a staging ground for attacks against the French fort at Crown Point called Fort St. Frederic. It was part of a chain of British and French forts along the important inland waterway from New York City to Montreal, and occupied a key forward location on the frontier between New York and New France. It was named for both Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland, the younger son of King George II, and Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, a grandson of King George II and a younger brother of the future King George III.
Following the 1757 siege, the French destroyed the fort and withdrew. While other forts were built nearby in later years, the site of Fort William Henry lay abandoned. In the 19th century, it was a destination for tourists. In the 1950s interest in the history of the site revived, and a replica of the fort was constructed. It is now operated as a living museum and a popular tourist attraction in the village of Lake George.
Inside Fort William Henry
Musket Shot
Cannon Shot
Si at Fort William Henry
Sand Flying the Flag
While we were there it suddenly started to thunder and a storm rolled in but it didn’t last very long ……………. here and gone in a few minutes!
Storm on Lake George
For dinner tonight we took the advice of Bud on reception here at the hotel and went to eat at the Log Jam. Great recommendation, great food! As this will be the last main holiday meal and as I know there are those who read the blog who do enjoy a food photo or two, I thought you may enjoy these. Here’s Si with his ribs and scallops and me with my salmon!
Si enjoying his ribs!
And his scallops!
I had the ‘healthy’ salmon
Tomorrow evening we fly home and land on Wednesday morning, so our final post will be from good ol’ Blighty!
See you ‘across the pond.’
Day 20! Elmira, NY
Today has been another magnificent hot day.
The blog today will be rather short as we’ve spent most of the day shopping and eating!!
2 Guys, 2 Gals and a Dog!
After yesterday’s breakfast pizza we decided to have a light breakfast of fruit and cereals. We thought it best to save ourselves for dinner as we are going with Dot and JB to one of our favourite restaurants!
We decided a visit to the Mall was in order to do a little shopping so Dot, Si and myself set off for Sam’s Club and Macy’s. We found some rather lovely things to buy. Dot and I actually saw a dress we both liked so bought one each. We reckoned that as we both live on different sides of the Atlantic that it wouldn’t be a problem.
Tonight we went to Texas Roadhouse and enjoyed some great food, steaks and shrimp were the order of the day.
There’s always a bucket of peanuts in their shells on the table to nibble while we wait to order and they serve the most magnificent fresh hot rolls with cinnamon butter.
Peanuts in their shells at the Texas Roadhouse
Oh My! Dot and JB at the Texas Roadhouse (I’ll get a telling off for posting this one!)
JB and Si at the Texas Roadhouse
Oh dear, perhaps I shouldn’t have had the Hurricane Margarita!!
Unfortunate!
Day 19! Elmira, NY
Gosh, it’s hot here today, probably the hottest day we’ve had on our holiday so far!
The Gang and Kasha, the dog, in Elmira
We started the day with a Skype ‘chat’ with my Bro and SIL back home in the UK to catch up on all the news and for them to say ‘hello’ to Dot and Nat, then it was time for breakfast. Dot had made a special trip to the local store to buy us a breakfast pizza! We’ve had one before, they are very good indeed, but oh my, this one was huge! One side was bacon and eggs, the other ham and eggs. Now, that’s what you call a pizza …. only in the USA!!
Our Breakfast Pizza!
It was our plan to head towards The Waterfront Restaurant in Hammondsport for lunch. Later of course, not immediately after breakfast pizza! We’ve been there before and it sits right on the beautiful Keuka Lake. The last time we visited we saw a sea plane landing on the Lake.
On the way we stopped off at Dot’s summer camp.
3 Gals at Dot’s summer camp
The Models up at Dot’s summer camp
Barn at Dot’s summer camp
Before we got to the Lake we stopped off in Hammondsport to take a look at the annual Art Show that was being held in the town square. There were lots of jewellery, pottery, photographic and painting stalls.
At one photographic stall we came across lots of photos that could have come straight out of our laptop!! it seems that the photographer had visited lots of the same places as us and had taken lots of the same photos as our resident photographer!
There was even an Irish band to keep us entertained, they were very good.
The Irish Band
There was one particular jewellery stall that we took a great interest in where the necklaces, bracelets and earrings had been handmade featuring Caring Stones, that is African Kazuri Beads.
Kazuri (meaning “small and beautiful” in Swahili) beads are unique, hand crafted ceramic beads made by women in Kenya. The industry started and continues today, for the purpose of helping disadvantaged Kenyan women find a way out of poverty and currently supports employment of over 300 African women.
Kauri provides these women, primarily widows and single parents, with fair wages, benefits, child care and AIDS education. All Kazuri products are fair trade.
We were enticed to buy a few things!
Dot and Sand’s Jewellery
After our purchases we continued on to The Waterfront where we managed a fine lunch at a great table while enjoying all the boats on the Lake.
3 Girls enjoying lunch at The Waterfront
2 Gals and a Guy enjoying lunch at The Waterside
Keuka Lake
Sadly, Nat had to leave us today and return home to Pennsylvania but we look forward to the time when we will all be together again.
Day 18! Lake Pleasant, NH to Elmira, NY
So, the long awaited day has arrived …………
We had a long drive, leaving New Hampshire and travelling through Vermont into New York state. We passed Lebanon Airport and Windsor, birthplace of Vermont in 1777 and in Wilmington we saw Dot’s Restaurant! I think our Dot must be moonlighting, I’ll have a word with her about that!
Dot’s Restaurant!! Wow!
Vermont has no major roads that we saw and so it took us longer than expected to drive through it. We expected our drive to Elmira would take six hours but after a couple of stops and then a major accident, it took seven. At least the drive was lovely and sunny.
Vermont is lovely and seems to be mainly made up of trees so there wasn’t really much to photograph as we travelled along, but we did see this rather oversized chair!!
The Big Chair
We are now together with two of our best buddies Dot and Nat (JB will be here on Sunday) and spent a lovely afternoon and evening catching up, laughing and enjoying a lovely meal together and an evening stroll.
Three Besties! Me, Dot and Nat
2 Girls and a Boy (Si)!
Nat, Dot and Si at Eldridge Park
Day 17! Lake Winnipesaukee
We decided an easy day was the order of the day as tomorrow we have a six-hour drive to Elmira in upstate New York.
Tomorrow is a very special day as we will be meeting up with our best pals, Dot, Nat and JB. Those of you who know me well or have been following the blog for a while will know that Dot and Nat are my ‘Twilight’ best buddies. It’s been two years since we were all together so as you can imagine, we are all very excited!
‘The Gang’ May 2013
So, we drove back to Lake Winnipesaukee but this time went to the west side of the Lake to a town called Wolfeboro. It’s not very large, the population at the 2010 census was just 6,269, but as it’s a holiday destination it was very busy. Parking’s a problem but we were very lucky and managed to find a space just off the main street.
Lake Winni at Wolfeboro
The town was granted by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth in 1759 to four young men of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and named Wolfeborough in honour of English General James Wolfe, who had been victorious at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. In 1763, 2,300 acres were added to the 60 acres reserved for the governor. Colonial Governor John Wentworth, his nephew, established an estate on the site, known as Kingswood. Built in 1771 beside what is now called Lake Wentworth this was the first summer country estate in northern New England. Settled in 1768, the town was incorporated in 1770.
Wolfeboro
Over the years Wolfeboro, whose town motto is “The Oldest Summer Resort in America” became popular as a summer colony, particularly for families from Boston and southern New Hampshire. Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, Kurt Vonnegut, Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon have spent time in Wolfeboro and in August 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy holidayed there too.
It has loads of little shops and eating establishments. Of course, we shopped and then we ate, at Jo Green’s Garden Cafe. We sat on the upper deck and the view out over the Lake was just wonderful.
Lake Winni at Wolfeboro
Downtown Wolfeboro
On the way to Wolfeboro we passed through Chichester and Alton! It really is enough to confuse the already confused!! For those of you living outside of the UK, we have town named Chichester and Alton too.
We then travelled back to New London for our dinner reservation, The New London Inn Coach House Restaurant, again! Again, I had the wonderful steak and Si had …………… scallops! Again, I forgot to take pictures but believe me, it happened!
There was one thing I forgot to mention on yesterday’s post and that was that we saw a man being arrested on the main street, handcuffed and put in the back of a police car! Well, that’s not something we see very often, if at all, where we are from! Apparently, he was being arrested for DUI, driving under the influence of alcohol. We were told that it happens quite a lot here in New London. My goodness, you wouldn’t think it was that kind of place, it’s very small and very quiet. Hey ho, you never know!!
To cap it all, when we arrived at the restaurant tonight there were two police cars parked outside! We thought they must have been waiting to breathalyse Si as he left after dinner but when we asked the receptionist what was ‘going down’ she said that one of the policemen was her boyfriend and he’d locked his keys in his cruiser and had to phone for backup to bring out a spare set of keys!!!!!!!!
Day 16! Lake Winnipesaukee
Today was again supposed to be cloudy with rain but once we left for Lake Winnipesaukee the sun came out and we had another really lovely, hot sunny day.
I had a thought after posting yesterday regarding travelling at speed ………….. that’s a way to smooth out wrinkles!! Just a thought …………. well I had drunk a glass or two by then!!
We last visited the Lake some 20-odd years ago together with Squam Lake. Again, for those old enough to remember the film ‘What About Bob’ an hilarious comedy with Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss, was filmed on Lake Winnipesaukee.
The area was full of families and young people enjoying their vacation. There was also romance in the air!
Young Love at Weir Beach
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire. It is approximately 21 miles (34 km) long (northwest-southeast) and from 1 to 9 miles (1.6 to 14.5 km) wide (northeast-southwest), covering 69 square miles (179 km2)—71 square miles (184 km2) when Paugus Bay]—with a maximum depth of 212 feet (65 m). The center area of the lake is called The Broads (just like Norfolk).
The lake contains at least 258 islands, half of which are less than a quarter-acre in size, and is indented by several peninsulas, yielding a total shoreline of approximately 288 miles (463 km). The driving distance around the lake is 63 miles (101 km). It is 504 feet (154 m) above sea level.
It has been a popular tourist destination for more than a century, particularly among residents seeking a safe haven from the summer heat of Boston and New York City. The Native American name Winnipesaukee means either “smile of the Great Spirit” or “beautiful water in a high place.” At the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River, the Winnipesaukee Indians, a subtribe of the Pennacook, lived and fished at a village called Acquadocton. Today, the site is called The Weirs, named for the weirs colonists discovered when first exploring the region.
Winnipesaukee is a glacial lake and over millions of years the area has been under ice thousands of feet thick four times.
Today we stopped off at Weirs Beach, a lovely spot and decided to take a ride on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. It was a two-hour trip and our conductor today was Conductor Tim. We had a very interesting chat and found out that he’s a star in his own right because he has five websites, one of which is AsktheBuilder.com. I’m sure we’ve visited that site in the past. What a small world it is!
We also had a lovely chat with John the ticket seller. Both Tim and John are very interesting chaps.
Conductor Tim
Ticket seller, John
The railroad was first built in 1849 and was originally a primary route for business and vacation travel between Boston and Montreal. Our route today took us along the western shore of the Lake and Paugus Bay.
Our Train
The ‘Winni Express’ – don’t know it’s real name!
Here’s a couple of ‘old geezers’ enjoying the ride!!
Si on Train
Sand on Train
It will come as no surprise that we chose to sit in one of the dining cars and enjoyed a Hobo Picnic Lunch of rolls, crisps, cookie and a drink, served to us by, I think, Theresa.
Theresa (we think!)
Included in the price was either a Hobo pack back or brindle stick! (Thanks Conductor Tim for giving me the correct name). I can hear you asking “what are they?” Well, here they are. Of course I’d want the brindle stick, it’s nice and big to put in one of the suitcases, because as you know, there’s plenty of space in them …… not!!
Hobo Back Pack and Brindle Stick
The trip and the scenery were great. People all along the route were waving at us and there were two people on a jet ski who decided to try and keep up with the train, which they did and were waving at us when all of a sudden and for no apparent reason they both suddenly fell off. We all laughed, it was quite a funny sight but that didn’t deter them, they both clambered back on and took chase once again.
Jet Skiers
Here are a couple of videos taken from the train.
There was also a balloonist on the train who occupied his time making all kinds of balloon animals and funny hats for the children. He was very good.
Balloonist
After we left Weirs Beach and were heading home we stopped off at a place called ‘Meredith’ because yesterday as we zoomed through the town I happened to spy a magnificent waterfall so today we stopped to take a look.
Completed in 1818, the canal and waterfall connect Lake Waukewan and Lake Winnipesaukee and once powered several mills. Now it is the centerpiece of the Mills Falls Marketplace and Hotels.
It was a fun day and finished off tonight with another superb meal at The New England Inn Coach House Restaurant. I had just about the best steak I’ve ever consumed and Si had prawns with grits (rice pudding to you and me) followed by a delicious pork chop. (Sorry, no photos today). We so enjoyed it we are going there again tomorrow!! ‘Boring’ I hear you cry, try somewhere different!
Day 15! Squam Lake, NH
We were told to expect thunderstorms today but we were very lucky and saw no rain at all until we were on our way back to the Inn this afternoon and then it ‘tipped’ down. After that the sun came out and it was gorgeous again.
After a lovely breakfast this morning of french toast and sausage we decided to head for Squam Lake. For those of you reading this and are old enough to remember the film ‘On Golden Pond’ well, that is where it was filmed.
The countryside around here is very lovely but it takes a long time to get anywhere due to the speed limits. They are very low! At one point we went on the Freeway and actually managed 70 mph. The G-force was incredible and I told Si to beware nose bleeds!!
We passed through many pretty villages, one called ‘Andover’, that made us laugh as we used to live in Andover, Hampshire back in the UK. At one point we even drove through Bristol. Being ‘old folk’ as we are, we sometimes forget that we are actually driving in the US and not the UK.
Anyway, I digress ……………………..
We first visited Squam Lake over 20-odd years ago and not much seems to have changed. We didn’t go out on the lake on this trip as we did that last time, instead we spent our time at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Centre. It was great!
The Centre is an environmental education center and zoo founded in 1966 and opened to the public on July 1, 1969. The mission of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world.
The science center uses live animal exhibits, natural science education programs, and lake cruises, to educate visitors about the natural world. Using the outdoors as a classroom and native New Hampshire animals as teaching ambassadors, the science center teaches the ecological concepts of adaptations, populations, interrelationships, and habitats.
We were lucky enough to arrive at the same time as about 10,000 young children!! Young children make a lot of noise!!
Here are photos and videos of some of the animals we saw on our visit. All these animals were found injured in the wild or orphaned. They are kept at the centre if it’s not possible for them to be released back into the wild.
Bobcat
Bobcat
Ground Squirrel
Coyote
Mountain Lion
Fox
Coyote
Eagle
Owls
Black Bear
Black bear
Here’s another couple of ‘wild’ animals enjoying a snack!
Si eating pizza!
Sand eating Pizza
One of the highlights of the day was our visit to the Otters! They were crazy, check out the videos. In this first video the otter was ‘performing’ non-stop for about 15 minutes!!
There’s no sound to the next video.
Now that’s what you call a back stroke!
There’s a beautiful garden at the centre too, here’s one of the flowers, complete with bee.
Flower with bee!
Tonight we went into town for dinner at The New England Inn Coach House Restaurant. The food was so delicious I forgot to take photos but Si had Korean Style Short Rib, he thought it was pretty d… good!! I had horseradish crusted cod and that was pretty d… good too. Si had maple syrup creme brûlée to finish and I had black coffee with Frangelico …. delicious!
All in all, a good day!!
PS: Just realised I’ve missed something out!! For our dear friend Ann …………… you asked me to be on the lookout for cowboy boots!! Check this out, unfortunately not for sale, but interesting non the less …. it’s a bird house!!
The boot!
Day 14! Canterbury, NH
The Inn we are staying at has its own lake and small beach with sailing facilities, tennis and BBQ. We think we may go kayaking later in the week! Watch this space ……….. some of you know I’m not really a water person and can get seasick on a mill pond!! Lucky I have Carol’s bracelet!
We are rather ‘out in the sticks’ here, there isn’t even a mobile signal! The countryside is lovely, full of trees, very green and loads of small country roads!
The Inn at Pleasant Lake
Sand at the Inn
Pleasant Lake
After a lovely breakfast, we decided that today would be a gentile day and so decided to visit the Shaker Village and Museum in Canterbury!! Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA that is and not Canterbury, Kent, UK!
Well, we found today’s history lesson fascinating. Especially as it all started in England!! Sorry to those who hate history but that’s all we have today.
Our guide was Darryl, he first moved to the village when he was 18 months old and is the only person now left who knew the last inhabitants. His father helped start the museum. The children who lived at the village would plant a tree that was then named after them and was theirs to look after and nurture. He is an historian and his knowledge of the Shakers’ history was truly amazing. This is Darryl with his tree.
Darryl and his tree
Canterbury Shaker Village is a historic site and museum. It is one of the most intact and authentic surviving Shaker community sites, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993 and “is dedicated to preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and to providing a place for learning, reflection and renewal of the human spirit.”
Canterbury Shaker Village was established in 1792 when followers of founder Mother Ann Lee formed their seventh community in Canterbury, New Hampshire, which remained prominent for 200 years. The Village has operated exclusively as a museum since 1992 when the last Shaker sister in residence, Ethel Hudson, died. The last four remaining Shakers live at the Shaker Village in Sabbathday Lake, Maine. At its height in the 1850s, 300 people lived and worked in over 100 buildings on 3,000 acres at Canterbury Shaker Village.
Shaker Village
The religious group that we know today as the Shakers was formed in 18th-century England when dissidents from various religions, including English Quakers and Methodists, formed a religious society based on prophetic doctrine. The group, formally called the United Society of Believers, were known as Shaking Quakers, or Shakers, because of their use of ecstatic dance in worship.
Shaker Village house
The Shakers emigrated to the United States in 1774 and eventually established nineteen self-contained communities from Maine to Kentucky. Canterbury Shaker Village is one of the oldest, most typical and most completely preserved of the Shaker Villages. The Village contains the only intact, first-generation Meetinghouse, built in 1792, and Dwelling House, built in 1793, in their original locations. Overall, the Shakers were the most successful communitarian society in American history.
The Shakers’ revolutionary Christianity shocked their contemporaries. They challenged almost every mainstream ideal of American society during their time. Shakers believed in community ownership, pacifism, dancing in worship, equality of the sexes, celibacy, and living simply. Most Protestants of the day found that bringing dancing, whirling, and clapping into a sacred space and elevating it above the word of God, spoken by an ordained minister, was sacrilegious. But to the Shakers, the dancing signified a communal, not individual, relationship with God, which was a powerful symbol of the Shaker cultural system.
Shaker Village grounds
They believed in community ownership, but were aggressive entrepreneurs, launching industry after industry, developing and adopting new technologies, and reinvesting the earnings into community enterprises to encourage greater growth and productivity. At their height, they were highly successful in competing with the outside world. By the 1830s the Shakers at Canterbury were rich in buildings, land, cash, wood lots, livestock, produce, industry, community possessions, and community skills. The Shaker “brand” quickly became known for quality, integrity and reliability. Shakers cared for the poor and used resources and profit for social good.
Because one of their believes was celibacy, this started to be a problem as the members of the Village began to age, so in order to attract more people they sent out missionaries to ‘spread the word’. Eventually, they began taking in orphans and homeless children in the hope that they would stay when they grew up. At the age of 21 they decided whether to remain within the community or leave.
Whole families would come to the Village but once here the parents, although married in the eyes of the ‘outside world’ would separate inside the Village and together with the children, would all become ‘brothers and sisters’. Once modern ways arrived it was the start of the decline as women got the vote and were able to work and earn their own living, they no longer depended on the safety of the Village so left to start new lives and the young people became more attracted to the outside world and its modern ways.
Of the four Shakers left in Maine, three are aged over 50 and one younger man in his thirties has just joined them so who knows, perhaps there will yet be a Shaker ‘revival’.
So, now you know the history of the Shakers (if you’ve read it all that is!!) and when someone starts talking to you about their ‘Shaker’ kitchen you’ll know just where it all began!!
Day 13! Bar Harbour to New London, NH
Yet another post 24 hours late!! I won’t bore you with the details of why!!
Well, as the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end” and so it was today when we said farewell to our friends at Stone Throw Cottage. We had the most wonderful stay and will be returning as soon as possible and will stay longer next time! It was just like being with family. The china was even called ‘Queens’ and was from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) collection no less! In a conversation with Jerry I happened to mention in passing that I didn’t like mushrooms and sure enough when he cooked anything that included mushrooms he did a ‘special’ one for me without. Now that’s what I call attention to service. Jerry and Kim are the most accommodating hosts and the breakfasts and afternoon treats were just wonderful.
Thank you, it was ‘lovely’!!!!!!!!
Our hosts Kim and Jerry
Goodbye Maine, hello New Hampshire!
Due to horrendous traffic, our journey up to New London took a lot longer than anticipated, 6.5 hours. We were a little concerned when we were unable to find New London on any maps but ‘Margaret’ (sat nav) got us here in the end. Bless, she’s not so bad.
We are now staying a The Inn on Pleasant Lake, it dates back to 1790. Will tell you more about the area once we’ve explored!
Day 12! (Part 2) July 4th! Bar Harbour
The sun shone for the glorious 4th celebrations.
For those who have never experienced the 4th of July celebrations here in the US, there is always a town parade. Literally anyone from the town can take part from the youngest to the oldest and they are always very colourful and very noisy.
The Bar Harbour parade was no exception. It went right past our B&B (Stone Throw Cottage, Bar Harbor) so together with our fellow guests, all Americans, we had a superb view from our seats at the edge of the drive. As the floats pass by the people throw sweets (candy) into the watching crowd. By the time the floats reached us some had already given their supplies away but we still managed to grab a few. For one of our group, Mary, sweet collecting is one of the highlights of her day, she was quite successful.
Taking part in the parade
The Parade
In the parade
We’ve made some wonderful new friends at the B&B, they are all lovely people, very friendly (even on July 4th!) and together, the eight of us have put the world to rights. Here we all are enjoying the parade.
The Gang watching the parade
From the left we have, Mike, wife Cathy, me! Mary, husband Wayne, Chris and wife Kathy. Mike and Chris are brothers who just happened to both marry gals with the same name! Good job they are spelt differently or there could be some confusion.
After the parade we decided a hike was in order and went off in search of beavers at Witch Hole Pond on Mount Desert Island. It was a three mile hike and although the beavers were sleeping and didn’t appear we did see a turtle, lots of people on bicycles and people running (mad fools, it was rather hot).
Selfie at Witch Hole Pond!
We took our first ‘selfie’ today, shame we didn’t have a ‘selfie’ stick, this photo is full of our faces!
Turtle in Witch Hole Pond
Acadia River
Sand at Witch Hole Pond
Being a Saturday and a holiday, you can imagine what the crowds were like in town and trying to get something to eat was more difficult than usual. We had wanted to go back to ‘Fathom’ but when we tried to book an early table we had been beaten to it by all the locals. The hostess said she would call the B&B if there was a cancellation. Anyway, we didn’t hear anything so decided to make our way into town to try there.
What we didn’t know until later was that five minutes after we left the B&B, Fathom called and said they had a cancellation. Our dear host, Jerry, jumped on his daughter’s bike after realising he couldn’t use the car and his own bike had a flat tyre and chased us into town to give us the good news but alas, he couldn’t find us. Jerry deserves a medal, Bless him!
We ended up in a restaurant called Blaze. I was very impressed because the first thing I noticed after sitting down was the Plymouth Gin. Well, those who know me well know that Plymouth is my ‘tipple’ but alas, not very common in US hostelries, so this one already had a five star rating as far as I was concerned. Secondly, I noticed Frangelica sitting on another shelf! Well, this place should now be rated as 10 stars. Si, get on to Trip Adviser immediately! I love Frangelica with my coffee. The food was good too!!
People who have followed our blog since 2013 will know that invariably we need to purchase an extra suitcase to take home all the goodies we’ve bought. This time I was determined that would not be the case and made sure that the three suitcases we did bring, had plenty of room for ‘purchases’ on the way home. Alas, I’m now starting to worry a little as the ‘purchases’ are mounting up, especially after a walk along Bar Harbour shops. I dread to think what Si will say if I tell him we need to invest in a fourth suitcase!! Watch this space ………………
It was our intention to go and watch the firework display but after our shopping trip we settled in on the B&B’s porch with a couple or three, bottles of wine and stayed there for the rest of the evening with some of ‘the gang’ putting the world to rights instead. It was a real hoot, just ‘lovely’, we laughed and laughed with our new buddies.
We thought, ‘hey we’ve seen Disney’s 4th’s fireworks’ can Bar Harbour’s be any better? We were assured later that they were magnificent so that’s a lesson learned. The next time we visit on the 4th we’ll make sure to go and watch the display.
Stone Throw Cottage
Day 12! July 4th
Our blog for today, 4th of July will be 24 hours late! We’ve been enjoying the company of our fellow residents here at the B&B and consequently, it’s too late to write anything!
I’ll catch up tomorrow!
Hope all our American friends have had a lovely day today!
Day 11! Acadia National Park (3) and Mount Desert Island
Before I write about today’s adventures, I must congratulate our resident photographer on his latest achievement …………… he has won the Caxton FX June Photographic Competition and will receive the grand prize of £100 for his photograph of Sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. For those who have not seen the photo before, here it is:
Mesa Arch with the reflection of the rising sun
After I did the blog yesterday we decided to stroll into the village to get a ‘little something’ and ended up back at McKays. I certainly had a ‘little something’ a crab cake ……….. Si’s ‘little something’ turned out to be fish and chips!!
On the way back to the B&B we discovered that the Bar Harbour Band were playing in the park so we stopped to listen and enjoyed them playing “When the Saints go marching in” which is very apt for us as we are Southampton F.C. supporters!
The Bar Harbour Band
Si at McKays with his fish and chips!
We spent a very pleasant couple of hours this morning having breakfast and chatting with some of the other guests here at the B&B. It’s amazing what we all find to talk about!
Our first port of call today was a visit to The Wild Gardens of Acadia at the Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park together with the Abbe Museum. The Wild Gardens reflect the typical habitats as found on Mount Desert Island. More than 300 native species are labeled to make identification easy in nine separate display areas.
A butterfly at the Wild Gardens
Bugs at the Wild Gardens!
Symbolically speaking, Sieur de Monts Spring is perhaps the most significant and meaningful place on Mount Desert Island. It is ground that honors the vision, passion, and dedication of a private citizen who devoted his adult life to the fulfillment of the dream that became known as Acadia National Park. George B. Dorr (1855 – 1944), even though from a life of privilege himself, worked incessantly to preserve and protect the land and waters of Acadia for all future generations to enjoy.
Sieur de Monts Spring (an official photo)
The Abbe Museum has a wonderful collection of early Native American artefacts. The collections now represent 10,000 years of Native American culture and history in Maine.
We then travelled on to see the Bass Harbour Head lighthouse (apparently, it’s well know to photographers) and taking a photo required a fair amount of agility! The best way to get a good shot is out to sea in a boat) but as we didn’t have a boat with us this morning it meant climbing over rocks, along with many others, all trying to get the best shot possible.
Bass Harbour Head Lighthouse
Si at Bass Harbour Head Lighthouse
Sand at Bass Harbour Head Lighthouse
After the lighthouse it was time for lunch so we headed for Thurstons Lobster Pound, it’s a well known eatery for the locals and was recommended to us by our host, Jerry, here at the B&B. Well, the intention was to eat lobster but sadly, when we walked in and saw the poor live lobsters being weighed before cooking. we just could not condemn those poor creatures so instead we had lobster and cheese toasted sandwiches!! At least we didn’t have to see the poor thing staring at us before eating!
Sand and Pineapple Gimlet at Thurstons Lobster Pound
Maine Floats
Talking of food, which I always seem to be, dinner tonight was at a restaurant called Fathoms. Si thought he’d died and gone to Heaven when the waitress said one of their specials of the day was pork belly! Well, you know how he feels about that, said it was delicious and followed it with scallops. One of these days he will turn into pork belly and scallops!!
Si at Fathoms
So, tomorrow is the 4th of July! There will be big celebrations all around. Si and I will probably be hiding somewhere inside the B&B ………….. just in case the natives don’t take too kindly to us Brits being present at their celebrations!!!!!
Day 10! Acadia National Park (2)
We watched the England Ladies football last night, how disappointing for all concerned. Still, today is another day and I’m pleased to report that the sun came out …… hooray! It’s been very hot.
After a lovely breakfast of fruit, eggs benedict and a nice chat with some new guests here at the B&B we set out for our second day of adventure in Acadia National Park.
Stone Throw Cottage Garden
It was our intention today to visit the Parkman Mountain waterfall and this we did. We started out sure of foot but suddenly realised we were heading in the wrong direction! The map was very poorly printed! Turned around and went back and in the opposite direction only to find we were wrong again. Eventually we saw a trail and took that, it got us to where we wanted to go but alas, it was a very steep climb. The waterfall was lovely and well worth the walk.
No, it’s this way!!!!
Parkman Mountain Waterfall
Parkman Mountain Waterfall
Us at the waterfall
We were told about a rather lovely garden nearby that was worth a visit so we did that next.
The Asticou Azalea Garden was created by lifelong resident of the village, Charles K. Savage, in 1956, with the financial assistance of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. It features a selection of rhododendrons and azaleas, including the Rhododendron Canadense, Maine’s native azalea. Styled after a Japanese stroll garden, the fine-gravel paths are raked regularly in a manner that suggests flowing water. There is also a sand garden, where this effect is repeated but with the addition of stones, which are meant to represent islands.
Sadly, the rhododendrons and azaleas had all finished flowering but the garden was still a magnificent sight to see.
Asticou Gardens
Savage was also the owner of the nearby Asticou Inn, so after visiting his gardens it seemed only polite to visit his Inn for some hard-earned lunch!
As you can imagine, lobster is one of the main foods in this part of the world so today we partook of lobster quiche with garden salad …………….. absolutely delicious, especially when accompanied by a glass of vino! Dessert also seemed the order of the day so Si decided to try the popovers!! He described it as a rather large profiterole and I agreed, the popover itself was rich tasting. I indulged in flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce.
Si’s Popover!
Needless to say, after that lot we were ready for a nap!
Sand’s Pud!
However, before we did that, we stopped off on the way back to take another look at Cadillac Mountain to see how it looked in the sunshine after yesterday’s disappointment when it clouded over and rained. Today the sea was bluer and the islands greener.
Cadillac Mountain in the sunshine!
We also called in at Seal Beach on the way back to the B&B to see if we would be lucky and see some but sadly it wasn’t to be.
I’m now being told we need to go for a walk after our lunchtime indulgence so I’d better hop to it ……………… catch you all tomorrow!
Day 9! Acadia National Park
So, after a lovely breakfast of fresh fruit, blueberry pancakes and bacon we set off for day one of our adventures in Acadia National Park. Our B&B is literally on the edge of the Park so not too far for us to travel.
The day started cloudy but not too bad but thunderstorms were forecast for later. Not quite as nice as the weather you are all having back home!! Luckily, we are carrying most of our home in the back of our vehicle so we are prepared for all weathers!!
Now for a little history …………….
Acadia National Park was originally created as Lafayette National Park in 1919 but was renamed in 1929. It is the oldest National Park east of the Mississippi River.
The area was originally inhabited by the Wabanaki people. While he was sailing down the coast of what is now Maine in the fall of 1604, that well know chap, Samuel de Champlain observed a large inshore island. He wrote:
“That same day we also passed near an island about four or five leagues [19 to 24 km] in length, off which we were almost lost on a little rock, level with the surface of the water, which made a hole in our pinnace close to the keel. The distance from this island to the mainland on the north is not a hundred paces. It is very high and cleft in places, giving it the appearance from the sea of seven or eight mountains one alongside the other. The tops of them are bare of trees, because there is nothing there but rocks. The woods consist only of pines, firs, and birches.” He named it Mount Desert island.
Over four centuries later, the area remains essentially the same.
Looking back at Sand Beach
Unlike Yellowstone, Yosemite etc we are told there are no ‘wild’ beasts to be found here ……… however we have been told that we may be able to see some beaver …………. so watch this space! Today we visited Otter Cove but alas didn’t see any. There is a place called Seal Harbour so perhaps we will have some luck there later in the week. Even though there’s a lack of creature sightings the Park does not disappoint and is very beautiful, very green with some dramatic coastline.
Acadia Sea Shore
Otter Cove
We drove up to the top of Cadillac Mountain and passed many cyclists breathlessly making their way to the top, it’s 1530 feet (466 metres) above sea level. When we reached the top it was blowing a hooley and was very cold. I expect some of you are asking why Si didn’t hire a bike and cycle to the top just like those other brave souls …. I did ask that question myself but sadly am unable to print his reply!!!!!
Us two on top of Cadillac Mountain
This afternoon it did start to rain but no thunderstorm yet but it should clear by late afternoon. Lucky for us we were ensconced in a restaurant having lunch when the bad weather hit.
Sand at Acadia Sea Shore
Si at Acadia Sea Shore
Jerry our host here at the B&B was telling us this morning about Popovers! Well, we thought they sound familiar and guess what, they turn out to be basically our Yorkshire Puds but butter is added to the mixture. They bake them in either muffin tins or tins that make them stand up straight then eat them for afternoon tea with butter and jam!! Okay, eating cold Yorkshire Puds, may be not quite our cup of tea. They even add cheese to the mixture. However, at the restaurant this lunchtime there were loads of people doing just that. This is the description of a Popover:
‘A popover is a light, hollow roll made from an egg batter similar to that of Yorkshire pudding, typically baked in muffin tins or dedicated popover pans, which have straight-walled sides rather than angled.’
Perhaps I’m missing something here but I’ve never considered eating a Yorkshire Pud with jam ………….. have any of you? I think I need to test this out on some of my friends ………. anyone free for afternoon tea?
Day 8! Concord, MA to Bar Harbour, Maine
Today was a driving day as we were moving from Concord in Massachusetts to Bar Harbour, Maine. It’s been a sunny, warm day and the drive took us about 4.5 hours.
There were a lot of places along the way that were familiar to us, namely:
Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Andover, Haverhill, Portsmouth, Middleton!, Bradford, Salisbury, Amesbury, Kingston, Durham, Dover, Scarborough, Portland, Falmouth, Bath, Plymouth and Newport to name but a few! It made us feel as though we were back in the U.K.
My brother, Tony, will be interested to see a photo of Portland as he’s due to dock there on his forthcoming cruise to the U.S. and Canada. Bro, We didn’t see a lot of Portland but what we did see looks lovely.
Portland
Roundabouts are not a common site in the U.S., but where they do have them, they are mostly called ‘circles’ but this was a new one, ‘rotary’.
Rotary or Roundabout
We were warned to keep a look out for Moose in the road but sadly we didn’t see any.
Beware the Moose
I have to say that the historic B&B we are staying at is a gem, it’s right in the middle of Bar Harbour and is true to its name, the Stone Throw Cottage B&B. It literally is a stones throw from everything! It was built in the 1860s and while the exterior is original the interior has been beautifully restored. Our room is the right hand corner one.
Stone Throw Cottage
Our bedroom
Our bathroom with whirlpool tub and shower
We ate at McKays tonight, it was recommended by Jerry, the owner of Stone Throw Cottage and the meal was fantastic. For all of you who take an interest in what we consume on our holidays, and I know some of you do, Si had the grill which consisted of ribs, pork belly, sausage and something akin to corn bread! I had the Bistro Steak (no fillet tonight) with mash and beans. We had an interesting desert of whisky ice cream with candied bacon!! The candied bacon is not recommended but the ice cream was delicious!!
Si at McKays
Sand at McKays
Sand’s Steak at McKays
While we ate we were entertained by a local guy called Bob Bowman
Bob Bowman
who played lovely tunes on his electric guitar. All in all a very lovely evening!!
Tomorrow we explore Acadia National Park!
Day 7! Lexington and Concord, MA
We had an exciting start to the day! We were just getting dressed when the fire alarm here in the hotel went off. What do we do on these occasions? Well, like most people we stand and wait to see if it will stop and then question if there really is a fire and should we leave the building! Well, as it continued and no one told us otherwise, we collected up what we considered to be the important things, bag with money, cards, passports, air tickets etc, my phone and of course my Apple Watch! There was no way I was going to leave that behind!
Sand saving the Apple Watch!!
Fire Engine!
The fire brigade turned up en-masse but it seemed to be a false alarm, we were only outside for about 10 minutes and then they let us back in and we headed for breakfast.
Here begins today’s history lesson!! I do love a little bit of history!
So, after all the excitement we headed to Lexington. Lexington is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Settled in 1641, this town is prominent for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolutionary War, in the Battle of Lexington and Concord at dawn on 19th April 1775, colloquially known as the “Shot heard around the world” when news spread about the revolution.
Having received word that the regular army (the British troops) had left Boston in force to seize and destroy military supplies in Concord, several dozen militiamen gathered on the town common, and then eventually went to Buckman Tavern to await the arrival of the troops. Definite word reached them just before sunrise, and Captain Parker’s company of militia left the tavern to assemble in two ranks on the common. Following the arrival of the army, a single shot was fired, by whom, is still not known. With this shot, the American Revolutionary War began.
Buckman Tavern
Sand at the Minuteman memorial at Battle Green
The Hancock-Clarke House played a prominent role in the Battle of Lexington and Concord as both Hancock and Samuel Adams, leaders of the colonials, were staying in the house before the battle.
It was to this house that Paul Revere, an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist and a patriot in the American Revolution rode from Boston to alert the Colonial militia to the approach of British forces before the battle began.
Hancock-Clarke House
Then it was on to Concord. After the battle at Lexington the British troops marched on to Concord to confront five companies of Minutemen and five of non-Minuteman militia who occupied a hill near North Bridge, they totalled about 400 against the British light infantry companies from the 4th, 10th, and 43rd Regiments of Foot under Captain Walter Laurie, a force totaling about 90-95 men. The British retreated across the river and the two sides faced each other across the North Bridge.
North Bridge
A brief exchange of fire ensued which saw the first instance of Americans firing to deadly effect on British regulars, after which the British retreated. Ralph Waldo Emerson, positing that world history pivoted at that moment (an assertion that is disputed, as earlier events at Lexington Battle Green could be termed the true opening of the battle), called the first shot of this skirmish the “shot heard around the world” in his 1837 poem “Concord Hymn”.
And so it was that things would never be the same again. The American Revolutionary War or American War of Independence was fought in the United States between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen of its former North American colonies, which had declared themselves the independent United States of American. Although the war lasted from 1775 until 1783, independence was formally declared in July 1776.
Here ends today’s lesson!
I thought I’d post some photos that missed yesterday’s post.
Last night we went to The Colonial Inn for dinner. We last went there 23 years ago! It was just the same. The food was lovely and my mimosa was just heavenly! The film ‘House Sitter’ with Steve Martin and Goldie Horn was filmed in and around Concord and one scene was actually filmed at the Inn. Most of you won’t have heard of the film, it was filmed in 1992!! We actually arrived in Concord back in 1992 the day after they had filmed at the Inn. What a shame, if we had arrived a day earlier we may have been famous!!
Sand at The Colonial Inn
Si with his lobster at The Colonial Inn
Tomorrow we move on to Bar Harbour, Maine and Arcadia National Park. We will be staying at a lovely historic B&B. The breakfasts look divine!!
Day 6! Cape Cod to Concord, Mass via Plimouth Plantation (Yes, I have spelt it right!)
What a dreadful night we had in Hyannis last night! It poured with rain all night and the wind was blowing a hooley!
We thought this morning what a good job it was supposed to be a driving day today because the inclement weather wasn’t going to let us do much outdoors. However, I’m pleased to say that by the time we reached Plimouth (it is spelt like that because in the 17th Century they spelt everything phonetically) Plantation the rain had stopped and the weather improved a little and we were able to walk around without getting wet.
We last visited the Plantation about 20 years ago!! Where does the time go? In the meantime they’ve built a lovely visitor’s centre and museum. The actual plantation is just as we remembered it.
Plimoth Plantation with Cape Cod in the distance
The Pilgrims’ (the name given to those who had travelled on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to a new life in America) landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620 and the Plantation depicts how the colony may have looked and the people who actually lived there during 1627.
Plimoth Rock 1620
Once you enter the actual plantation all the ‘inhabitants’ remain in character and will only converse as if it’s still the 17th Century when they arrived. It makes for very interesting conversation and I have to say they are so believable that it feels as though you are actually talking to people who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 and settled in Plimouth.
An inhabitant of Plimouth Plantation in the year 1627
An inhabitant of Plimouth Plantation in the year 1627
Before entering the Plantation there is the Wampanoag Homesite to visit. This is a recreation of the homesite of Hobbamock – a Pokonoket man who lived in Patuxet/Plimoth Colony in the 1620s. Hobbamock and his extended family lived across the brook on the south side of the Pilgrims’ fortified town.
Summer home of the Wampanoag
A Native American of the Wampanoag Nation
Sand learning about the Wampanoag way of life in the 17th Century
A Native American of the Wampanoag Nation
We have now arrived in Concord (home of the first shot of the American Revolution and Louisa M. Alcott, author of the novel Little Women). Fingers crossed that the weather is kind to us tomorrow!
Day 5! Provincetown
The day started cloudy and cool, turned sunny and hot and now it’s cloudy and cool again!! Very strange!! Good job we threw those jeans in the cases at the last moment!
We drove to Provincetown (P-town) this morning, it’s a small coastal resort town located right on the tip of Cape Cod. It’s a quaint little town with narrow streets and is known for its beaches, harbour, artists and tourist industry. It has loads of tourist shops and restaurants, has a huge Portuguese population and is known as a vacation destination for the LGBT community.
The year-round population is just under 3,000 with a summer population of as high as 60,000! Being a weekend it was packed, lucky we arrived early to secure a parking spot.
A gentleman called Bartholomew Gosnold named Cape Cod in Provincetown Harbor in 1602. In 1620, the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact when they arrived at the harbor. They agreed to settle and build a self-governing community, and came ashore in the West End.
Though the Pilgrims chose to settle across the bay in Plymouth, the outermost portion of Cape Cod enjoyed an early reputation for its valuable fishing grounds. The harbor was considered the best along the coast. In 1654, the Governor of the Plymouth colony purchased this land from the Chief of the Nausets, for a selling price of two brass kettles, six coats, 12 hoes, 12 axes, 12 knives and a box!! If only land was as cheap to buy today!!
Provincetown House with both U.S. and Portuguese flags
Provincetown House
This guy’s a little cheeky!
Scavanger!!
Provincetown Beach
Provincetown Kayaks
Seamans Bank!
Seamans Bank!! There’s not a lot to be said about this bank!! We decided not to stop to make a deposit or a withdrawal!!!!!
Sand in Provincetown Harbour
Day 4! Chatham
How does the song go? …………… “What a difference a day makes?” That is so true! We went to breakfast this morning in shorts and tops and then came back from breakfast and changed into jeans and wet coats!! Yesterday was a fabulous hot, sunny day ………. today it’s cloudy, raining, windy and cold!!
But being British, did we let that ruin our day? Of course we didn’t, we drove to Chatham, the US one not the English one and had a lovely time looking around the town with its very quaint houses and wonderful shops. We must thank our gym buddy, Janet, for this recommendation and also for the loan of her book all about New England!
Chatham House and matching Playhouse
Chatham house
Sand Structures in Chatham
We managed to find a few lovely things to buy. We visited one shop that was called Pentimento for the ‘discerning lady shopper’ …….. that’s me apparently, for I purchased the most fabulous dark navy top imaginable. I must surely now book a trip to Las Vegas for a very fine dining experience because that’s the kind of place it would be appreciated. The clothes were just fabulous and the dresses for weddings, well, they made me want to get married all over again!
After the shopping was done we made a trip to the ‘grist mill’, that’s a windmill to you and me! The windmill was the Col. Benjamin Godfrey Windmill built in 1797. It operated continuously for 100 years. It’s had many owners during its long life. It stands 30 feet tall, has an octagonal diameter and three floors. It was fully restored in 2010-2012 and now grinds grain in just the same way it did two centuries ago.
Si at Grist Mill
Whilst we were there we discovered the Chatham Labyrinth. This was constructed in 2012 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the town of Chatham and was a gift for the people of and visitors to Chatham from the clergy of seven churches in Chatham and is often considered to be a symbol of our human journey.
Sand at the Chatham labyrinth
We also visited the site of the Chatham lighthouse (I think you can expect to see a few more lighthouses before our trip is over!!).
Chatham Lighthouse
It was along the shoreline of the lighthouse that the ‘Mayflower’ sailed. On the 6th September, 1620 the Mayflower left Plymouth, England to sail to America with 120 passengers. After 66 days on the 9th November, they sighted the coast of Cape Cod, turned south and sailed past in an attempt to reach their original destination of the Hudson River. However, the shoals of Pollock Rip forced them to turn back and head north passing the same spot again. The ship continued north in search of a safe harbour and on the 11th November came around the tip of Cape Cod and anchored in now what is known as Provincetown Harbour. In December 1620, after staying in Provincetown for five weeks the Pilgrims sailed across Cape Cod and made a permanent settlement in Plymouth.
If the Pilgrims had managed to continue their original journey to the Hudson River area there would be no Cape Cod, Plymouth or New England story today.
After visiting the lighthouse and although the weather was rather inclement, we decided to make a visit to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Its goal is to provide habitat for migratory birds. The size of the refuge is 7,604 acres (31 km²) with varied habitats of oceans, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes and freshwater ponds. It was a lovely walk along the sands, the tide was out so we were able to walk quite a distance and I took the opportunity to collect some more sea shells. We don’t mind that our trainers are now full of sand and so is the car!!
Monomoy Refuge
As we drove back from Monomoy we discovered this birds’ nest sat atop the electrical wires!! Still, it must be warm and cosy up there!
Birds’ Nest
Speaking of the ‘car’, it occurs to me that we haven’t published a photo of the current ‘beast’ so here it is.
The ‘Beast’ 2015
On our way to Chatham this morning I was rather overcome with delight when, as we sped along the highway, I suddenly spied one of my old favourite shopping haunts, Talbots!! They used to have outlets in England but due to the economic turndown of some years ago they suddenly and without notice, closed all the UK stores! I was totally overcome with grief as they were the one outlet where there ‘petite’ range always brought me great pleasure. Needless to say, on the way back from Chatham we stopped off and took a look at the store and I managed to find something very pleasing to the eye and commiserated with the sales lady about happy days gone by.
We’ve finished our day of site seeing with a wonderful meal at a restaurant here in Hyannis called Schooners. Wonderful food and wine. It was my intention to take a photo of Si enjoying his coconut shrimp but by the time they arrived I’d had a glass or two of the vino and completely forgot! Hey ho, there’s always tomorrow ………………. see you then!!
Day 3! Nantucket
I mentioned yesterday that we would be visiting Nantucket today and that’s just what we did, by way of Hy-Line’s Fast Ferry, the ‘Lady Grey’ (Nantucket’s nickname is, “The Little Grey Lady of the Sea”, which refers to the island as it appears from the ocean when it is fog-bound.) I’m pleased to report that I wore Carol’s bracelet and was not troubled at all by the dreaded travel sickness so I think it’s safe to say that it’s a winner!!
The ‘Lady Grey”
Sadly, just as we were about to board the ferry a poor young lady in front of us fainted!! Just like that, she went down just like a sack of spuds, smashed her face and knee on the concrete and she was out cold. Luckily there was a doctor and a paramedic waiting in the crowd to board the ferry too so they took care of her until an ambulance arrived, which I have to say was very quickly. It was rather a shocking start to the day and sadly for the poor young lady, she was taken off to the hospital and so didn’t make it to Nantucket today after all.
On a lighter note, I’m sure her Mum will be pleased that she took her advice and was wearing nice underwear!! Oh my!!
Nantucket is an island 30 miles (50 km) south of Cape Cod, in the state of Massachusetts. According to the 2010 census, the population at that time was 10,172. It is a tourist destination and summer colony and during the summer months, the population of the island increases to about 50,000, due to tourists and seasonal residents!!
Nantucket Brick House
The houses on the island are wonderful and in 2008, Forbes magazine cited Nantucket as having home values among the highest in the US. Looking at some of the houses today you can understand why! The National Park Service cites Nantucket, designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1966, as being the “finest surviving architectural and environmental example of a late 18th- and early 19th-century New England seaport town”. All the houses on the island have to be built from either brick or wooden shingles. Wooden shingles is definitely the favourite but the shingles usually have to be replaced about every 10 years.
There are loads of little shops full of the kind of things that you ‘have to buy’ because you can’t possibly live without them!! We managed to find a few of those things today!
Nantucket’s cobbled Main Street
The boats are magnificent too! Just wait until we win the £120 million on the Euro Lottery …………… chandlery here we come!!!
Nantucket is full of beautiful houses from the 18th and 19th Centuries but the oldest one on the island was built in 1686 and is the Jethro Coffin House. The house still stands today on the original foundations with the four fireplaces just as they were when it was built. There were various items that the lady of the house used for cooking and one we saw was a metal waffle press that had to be imported from Holland!! A waffle press from the 17th Century, I think we’ve seen it all now!! I didn’t know they were even making waffles back then.
It’s still the case today as it was back in the 17th Century that because Nantucket is an island and is mainly a tourist area, that everything has to be brought over from the mainland.
Nantucket’s Oldest House
Brant Point Lighthouse
Brant Point
It was very hot today but that didn’t deter us from walking to Brant Point to see the lighthouse. I took the opportunity to have a paddle in the sea, the water was lovely but the photo of me doing it, not so!
Sand at Brant Point
Here are some pics that we took last night on our way to Baxter’s for dinner.
The lighthouse at Hyannis
Hyannis Harbour
The Sea Coast Inn (our ‘home’ for our stay in Cape Cod)
We will be exploring more of Cape Cod tomorrow, fingers crossed the weather plays its part!!
Day 2! Newark, New Jersey to Hyannis, Cape Cod
Today’s really been a driving day getting us to our first site seeing destination, Cape Cod. The day started nicely enough, lovely breakfast at the Marriott, then we went to collect the hire car from Hertz! We were upgraded to a Prestige car, an Infinity, (I shall post a photo tomorrow) it takes seven people, so plenty of room for two plus luggage, even the Barrett’s luggage!!
Then, we discovered that Margaret (sat nav) was living in this car too!! I’m sure you remember her from our previous trips. She sent us round Newark Airport twice including the ‘u’ turns, before we managed to find our way out and on to the Interstate and heading towards Cape Cod. The drive down was very stressful, the traffic was horrendous but we arrived in one piece.
We forgot to get the camera out before we started our trip this morning so I must apologise for the lack of good photos. This should be remedied tomorrow when we start our site-seeing properly with a ferry trip to Nantucket (some of you know that I suffer from travel sickness quite badly, so I must remember to take my travel pills before we set out). Although, I have to say that my dear friend and neighbour, Carol, has been very kind and given me her special bracelet that seems to cure such awful things as travel sickness and apparently, falling over too! I shall report back after our trip to Nantucket!!
This is one photo I managed to snap on my phone during the trip ……………. you sure do see some strange things on the sides of bridges ……..
Is that Tin Tin?
I have to say that Cape Cod is very prettyl. We’ve just enjoyed a wonderful meal at Baxter’s Fish and Chip restaurant. Si, as usual, had his scallops, at least 12 and I had fish bites. Needless to say I couldn’t finish them all even though they were supposed to be an appetiser!!
Si and his scallops!
Sand with her fish bites and wine!
We were served by the lovely Kate, aka Princess. She’s studied in London, South Kensington no less and loves it so much that she intends to return very soon with her family. This is Kate with Si.
Si with his coffee
Sand with her Cafe Baxter’s …. rum, Baileys, Frangelico and coffee …. boy was it strong!
It’s a miracle that I can actually type this blog whilst under the influence of the Cafe Baxter’s!! Kate tells us that Baxter’s are famous for their strong drinks!! I can certainly agree with that statement!!
On our drive today from Newark to Cape Cod, it was obvious that the earliest settlers in this part of the U.S. came from England because many of the places were very familiar to us …………… Swansea, Taunton, Somerset, London, Tiverton, Newport, Warwick, Coventry and Bedford to name but a few!
Tomorrow morning we catch the fast ferry to Nantucket for the first serious site seeing of our trip. So catch up with us later tomorrow, Thursday, when hopefully, Si will have ‘done the business’ got his camera out and taken some decent photographs!!
Day 1! Time to Fly!
Well, here I am at 4.30 in the morning (it’s now Wednesday 24th here), wide awake, writing this blog! Of course my poor old bones thinks it’s 9.30 and I should be at the gym working out and waiting for Bex’s spin class to start at 10.00!! Sue, Nicky or John, I trust you will be taking care of my bike while I’m away!!
We started our holiday at Heathrow with lunch and cocktails then on to Duty Free (well, it would be rude not too) and then proceeded to while away the time waiting for our flight to leave by taking ourselves off to one the airport lounges. I had forgotten that when I booked the lounge they said we would get a free bottle of Prosecco. Well, you can imagine, what with the cocktails and the free Prosecco we felt quite happy flying ‘across the pond.’
Si with the Prosecco!
Sand with her Prosecco too!
We flew over on one of Virgin’s new Dreamliner planes. It still had that ‘new’ smell to it. It was very comfortable. They ‘made’ us eat lots of food and drink alcohol too!! For all the techies out there, here’s a video of the first Dreamliner being built.
It has electronically lit windows which means the old window blinds have gone and instead you press a button until the window starts to darken but you can still see out and it has more oxygen and moisture in the air so you feel fresher when you arrive at your destination. It’s all about comfort and health monitoring. It even had wifi! ‘Boring’ I can hear some of you saying but I find all this ‘stuff’ interesting.
The only downside to our trip was on the approach to Newark Airport when we came across some very black clouds and a little lightening too!!! But it all worked out okay.
Well, I guess I’d better see if I can get some more sleep before breakfast or it’s going to be a very long day.
Our first port of call on this trip is Cape Cod so we’ll ‘catch you there’ later on today.
Welcome to our 2015 American Adventure! (Commencing 23rd June)
Image
Day 29! Home Time
As we were at the airport and then sat on a plane for nearly ten hours I was unable to complete the blog yesterday.
We finished our holiday in the casino of course and once again, left on a high note. If ever you’re there make sure to check out the Monopoly machines. Besides us, we saw lots of people having lots of luck on those machine, they are fun to play.
We are now back in Blighty, reminiscing about our great vacation. We saw so many wonderful things, met so many wonderful people and learnt lots of things along the way and the weather was a mixture of snow, sun and heat.
Our flight was uneventful and we were very glad to see the car waiting to bring us home. The flight was full, 475 people! I didn’t know a ‘jumbo’ held that many. When we checked in we were told the flight was full and overweight! That was a little disturbing.
As you can imagine, a flight leaving Vegas on a Sunday was full of the young, beautiful and single making their way home after a rather lively stay!! Most of them were not interested in having an alcoholic drink, they’d had enough during their stay.
All I have to do now is unpack the cases! We had two bags overweight but the kind lady at check-in just charged us for one bag so $60. Unfortunately for us, our three cases were chosen to be opened and searched by security. I always pack them the way Homeland Security tell us too but still they pick on us. I think they must think we are a couple of scoundrels or some such!!
We were just working out how long we’ve actually been awake and it’s 31 hours! Mind you I did sleep for a couple of hours on the plane, Si never sleeps, and we’ve had a little nod or two this afternoon but all in all we don’t feel too bad.
I think the World Cup has kept Si going and I’ve been catching up with my soaps plus we’ve watched the season finale of Game of Thrones!! Roll on next year and Season 5.
For me, I think the one thing I will never, ever forget is driving up the 14,000 mountain, Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. It was more hairy than driving the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Si’s favourite place was the Grand Tetons. In particular, seeing the Moulton Barn and of course the great privilege of having five photos featured on Flickr’s Explore.
Alas, it saddens me to have to say, once again, ‘farewell’ to all our loyal followers. To thank you for your interest and for the comments you posted. It’s nice to know we are not just ‘talking’ to ourselves.
So, until we all meet again, we would just like to say ………………..
(I do not own the video or its content)
arrivederci, adeus, hejdå, 再见, zoi geen, zai jian, tot ziens, au revoir, tschüss, shalom, ciao, じゃね, anyeonghi gasyeo, poka/Пока, adios, hejdå, tạm biệt, vΘleft, farvel, ya sas, tókša akhé,
Day 28! Las Vegas
Well, the ‘wind down’ is almost complete!
We’ve said ‘farewell’ to the pool. It was very windy this morning and only 84ºF but the wind ceased and it warmed up somewhat.
England’s playing Italy on the television so that’s keeping Si occupied and I’ve been re-packing the bags. Fingers crossed, we should only have to pay excess baggage on one. The lady at check-in may be kind to us, they don’t always worry so much about baggage weight on the way back!
Oh dear, England lost, not good. Let’s hope they can make amends when they play Uruguay next Thursday!
Goodness, good job we are ‘suited and booted’ as they say, ready for dinner, as the lights in the bathroom have just fused ……………… the maintenance brigade are on their way!!
Some time later:
We’ve been to our ‘farewell Vegas’ dinner. We went to Sensi again here at the Bellagio as we love it there. We had a superb meal. I had just about the best filet mignon I’ve ever tasted, it just melted in my mouth and the mash potato made with wasabi and cream was out of this world. Si had his favourite (no, not ribs) but crispy shrimp and then diver scallops. We both shared the chocolate soufflé for dessert. We won’t need to eat for a week!!
Sand outside Sensi
Flowers outside Sensi
Our Chocolate soufflé
Si at Sensi!!!!!! Not the best photo in the world!
Sand inside Sensi!
The evening finished on a high note gambling-wise, so no complaints there!
Tomorrow afternoon we fly home and land on Monday morning so our final post will be from good ol’ Blighty!!
See you ‘across the pond.’
Day 27! Las Vegas
It’s busier here today, the ‘weekenders’ have arrived ………. the young, beautiful and unattached!!!!
It’s a cooler day, only in the 90’s, there’s a breeze but it’s not until you come indoors you realise just how hot the sun still is. Shade and lots of suncream still required! We don’t want to come home looking like a couple of leather chamois!!
After time round the pool and food, we went back to the Aria Cafe again,
Si at the Aria Cafe
we went to see Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil. They describe the show as a spirited voyage through an abandoned theater where an extraordinary circus comes back to life. Populated by a motley collection of off-the-wall characters and incomparable acrobats, Zarkana is a visual vortex set in a twisted acrobatic fantasy universe where, little by little, chaos and craziness give way to a true celebration. Zarkana™ is a quintessential Cirque du Soleil spectacular featuring an international cast of 70 world class acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, high wire and trapeze artists.
Sand at Zarkana
One of the Zarkana performers
One of the Zarkana performers
It was great and probably the best Cirque du Soleil show we’ve seen. We had fantastic seats and were very close to the stage. There were times when our hearts were in our mouths. One trapeze artist missed his partner’s hands and fell but luckily they had a safety net!!
Tomorrow is our last full day so I will need to start sorting out the suitcases. We are overweight (the cases that is, not us!!) so excess baggage will probably have to be paid!!
Day 26! Las Vegas
I’ve been meaning to say that although it’s very hot here in Vegas, even from early in the morning, it’s surprising how chilly/cold the water is in the Bellagio Pool!!!
Anyway, as usual, we started the day around the pool. True to human form, we are sitting in the same place around the pool each day. Si goes down about 9 a.m. to get us a shady spot, that way we can stay out longer. It’s brave souls who can lie out in that hot sun for any length of time!
We’ve had some lovely photographs taken by a professional photographer. We were having dinner at Sensi the other evening and she came round and asked if we wanted our photographs taken. As it’s always difficult to get any decent photos of the two of us when we are on holiday we decided it would be a good idea.
One other piece of news! You remember I said that we had progressed up the reward card ladder after just a couple of days? Well, we have progressed again, we are now at Gold level. One of the perks is that we can go straight to the head of any queue for food!! Hooray! We also get 20% off purchases ……….. what a shame the suitcases are already full up!!
We had lunch at a new venue today, the Aria Cafe at the Aria Hotel. As usual, here’s a photo of Si enjoying his eats.
Aria Cafe
Si enjoying lunch at the Aria Cafe
We have decided which show to go and see. There’s a new Cirque du Soleil in town, Zarkana, so we will be going to see that tomorrow evening.
Here are some more photos of the Bellagio Reception and Atrium and an interesting sight on the Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas showgirls.
Bellagio Reception
Bellagio Atrium
Las Vegas showgirls
Day 25! Las Vegas
Well, thank goodness normal service has been resumed! I don’t know what the problem was last night with the wifi.
Yesterday’s question of should I be drinking alcohol in the morning has been answered! We both had the cucumber French 75 just after midday, they were delicious.
French 75 is a cocktail made from gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. The drink was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris—later Harry’s New York Bar—by barman Harry MacElhone. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun, also called a “75 Cocktail”, or “Soixante Quinze” in French. The French 75 was popularised in America at the Stork club in New York.
The drink’s recipe was first recorded in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. The recipe in the Savoy Cocktail Book uses gin. A later cocktail book, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, by David Embury, claims that the French 75 is a Cognac-based drink but being a gin drinker myself, I’ll go with the gin. All the French 75’s I had have called for Plymouth gin to be used and that, as some of you know, is my most favourite gin of all time!
Whenever we stay at the Bellagio there’s one thing we just have to do and that is to go to the Petrossian Bar for their nibbles, cheese plate and cocktails. The cheese plate is the Chef’s selection of seven cheeses, several of which we haven’t even heard of, together with two types of apple, fig, apricots, raisins, two types of bread and a delicious type of crisp bread.
The Petrossian Bar at the Bellagio
Si at the Petrossian Bar
Sand enjoying her French 75 at the Petrossian Bar
Marta playing at the Petrossian Bar
Petrossian has been named one of America’s best hotel bars by the hospitality industry’s Santé Magazine. These mixologists are the most seasoned professionals in their field. It is open 24 hours a day and has live music in the form of a pianist, today a lady called Marta was playing the Steinway grand piano.
I think the cocktails must have had an good effect on our gambling as we’ve had another very successful day, again with Mr Monopoly at the Aria hotel being very kind to us!!
Sand’s a winner (I think she’s had one too many French 75’s!)
Some of our winnings – not bad for a $20 stake!
We’ve taken a few photos of the Bellagio Atrium. The Atrium is a big draw for tourists. Every season is recreated with exceptionally gorgeous plants, flowers and trees thoughtfully arranged to inspire full splendor. Specially designed lighting spotlights every flower to accentuate its best features. To ensure the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens maintains magnificence 365 days a year, 140 expert horticulturists theatrically arrange gazebos, bridges, ponds, and water features uniquely for the Holidays, Chinese New Year, spring, summer, and fall!
The Bellagio Atrium
Snail flowers in the Bellagio Atrium
Frog flowers at the Bellagio Antrium
Flower art in the Bellagio Atrium
Day 24! Las Vegas
Hi everyone, I’m having trouble with the laptop at the moment so can’t log on to the Blog. Everything I typed yesterday has disappeared so I’ll have to start again later. I’m typing this on the iPad but the photos are not on here of course!!
Hope to get back to normal later!!
Hooray, normal service has been resumed!!
All this ‘winding down’ is very tiring! We are up and at the pool by about 9 a.m., have some breakfast, spend about three hours there, in and out of the pool and then it’s off gambling, shopping and dining. When is a person supposed to rest!!??
Bellagio Pool Area
Bellagio Pool Area
As you would expect, it was very hot again this morning. It’s 8.00 p.m. now and it’s still 100ºF.
Bellagio Pool Area
Bellagio Pool Area
Just like yesterday we were up and round the pool bright and early and had granola parfaits for breakfast. There is a pool service so we don’t even have to move off our beds, we just order what we want from the ‘pool waitress.’ I’ve discovered today that they serve a cucumber French 75!! Would it be wrong to be drinking alcohol before midday? Decisions, decisions!
Bellagio Pool Waitress
It was time to return ‘the beast’ and Margaret to the rental company today. So we took them back before heading off for dining, gambling and shopping. This year in three weeks we travelled 3,712 miles.
Even though Margaret had her ‘moments’ it was still sad to say goodbye. When we had dropped the car off we went round to the rental office to speak to Fred. You will remember he was so helpful when we collected the car three weeks ago and heard of the trouble we had last year.
Well, he was serving someone but as soon as he saw us he rushed over and shook hands and wanted to know how our holiday had been and if the car had been okay. We thanked him and said everything had been wonderful. He was so pleased that we had taken the time to speak to him.
We were supposed to have gone to see Mac King, the magician, this afternoon but the show was cancelled due to unexpected circumstances which was a shame. We had VIP seating and Si was terrified that he would be asked to go on the stage so I think he was secretly pleased it was cancelled.
So, as our afternoon was ‘free’ after all, we went to have lunch and check out the shops at The Venetian and Palazzo hotels. We ate at another one of our favourite Wolfgang Puck restaurants, Postrio in St. Mark’s Square of The Venetian. As usual, the food was delicious. When a restaurant serves Plymouth gin you know it’s something special and Postrio serves Plymouth, enough said!
Postrio restaurant
Si enjoying his lunch at Postrio
Well, at the shops in the Palazzo Hotel they have a Jimmy Choo shoe shop and JC had started their season sale today! How can anyone who knows me well expect me to walk past a JC shop with a sale on! Well, of course I couldn’t, I just had to go in and take a look. It wasn’t my intention to buy shoes on this trip but when a girl is confronted with a 50% shoe sale what is she expected to do? Well, buy, buy, buy of course!! Due to a shortage of suitcase space I only bought one pair of summer shoes.
Sand’s new choo’s!
You can also take a gondola ride at The Venetian. We’ve done that previously, it’s very pleasant as the Gondolier sings as he rows!
Gondola at The Venetian Hotel
We had great gambling success at the hotels, we tripled our money! Let’s hope it continues.
We got a cab back to Bellagio as it was rather too hot and too far to walk and when we told the cab driver where we were going he said “oh, going home then.” That’s just how we feel about the Bellagio. We’ve been coming here a long time and every time we walk into the lobby we feel as though we’ve come home. Everything’s so comfortable here, it’s like putting on a pair of old slippers!