Showing posts with label the Places I've Been. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Places I've Been. Show all posts

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Lancaster, PA

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Lynn and I  just returned from parts north with our  church  group...First of all, we went to Lancaster, PA to see  the Sight and Sound production of Moses!
Awesome doesnt even begin to describe the  magnificence  of   it..We   spent  2  luxurious nights at the Amish View Inn..



Daytime View • AmishView Inn, Lancaster County PA
 our view of an Amish farm coming to life each day   was   enchanting...
the complimentary breakfast  far surpasses  any other   breakfast  we have ever  enjoyed anywhere..
A Great View • AmishView Inn, Lancaster County PA
 I cant think of anything   one would desire for breakfast  that wasnt offered!  And the coffee  is  phenomenal!
One of the other   activities we enjoyed was the American Treasure Tour in Oaks, PA, near Valley Forge.
"The American Treasure Tour is an all indoor massive collection of Americana from antiques to kitsch to pop culture. Two of our major exhibits are mechanical music  and classic preserved automobiles.  The mechanical music display includes hundreds of machines such as nickelodeons, band organs and music boxes.  In addition to seeing the sights you will hear the great sounds of the music of days gone by.  Additionally we have a jam packed display of animated store window advertising, dolls, doll houses, model airplanes, circus, patriotic, holiday items and many surprises."
Most of the museum is   seen from   a  comfortable tram ride through the  massive  refurbished   warehouse  that  was once  a tire factory.   
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Every kind of old  collectible  automobile 
 or   state fair calliope with automated band,

my granny eye  was always looking  for things that would  tickle little Birdie's  fancy...


so many items that  brought back fond   memories of  days  gone by! 


even   the  recollection of Lynn taking me to see  Bonnie and Clyde on the big screen....   a real gangster car  with bullet holes to prove it!
after  our   joy ride,   we   listened to  over 25  orchestrions  made popular in the Victorian age,   usually  found in brothels,  saloons, and  bars.....  made by Wurlitzer,   these  wonderful musical  treasures  are  quite  something today with their rich finishes,   gorgeous leaded glass, and  original music.
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  This turned out to be  quite  a lovely  way to while away a couple of hours   during one of the rainiest days of spring!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Oh, the Places Ive been by Train!

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I love   riding  the  Northeastern Regional Amtrak  rail...



My girlfriend and I     took  the train to Boston  a couple of years ago....  my first major rail trip!
Much of the  scenery enroute is   gorgeous.... even on   a  somewhat  rainy day!
Unfotunately,  my very first ever glimpse of  NYC  left a bit to be desired.... 
Upon closer  inspection,  I was feeling  the   allure of the Big Apple.. 
but all too soon,     the rails  lead us back to the industrial  sides of towns. 
About  this time I am happy to   have chosen  the quiet car  because with 4 more hours to go,  it's  nap time!
  I love this sign because when I think of  New Haven, CT,  I think of  Lucy's  country home.....alas,  there was nothing  about   what I  saw  there that remotely   looked like the country  suburbs!
  But    as the train travels  along the   Connecticutt  coast, the   vista s a re  lovely....  I can only imagine  how  lovely on a clear day!



Friday, May 17, 2013

Newport, R.I.

A day trip from  our daughter's  near Boston  to  Newport  is  a  thrilling excursion for a landlubber  like me....even  a long bridge  will just about do me in.....  but,  in 2011  the kids  took me on a  day I'll never forget and enjoyed so very much!

From  Providence we took Rt138  and crossed the  Claiborne Newport toll bridge....
 and I was totally fine....  I  only gasped a couple of times! But I  knew   my son-in-law was a marvelous driver and it was truly an amazing  day!

 The kids told me   the only way to  see  Newport, known for its  fabulous   summer  mansions  of the   rich and famous was  by sea... so we were soon   on board   our  boat and ready to  set out!

 It was exhilarating!
 The harbor was   a never ending maze of  every kind of   vessel,  from   fishing  boat to  awesome yacht...
 every  size and shape imaginable....   and it was  such a glorious day the  slips  were writhing with activity...

 The  bay w as  dotted with   sailing masts...  and  there in the distance you can  see   an  awesome  triple mast of   the largest sailing vessel  ever  built...  the  Maltese Falcon ....
 as our    vessel   slipped past her  it was  evident just how very huge she is....

 I cant imagine  how majestic she would be asea under full sail
maltese falcon

I  borrowed this   photo   here to just   show her  beauty
Looking back at the  harbor   shows just  as  was  explained  how lovely   Newport is....


but   now for the   coastal   vistas...  I give you  the Newport mansions...


with names like
The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff, Green Animals & Kingscote
owned by   such   powerhouses,  as Vanderbilt,
Oelrichs, Gallatin,  and Bouvier..

to name just a few 


(Jackie's  childhood home)
 next time around  I want to take the inside tours.....  awesome!
 Back ashore  we   had  so many   fine   restaurants  from which to choose...
 The Mooring   really took our fancy...
   
 a   lovely dockside setting   as  the   sun   begins to set.....
We couldnt resist the bag of doughnuts. ...Lobster, crab & shrimp fritters with chipotle-maple aioli 12       fabulous...   we each wished we'd  had own own bag.....
 I opted for the   Fish N Chips...


 Fried Atlantic blue cod, Guinness batter, spiced fries,
 red pepper slaw, Mooring tartar sauce 19 
Eating dockside     with the lapping of the water   was the perfect end of  an awesome  day  on the water for me!


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