Lately, I've been showering before bed, which is normally something I don't do. I tend to like to shower in the morning to get up and ensure my hair doesn't look like a mop. But since I work out in the early evenings, it's really better to shower after my workout before bed. I don't like the two-shower day, particularly when I'm not going anywhere interesting.
So I went into work today for a few hours and didn't shower before work since I showered last night. Since my hair is curly, I can usually get away with this by throwing on a headband and pulling my hair into some sort of pony tail at the base of my head. The messy yet not too messy look, which takes me a whopping 24 seconds to pull off. It's delightful really.
This afternoon, I had to ask my supervisor a question, and she complimented my hair, saying how nice it looked in this style. Ha. Seriously? I actually laughed out loud for a second. If she only knew how much effort didn't go into my preparation for work. Ha. Still amused.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Hoop It Up
I played basketball growing up for ten years. It was my favorite sport to play. I really loved it until my senior year of high school, which was a total let-down as a player. Since high school, I haven't played much. Sure, in college, my friends and I occasionally played in intramural leagues, but they often only lasted a month or so because there wasn't enough interest from other females to play. Co-ed intramurals is perhaps the most unenjoyable basketball I've ever played because all guys want to do is dunk and there isn't much actual playing involved.
The basketball I liked to play growing up was the basketball that required running set offenses and defensive schemes. Offensively was usually a battle because my team always had at least one ball hog and we never actually ran offenses they way they were intended to be run. I loved playing defense, though, because I usually was able to defend the other team's best player and I enjoyed this challenge.
This summer, a few friends convinced me to join them in a women's league held at a local high school. There are six teams in the league, two teams of high school students and four teams of older alums like myself. Some of these women are just plain crazy - they are obsessed with this league and it's basically the biggest thing they look forward to once a week. On the other hand, I'm really not that overly interested in it. I agreed to play because it's good exercise and mostly to see my friends. I didn't sign up to play because I thought it would be fun because basketball stopped being fun for me a long time ago.
I was on my road trip and missed the first game. The second game, my first appearance, confirmed my initial expectation - that this experience wouldn't be much fun and that I don't actually like basketball. Needless to say, I wasn't excited to show up for our third game this past Sunday.
My team has a lot of busy people with outside commitments so we haven't had a week where everyone could play. On Sunday, we played with only 5 total players, so we had no one to sub for us to give us a breather. Back in the day, I didn't need a sub, but since it's clearly not 1999, forty minutes of basketball is pretty rigorous, despite the fact that I did get myself into pretty decent shape the past few months.
We battled on Sunday. The best part about the game was that we actually played well offensively and actually did make great passes which lead to open shots. Defensively was much tougher because we played a team of 16-year-old high school girls who are in their athletic prime. They strategized to play us full court in the second half, which really winded us and took some energy away. Sadly, we lost our third game in a row. But surprisingly for me, I actually really enjoyed this game. I honestly had fun. I really didn't think that was possible.
The basketball I liked to play growing up was the basketball that required running set offenses and defensive schemes. Offensively was usually a battle because my team always had at least one ball hog and we never actually ran offenses they way they were intended to be run. I loved playing defense, though, because I usually was able to defend the other team's best player and I enjoyed this challenge.
This summer, a few friends convinced me to join them in a women's league held at a local high school. There are six teams in the league, two teams of high school students and four teams of older alums like myself. Some of these women are just plain crazy - they are obsessed with this league and it's basically the biggest thing they look forward to once a week. On the other hand, I'm really not that overly interested in it. I agreed to play because it's good exercise and mostly to see my friends. I didn't sign up to play because I thought it would be fun because basketball stopped being fun for me a long time ago.
I was on my road trip and missed the first game. The second game, my first appearance, confirmed my initial expectation - that this experience wouldn't be much fun and that I don't actually like basketball. Needless to say, I wasn't excited to show up for our third game this past Sunday.
My team has a lot of busy people with outside commitments so we haven't had a week where everyone could play. On Sunday, we played with only 5 total players, so we had no one to sub for us to give us a breather. Back in the day, I didn't need a sub, but since it's clearly not 1999, forty minutes of basketball is pretty rigorous, despite the fact that I did get myself into pretty decent shape the past few months.
We battled on Sunday. The best part about the game was that we actually played well offensively and actually did make great passes which lead to open shots. Defensively was much tougher because we played a team of 16-year-old high school girls who are in their athletic prime. They strategized to play us full court in the second half, which really winded us and took some energy away. Sadly, we lost our third game in a row. But surprisingly for me, I actually really enjoyed this game. I honestly had fun. I really didn't think that was possible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Unofficial Minors
I've always said that when you get a master's degree to work in higher education, you earn "unofficial minors" in icebreakers, teambuilders, and bulletin boards - basically, all those "little" things you learn to do as staff members to work with students/student groups and plan/advertise events.
While I posted earlier that my part time job is pretty boring lately because no students are around, this week I have actually enjoyed work. I've had the opportunity to really use my minor in bulletin boards, which in a larger extent means I've been making a lot of flyers, signs, spreadsheets, nametags and the like in order to help out with some events that are happening next week sponsored by my office. In essence, this isn't challenging work in a critical thinking sort of way, but it does keep the creative juices flowing which does usually pass the time pretty quickly. I've actually enjoyed working the past two days because I've been able to be involved in these sorts of things and it's somewhat therapeutic. Today, I even dominated the copy machine and found some ways to fancy-up some of my work.
It's the little things, really, and in these times, I'll take whatever I can get to enjoy work.
While I posted earlier that my part time job is pretty boring lately because no students are around, this week I have actually enjoyed work. I've had the opportunity to really use my minor in bulletin boards, which in a larger extent means I've been making a lot of flyers, signs, spreadsheets, nametags and the like in order to help out with some events that are happening next week sponsored by my office. In essence, this isn't challenging work in a critical thinking sort of way, but it does keep the creative juices flowing which does usually pass the time pretty quickly. I've actually enjoyed working the past two days because I've been able to be involved in these sorts of things and it's somewhat therapeutic. Today, I even dominated the copy machine and found some ways to fancy-up some of my work.
It's the little things, really, and in these times, I'll take whatever I can get to enjoy work.
Fossils
I'm still currently working part time at Bucknell and most days it's something I consider to be pretty boring. There aren't many students around so doing summer project work tends to be fairly independent and uninspiring. However, it is a paycheck and clearly, I need some money and something to do during the week.
I never have voicemail messages. There's really no reason for anyone to call me. But yesterday, I did have a voicemail. I was somewhat excited because I thought maybe it would lead to something interesting to do.
The man who left the message said, "I'm calling to find out who in the geology department I can speak to about a fossil I found." He went on to say that he had called once before about a similar situation.
Um, so he called me. Why?
I don't work in the geology department, and I definitely don't know anything about fossils.
This didn't lead to anything interesting to do, but it was pretty funny for about three minutes of my Monday.
I never have voicemail messages. There's really no reason for anyone to call me. But yesterday, I did have a voicemail. I was somewhat excited because I thought maybe it would lead to something interesting to do.
The man who left the message said, "I'm calling to find out who in the geology department I can speak to about a fossil I found." He went on to say that he had called once before about a similar situation.
Um, so he called me. Why?
I don't work in the geology department, and I definitely don't know anything about fossils.
This didn't lead to anything interesting to do, but it was pretty funny for about three minutes of my Monday.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
New Look
If you're reading this, you should obviously be aware that my blog has a new fancy look. This was my first attempt at trying to personalize my blog, and thanks to the tips from my friend Heather, I think it was a pretty successful first attempt!
I think after posting so often about the road trip, I got bored with the old look; I mean, it's been the same since the start which was way back in 2006. So I spent some time experimenting and I kinda like what I came up with. (It helps when other blogs offer fancy things like this for free!)
Please, if you're an avid reader of my verbose ramblings, let me know what you think. Also, I'd love for you to become a "follower" of my blog which you can easily do by creating an account and signing up - this way, you get updates on when I've actually posted something new. Tell your friends. I'm trying to gauge if people other than those who know me first-hand would be interested in anything I have to say - just a side social experiment if you will.
And please feel free to comment on anything whenever you want. It makes blogging much more fun for me! Much love to you!
I think after posting so often about the road trip, I got bored with the old look; I mean, it's been the same since the start which was way back in 2006. So I spent some time experimenting and I kinda like what I came up with. (It helps when other blogs offer fancy things like this for free!)
Please, if you're an avid reader of my verbose ramblings, let me know what you think. Also, I'd love for you to become a "follower" of my blog which you can easily do by creating an account and signing up - this way, you get updates on when I've actually posted something new. Tell your friends. I'm trying to gauge if people other than those who know me first-hand would be interested in anything I have to say - just a side social experiment if you will.
And please feel free to comment on anything whenever you want. It makes blogging much more fun for me! Much love to you!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Road Trip Summary
I like numbers so here's some random stats on our trip:
Miles: 1694
Days: 10
States: 7
Cannolis: 6
Ballparks: 3
Breweries: 2
Moose: 1
Generally speaking, one helluva road trip.
Honestly, I had such an amazing time. We saw so many fantastic sites, ate so many delicious meals, and in essence just had a ton of fun. It was an absolute blast to spend this trip with my cousin Jen and I hope we can do something similar in the future. While my wallet is glad to be home, I'm certainly already missing the adventure, the open road, the unknown, and the pure pleasure of travel. I cannot wait for the next voyage.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about our experiences!
Miles: 1694
Days: 10
States: 7
Cannolis: 6
Ballparks: 3
Breweries: 2
Moose: 1
Generally speaking, one helluva road trip.
Honestly, I had such an amazing time. We saw so many fantastic sites, ate so many delicious meals, and in essence just had a ton of fun. It was an absolute blast to spend this trip with my cousin Jen and I hope we can do something similar in the future. While my wallet is glad to be home, I'm certainly already missing the adventure, the open road, the unknown, and the pure pleasure of travel. I cannot wait for the next voyage.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about our experiences!
Road Trip Day 10: Yankee Stadium
Our final stop was Yankee Stadium for Monday night's Yankees vs. Rays game. Wow. New Yankee Stadium is pretty spectacular. We were immediately impressed at how early they allowed us to enter the stadium. We were able to watch Yankee batting practice which isn't always allowed at some ball parks. We were impressed by the customer service of the majority of the stadium's staff. They allowed us to get pretty close to the field, down to the first section, to watch batting practice; they offered to take photos and basically offered to let us do whatever we wanted except for actually getting on the field. Definitely awesome.
We spent some time in center field to see Monument Park, which is also pretty spectacular. We perused the plaques of former players who are in the Hall of Fame and who have their jersey numbers retired. This is very well done indeed.
Our seats were in the bleachers in the first row behind the visiting team's bullpen, so we spent some time there to watch batting practice. Alex Rodriguez teased us during batting practice when two consecutive balls came within a foot of our section; unfortunately they bounced off the wall and back into the field.
Before the game, we grabbed a bite to eat. At New Yankee Stadium, you may have heard that they have an insane variety of food offerings, from the usual ballpark hot dogs and hot sausages to things like sushi and noodle bowls. Jen opted for a cheesesteak and I opted for loaded nachos, all 1410 calories. I know this because the signs in the stadium inform you of your calorie intake, you know, in case you're a freak who has to watch what you eat at a ballpark.
The game was nuts. There were five homeruns hit and these balls just flew out of the park like rockets. Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher hit homeruns for the Yankees while Gabe Kaplar hit one for the Rays. The Yankees won 5-3. Another great ballpark experience, and a great final stop on our voyage.
We spent some time in center field to see Monument Park, which is also pretty spectacular. We perused the plaques of former players who are in the Hall of Fame and who have their jersey numbers retired. This is very well done indeed.
Our seats were in the bleachers in the first row behind the visiting team's bullpen, so we spent some time there to watch batting practice. Alex Rodriguez teased us during batting practice when two consecutive balls came within a foot of our section; unfortunately they bounced off the wall and back into the field.
Before the game, we grabbed a bite to eat. At New Yankee Stadium, you may have heard that they have an insane variety of food offerings, from the usual ballpark hot dogs and hot sausages to things like sushi and noodle bowls. Jen opted for a cheesesteak and I opted for loaded nachos, all 1410 calories. I know this because the signs in the stadium inform you of your calorie intake, you know, in case you're a freak who has to watch what you eat at a ballpark.
The game was nuts. There were five homeruns hit and these balls just flew out of the park like rockets. Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher hit homeruns for the Yankees while Gabe Kaplar hit one for the Rays. The Yankees won 5-3. Another great ballpark experience, and a great final stop on our voyage.
Road Trip Day 10: Mystic Part 2 & New Haven, CT
On Monday morning, we arose early to escape the confines of the worst hotel ever. We decided to spend the morning at Mystic Aquarium and hang out with 4th and 5th graders on field trips. No, seriously, we were the oldest two individuals at the aquarium who weren't teachers, parents, or chaperons. The aquarium was a good time, since we hadn't been to one in ages. We really enjoyed the sea lions, both the average sized ones as well as giant Cody who weighed 1915 lbs and the three tiny baby sea lions that were only about a year old. We saw beluga whales and penguins and stingrays and a multitude of fish and sharks. We were somewhat grossed out by the bullfrogs and sadly, we didn't get to see any giant turtles. The sea lion show was a hit so the experience was overall pretty fun.
After the aquarium, we walked around the Mystic Seaport area and checked out some shops, per our usual exploration. For lunch, we actually drove a few miles to Noank to feast at Costello's Clam Shack! (Jen is a Costello, so, pretty cool, right?) Jen read up on Costello's and reported that down the road is a restaurant called Abbott's where they serve lobsters and other seafood dishes; they don't, however, serve anything fried so the idea was born to open Costello's down the road and focus on fried seafood. Abbott and Costello. Nice marketing. Good stuff. We shared some clam fritters then I had popcorn shrimp while Jen had a tuna melt. Another great lunch and another very neat experience on our travels. Who would have thought we'd eat at a Varano's and a Costello's in the same trip? We dominate the food selection.
After lunch, we drove to New Haven, CT, to check out Yale University. Very, very nice campus. Of all the campuses we saw on the trip, we found Yale to be the most impressive, mostly due to the architecture of some of its oldest buildings. Another excellent stop on the voyage.
After the aquarium, we walked around the Mystic Seaport area and checked out some shops, per our usual exploration. For lunch, we actually drove a few miles to Noank to feast at Costello's Clam Shack! (Jen is a Costello, so, pretty cool, right?) Jen read up on Costello's and reported that down the road is a restaurant called Abbott's where they serve lobsters and other seafood dishes; they don't, however, serve anything fried so the idea was born to open Costello's down the road and focus on fried seafood. Abbott and Costello. Nice marketing. Good stuff. We shared some clam fritters then I had popcorn shrimp while Jen had a tuna melt. Another great lunch and another very neat experience on our travels. Who would have thought we'd eat at a Varano's and a Costello's in the same trip? We dominate the food selection.
After lunch, we drove to New Haven, CT, to check out Yale University. Very, very nice campus. Of all the campuses we saw on the trip, we found Yale to be the most impressive, mostly due to the architecture of some of its oldest buildings. Another excellent stop on the voyage.
Road Trip Day 9: Mystic, CT, Part 1
After arriving in Mystic, CT, and making arrangements at what would later be known as the worst hotel stay of our trip, we headed into town to find Mystic Pizza. It wasn't hard to find, actually, because it's a pretty small town and the restaurant is on Main Street. You may know Mystic Pizza because it is the name of the movie that starred Julia Roberts in the late '80s. When we arrived, Jen read the sign: "Mystic Pizza: A Slice of Heaven" and then said, "I'll be the judge of that."
On the recommendation of our server, who had top-notch customer service skills, we decided to share a Caesar Salad and a House Pizza, which had sausage, meatball, green peppers and onions. Needless to say, the meal aimed to pleased. The pizza crust reminded us a little of Pizza Hut's style, but generally speaking for a thicker slice, this was one of the best pizzas I ever had. It wasn't overloaded with sauce, which is how I like it, and the cheese was melted to the perfect point. We felt the choice of meats and veggies was good too - overall, in fact, a little slice of heaven. Jen concurred.
After dinner, we headed back to the worst hotel ever and settled in to watch the Phillies game on ESPN. In about the 5th inning, we busted out one of Mike's cannolis we purchased in Boston. Another great night.
On the recommendation of our server, who had top-notch customer service skills, we decided to share a Caesar Salad and a House Pizza, which had sausage, meatball, green peppers and onions. Needless to say, the meal aimed to pleased. The pizza crust reminded us a little of Pizza Hut's style, but generally speaking for a thicker slice, this was one of the best pizzas I ever had. It wasn't overloaded with sauce, which is how I like it, and the cheese was melted to the perfect point. We felt the choice of meats and veggies was good too - overall, in fact, a little slice of heaven. Jen concurred.
After dinner, we headed back to the worst hotel ever and settled in to watch the Phillies game on ESPN. In about the 5th inning, we busted out one of Mike's cannolis we purchased in Boston. Another great night.
Road Trip Day 9: Providence & Newport, RI
On Sunday morning, we said our goodbyes to Kait (and her family and her super-fun dog, Bailey) and headed further south down the coast, this time to Rhode Island. We stopped in Providence and decided we would eat brunch, since we had not yet actually sat down for a proper breakfast (just the hotel continental breakfasts up to this point). So we bounded down to Thayer Street which is near Brown University to sample some local fare.
We happened upon Andreas, which is actually a Greek restaurant. Immediately, the menu spoke to me and my eyes zeroed in on the raisin bread french toast. Jen ordered an omelette. Both meals came with a side of tasty potatoes and a wee-cup of fruit. Absolutely delish. One of the best french toast dishes I've ever had. The use of raisin bread was a special sweet treat to my meal.
We spent a little bit of time poking around Providence, but honestly, there wasn't a great deal to see. We checked out some of Brown (where Jen's cousin went to school many years ago) and some of the downtown before we decided to move on. If we had been in Providence at night, we would have checked out their FireWater show on the water, but obviously we missed this.
From Providence, we drove to Newport. We missed the opportunity to do a trolley tour, which was unfortunate because we really didn't know too much about Newport. From what we gathered, though, the highlights seem to be the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the multitude of mansions tucked throughout the town. Apparently, people travel from all over the place to tour these gigantic mansions and learn about their styles, architecture, artwork, etc. Since this really isn't our scene, we just mucked about for a bit. We did take the trolley to the part of the town that overlooks the water and we walked along a cliff for a bit down to a beach. This was pretty neat in terms of the views of the water and the cliff's rocks.
After a few hours in Rhode Island, we determined we had seen enough and were ready to keep traveling. We headed into Connecticut for the night.
We happened upon Andreas, which is actually a Greek restaurant. Immediately, the menu spoke to me and my eyes zeroed in on the raisin bread french toast. Jen ordered an omelette. Both meals came with a side of tasty potatoes and a wee-cup of fruit. Absolutely delish. One of the best french toast dishes I've ever had. The use of raisin bread was a special sweet treat to my meal.
We spent a little bit of time poking around Providence, but honestly, there wasn't a great deal to see. We checked out some of Brown (where Jen's cousin went to school many years ago) and some of the downtown before we decided to move on. If we had been in Providence at night, we would have checked out their FireWater show on the water, but obviously we missed this.
From Providence, we drove to Newport. We missed the opportunity to do a trolley tour, which was unfortunate because we really didn't know too much about Newport. From what we gathered, though, the highlights seem to be the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the multitude of mansions tucked throughout the town. Apparently, people travel from all over the place to tour these gigantic mansions and learn about their styles, architecture, artwork, etc. Since this really isn't our scene, we just mucked about for a bit. We did take the trolley to the part of the town that overlooks the water and we walked along a cliff for a bit down to a beach. This was pretty neat in terms of the views of the water and the cliff's rocks.
After a few hours in Rhode Island, we determined we had seen enough and were ready to keep traveling. We headed into Connecticut for the night.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Road Trip Day 8: Boston, MA
A bright, sunny Saturday in Boston is one essential element to one helluva day.
We set off into the city early, accompanied by Kait and her sister Jillian. What better way to start a Boston tour day than at Sam Adams Brewery at the ripe hour of 10:30am. After a quick summary of how Boston's finest ale is produced (mostly in other facilities, not the actual facility we were standing in), we were in a sample room with tester glasses in hand while Nick the humorous tour guide walked us through the beer sampling process. We tasted the original Sam Adams Lager, Summer Ale, and Boston Brick Red (which is only sold at select bars in the Boston area). We laughed a lot. Even for someone who doesn't actually drink a lot of beer, it was one great tourist experience.
After our breakfast of beer, we headed into Boston to begin a day of walking, talking, and sight-seeing. From Faneuil Hall and Quincey Market to the Old State House and the Boston Massacre Site, from Boston Public Garden and Cheers to Newbury Square and the Prudential Building, from Harvard Square to Mike's Pastry in the North end -- yep, as Jen said, we schlepped everywhere and saw it all!
We had lunch at the original Cheers which was a great deal of fun. I always liked the show even though I was somewhat young when it was popular. What I honestly remember the most about Cheers is how loudly my mom used to laugh while watching the show. She was literally in stitches every Thursday night when it aired. I think I appreciate Cheers for what is represents - that neighborhood "place" where you can go and no matter what you're feeling about whatever is happening in your life, you feel like you belong there sharing your day with others who feel the same. It was definitely a great stop for lunch.
After lunch, we trampsed along Newbury Street and headed toward the Prudential Building, where we headed up to the 50th floor for a spectacular view of the city. Unfortunately, part of the floor was closed off due to a private event and we still had to pay full price, but the views we did see were worth the elevator ride. If you're new to Boston or have only visited once or twice like myself, this is a fantastic way to view the different parts of the city and "see" firsthand how Boston comes together. The people's stories on the guided headset are a little over the top but this is definitely a great way to experience the city.
We stopped at Harvard because I like to see different colleges and universities, so it seemed fitting to see the oldest university in the country. In Harvard Square we had the opportunity to listen to two dudes playing their buckets like drums while little children danced to their good tunes - definitely cute and enjoyable.
After a quick ride on the T, we ended in my favorite part of the city, the North End. Specifically, I enjoy Hanover Street in this Italian district for its restaurants, shops and overall Italian flare. We decided to eat at Lucia for dinner, which is across from Paul Revere's statue. We chose Italian for dinner in order for Kait and I to reminisce about our travel in Italy together back in 2004 - I actually met Kait during this summer abroad trip when she was my travel buddy through Italia. We felt Italian food and wine was an appropriate dinner out for our time together. My friend Emily was able to join us for dinner, so this made the evening even more enjoyable.
Thanks to our attractive server, Massimo, we wined and dined, literally, on delicious sangria, wine, pasta and veal. Delish. Delectable. Delightful overall. We had such a good time that Jen signed her tab, "Life Is Good." No joke, she really did that. It was absolutely appropriate.
Finally, after our enjoyable dining experience, Jen and I hopped in line in the ultra-busy Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street. After pouring over a variety of cookies and pastries, we ordered our cannoli and pizzelles and headed out the door. It's a mad house in this place, and it's absolutely worth it. Oh, cannoli, how I love thee. Again, absolutely delish.
What a fantastic eleven-hour day of pure tourism and enjoyment. I can't think of a better way to spend a day traveling, honestly, than with such great experiences and great company.
We set off into the city early, accompanied by Kait and her sister Jillian. What better way to start a Boston tour day than at Sam Adams Brewery at the ripe hour of 10:30am. After a quick summary of how Boston's finest ale is produced (mostly in other facilities, not the actual facility we were standing in), we were in a sample room with tester glasses in hand while Nick the humorous tour guide walked us through the beer sampling process. We tasted the original Sam Adams Lager, Summer Ale, and Boston Brick Red (which is only sold at select bars in the Boston area). We laughed a lot. Even for someone who doesn't actually drink a lot of beer, it was one great tourist experience.
After our breakfast of beer, we headed into Boston to begin a day of walking, talking, and sight-seeing. From Faneuil Hall and Quincey Market to the Old State House and the Boston Massacre Site, from Boston Public Garden and Cheers to Newbury Square and the Prudential Building, from Harvard Square to Mike's Pastry in the North end -- yep, as Jen said, we schlepped everywhere and saw it all!
We had lunch at the original Cheers which was a great deal of fun. I always liked the show even though I was somewhat young when it was popular. What I honestly remember the most about Cheers is how loudly my mom used to laugh while watching the show. She was literally in stitches every Thursday night when it aired. I think I appreciate Cheers for what is represents - that neighborhood "place" where you can go and no matter what you're feeling about whatever is happening in your life, you feel like you belong there sharing your day with others who feel the same. It was definitely a great stop for lunch.
After lunch, we trampsed along Newbury Street and headed toward the Prudential Building, where we headed up to the 50th floor for a spectacular view of the city. Unfortunately, part of the floor was closed off due to a private event and we still had to pay full price, but the views we did see were worth the elevator ride. If you're new to Boston or have only visited once or twice like myself, this is a fantastic way to view the different parts of the city and "see" firsthand how Boston comes together. The people's stories on the guided headset are a little over the top but this is definitely a great way to experience the city.
We stopped at Harvard because I like to see different colleges and universities, so it seemed fitting to see the oldest university in the country. In Harvard Square we had the opportunity to listen to two dudes playing their buckets like drums while little children danced to their good tunes - definitely cute and enjoyable.
After a quick ride on the T, we ended in my favorite part of the city, the North End. Specifically, I enjoy Hanover Street in this Italian district for its restaurants, shops and overall Italian flare. We decided to eat at Lucia for dinner, which is across from Paul Revere's statue. We chose Italian for dinner in order for Kait and I to reminisce about our travel in Italy together back in 2004 - I actually met Kait during this summer abroad trip when she was my travel buddy through Italia. We felt Italian food and wine was an appropriate dinner out for our time together. My friend Emily was able to join us for dinner, so this made the evening even more enjoyable.
Thanks to our attractive server, Massimo, we wined and dined, literally, on delicious sangria, wine, pasta and veal. Delish. Delectable. Delightful overall. We had such a good time that Jen signed her tab, "Life Is Good." No joke, she really did that. It was absolutely appropriate.
Finally, after our enjoyable dining experience, Jen and I hopped in line in the ultra-busy Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street. After pouring over a variety of cookies and pastries, we ordered our cannoli and pizzelles and headed out the door. It's a mad house in this place, and it's absolutely worth it. Oh, cannoli, how I love thee. Again, absolutely delish.
What a fantastic eleven-hour day of pure tourism and enjoyment. I can't think of a better way to spend a day traveling, honestly, than with such great experiences and great company.
Road Trip Day 7: Fenway
After our witchy afternoon, we headed into Boston and more specifically Fenway Park! My friend Kait's dad hooked us up with some stellar seats to the evening's Red Sox vs. Rangers game, so after using Kait's helpful tips on parking, we headed to Fenway for exploration and the ball game.
Before the game, we spent some time outside of the ballpark exploring the shops along Yawkey Way and drinking in a sports bar called Game On. We then ventured into the ballpark to explore the Green Monster, the old-fashioned wooden seats, and the general views from around the stadium. We were even able to get a photo and an autograph from Gary Waslewski, who apparently pitched in the 1967 World Series when the Sox lost to the Cardinals. "Want an autograph?" Sure, why not.
We had seats along 1st base, in the second section underneath the upper decks, about 45 rows deep. Fantastic seats. We could see the whole infield and the Green Monster in the background without moving; we could see most of the outfield also, except for the part where a pole blocked our line of sight.
We found the atmosphere in Fenway Park to be unlike any other sporting event we've attended to date. It's hard to describe, but there's just something about being in this old-fashioned, down-to-earth ballpark with significantly supportive fans that was unique. We noticed that the vendors threw everything to patrons, from a bottle of soda to a bag of peanuts or Cracker Jack. We were glad they weren't throwing the cups of clam chowder, however, though we wouldn't have been too surprised if they did. We were impressed by one female vendor who balanced an entire case of water bottles on her head without using her hands - we believe she was tipped well for her work.
Unforunately, the Red Sox lost the game. We did get to see a homerun over the Green Monster, but it was a three-run blast by Ian Kinsler of the Rangers in the 5th inning. Millwood pitched well for the Rangers whereas Penny struggled for the Sox. Penny was congratulated with a major applause for his efforts from his supportive fans however; this is the stuff that does not happen in Philly.
We had a great time at Fenway. We enjoyed the food, the seats, the game, the atmosphere - basically the whole experience. It's easy now to see why Fenway is deemed America's Favorite Ballpark.
Before the game, we spent some time outside of the ballpark exploring the shops along Yawkey Way and drinking in a sports bar called Game On. We then ventured into the ballpark to explore the Green Monster, the old-fashioned wooden seats, and the general views from around the stadium. We were even able to get a photo and an autograph from Gary Waslewski, who apparently pitched in the 1967 World Series when the Sox lost to the Cardinals. "Want an autograph?" Sure, why not.
We had seats along 1st base, in the second section underneath the upper decks, about 45 rows deep. Fantastic seats. We could see the whole infield and the Green Monster in the background without moving; we could see most of the outfield also, except for the part where a pole blocked our line of sight.
We found the atmosphere in Fenway Park to be unlike any other sporting event we've attended to date. It's hard to describe, but there's just something about being in this old-fashioned, down-to-earth ballpark with significantly supportive fans that was unique. We noticed that the vendors threw everything to patrons, from a bottle of soda to a bag of peanuts or Cracker Jack. We were glad they weren't throwing the cups of clam chowder, however, though we wouldn't have been too surprised if they did. We were impressed by one female vendor who balanced an entire case of water bottles on her head without using her hands - we believe she was tipped well for her work.
Unforunately, the Red Sox lost the game. We did get to see a homerun over the Green Monster, but it was a three-run blast by Ian Kinsler of the Rangers in the 5th inning. Millwood pitched well for the Rangers whereas Penny struggled for the Sox. Penny was congratulated with a major applause for his efforts from his supportive fans however; this is the stuff that does not happen in Philly.
We had a great time at Fenway. We enjoyed the food, the seats, the game, the atmosphere - basically the whole experience. It's easy now to see why Fenway is deemed America's Favorite Ballpark.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Road Trip Day 7: Salem, MA
Exchange of text messages between friend Kait and I, around 1:35pm on Friday:
Kait: How you guys doing?
Carol: Double double toil and trouble.
Kait: You're a black magic woman.
Carol: Hocus pocus. This shit is wacko.
Kait: Can you cast me a spell for some fortune?
Carol: Not sure what herb that requires (that was all Jen).
Kait: Oh, I have an idea. You should do a rain dance so it holds off tonight!
Clearly, we spent part of the day exploring the Salem Witch Trial history in Salem, MA. We started our touring at the Salem Witch Museum. Here, we heard a twenty-minute account of the overall history surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 followed by some information regarding the definitions of a "witch" and the progression of a "witch" over time including present-day Wiccans. I found this to be insightful.
Our second stop was the Witch History Museum. Again, there was a general telling of the overall history surrounding the trials, but this time, the second part of the tour told 15 different stories of the major players in these events, including the black slave woman, the girls, the reverend and the sherriff.
The third stop was the Salem Witch Dungeon. This stop had a live reenactment of a trial followed by a tour of a replica of what the dungeons looked like where "witches" were held.
This whole experience was wacko. Honestly, I don't even know of a better word to describe it. Learning the details of this crazy event really was informative. Before these tours, I really didn't know too much about the Salem Witch Trials. It was interesting to ponder the happenings at each of these stops.
On a side note, the woman who gave the tour of the dungeon said that prisoners had to pay for their stay in jail. Basically, the wealthier prisoners could purchase larger cells, with pillows and blankets and other amenities. Poor prisoners were sometimes held in tiny cells and shackled to walls so they couldn't even sit down. It was absolutely morbid to think about this. I'm sharing this because I kept thinking to myself, "Interesting. Today, my tax-paying dollars support prisoners. Some prisoners get social security checks while in prison. They don't pay for a thing and sometimes get out of jail with more money to live on than many of us who actually work full time, pay taxes, and contribute positively to society. I wonder what would happen today if prisoners had to pay for their stay in actual dollars." Random thoughts, I know.
On a more pleasant note, we had another delicious lunch at a place in downtown Salem called Rockafellas. Fried Brie Salad - wonderful choice - wish it existed on more menus.
Kait: How you guys doing?
Carol: Double double toil and trouble.
Kait: You're a black magic woman.
Carol: Hocus pocus. This shit is wacko.
Kait: Can you cast me a spell for some fortune?
Carol: Not sure what herb that requires (that was all Jen).
Kait: Oh, I have an idea. You should do a rain dance so it holds off tonight!
Clearly, we spent part of the day exploring the Salem Witch Trial history in Salem, MA. We started our touring at the Salem Witch Museum. Here, we heard a twenty-minute account of the overall history surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 followed by some information regarding the definitions of a "witch" and the progression of a "witch" over time including present-day Wiccans. I found this to be insightful.
Our second stop was the Witch History Museum. Again, there was a general telling of the overall history surrounding the trials, but this time, the second part of the tour told 15 different stories of the major players in these events, including the black slave woman, the girls, the reverend and the sherriff.
The third stop was the Salem Witch Dungeon. This stop had a live reenactment of a trial followed by a tour of a replica of what the dungeons looked like where "witches" were held.
This whole experience was wacko. Honestly, I don't even know of a better word to describe it. Learning the details of this crazy event really was informative. Before these tours, I really didn't know too much about the Salem Witch Trials. It was interesting to ponder the happenings at each of these stops.
On a side note, the woman who gave the tour of the dungeon said that prisoners had to pay for their stay in jail. Basically, the wealthier prisoners could purchase larger cells, with pillows and blankets and other amenities. Poor prisoners were sometimes held in tiny cells and shackled to walls so they couldn't even sit down. It was absolutely morbid to think about this. I'm sharing this because I kept thinking to myself, "Interesting. Today, my tax-paying dollars support prisoners. Some prisoners get social security checks while in prison. They don't pay for a thing and sometimes get out of jail with more money to live on than many of us who actually work full time, pay taxes, and contribute positively to society. I wonder what would happen today if prisoners had to pay for their stay in actual dollars." Random thoughts, I know.
On a more pleasant note, we had another delicious lunch at a place in downtown Salem called Rockafellas. Fried Brie Salad - wonderful choice - wish it existed on more menus.
Road Trip Day 6: Kennebunkport & Portsmouth, ME
On Thursday, we awoke to a beautiful day in the 70s, sun shining - what some might consider "a great day." We spent the morning exploring Kennebunkport. I love saying Kennebunkport. It's such a fun name for a place. Kennebunkport. Say it aloud. See, isn't it fun?
You may have heard of Kennebunkport for the fact that the Bush family vacation there. We didn't see George or Laura or Barbara or Jeb. We didn't really look, to be honest, but did occassionally yell for George, which was humorous for us.
Kennebunkport is quaint. We spent some time wandering its eclectic, independently owned shops. I was on a mission for a t-shirt that said Kennebunkport. I am pleased to report that I did in fact find a pretty cute t-shirt. I can't wait to show it off so people can ask me about Kennebunkport.
After perusing the stores, we set up shop on the beach for a bit. It was a bit chilly with the ocean breeze but still nice to relax on a beach, enjoy the sounds of the waves, and smell the wonderful salt water smell. I could do this daily. I may just have to pick up and move to the coast. What a life I could lead.
Post-relaxation, we headed further south down the coast and made a stop in Portsmouth. This small coastal city has a great downtown, again laced with independently owned stores and hip restaurants. We settled into a restaurant called Popovers and enjoyed a soup and sandwich lunch combo. From there, we wandered around some stores and checked out some of the area along the waterfront.
In the earlier part of the evening, we headed to Salem, NH, to see if we could happen upon America's Stonehenge. Sadly, it was closed. Nothing random to report here. I assume this whole experience would have been random anyway, but you never know I guess. No one I know has ever been there so maybe someone will soon take the plunge and tell us about it.
From here, we drove to my friend Kait's for the night, a little north of Boston. She showed us Newburyport, MA, and we walked along the beach for a bit before settling in for the night.
You may have heard of Kennebunkport for the fact that the Bush family vacation there. We didn't see George or Laura or Barbara or Jeb. We didn't really look, to be honest, but did occassionally yell for George, which was humorous for us.
Kennebunkport is quaint. We spent some time wandering its eclectic, independently owned shops. I was on a mission for a t-shirt that said Kennebunkport. I am pleased to report that I did in fact find a pretty cute t-shirt. I can't wait to show it off so people can ask me about Kennebunkport.
After perusing the stores, we set up shop on the beach for a bit. It was a bit chilly with the ocean breeze but still nice to relax on a beach, enjoy the sounds of the waves, and smell the wonderful salt water smell. I could do this daily. I may just have to pick up and move to the coast. What a life I could lead.
Post-relaxation, we headed further south down the coast and made a stop in Portsmouth. This small coastal city has a great downtown, again laced with independently owned stores and hip restaurants. We settled into a restaurant called Popovers and enjoyed a soup and sandwich lunch combo. From there, we wandered around some stores and checked out some of the area along the waterfront.
In the earlier part of the evening, we headed to Salem, NH, to see if we could happen upon America's Stonehenge. Sadly, it was closed. Nothing random to report here. I assume this whole experience would have been random anyway, but you never know I guess. No one I know has ever been there so maybe someone will soon take the plunge and tell us about it.
From here, we drove to my friend Kait's for the night, a little north of Boston. She showed us Newburyport, MA, and we walked along the beach for a bit before settling in for the night.
Road Trip Day 5: Wells, ME
From Portland, we hopped on Route 1 and headed south down the coast. We found a hotel in Kennebunk, ME, for its acccess to Wells and Kennebunkport. For dinner, we headed into Wells in order to dine at Varano's Italian Restaurant. Cool, right? I had known about this restaurant for a few years because my friend Anne's grandmother lives in Wells and Anne's mother once sent me a photograph of the restaurant. Obviously, this just had to be a stop on our voyage.
Varano's was an amazing dining experience. We had a fantastic server, Shane, who met all expectations for "great customer service." Shane and I also had a nice chat about my family name being Varano; sadly, the owner was not in the restaurant so we couldn't swap accounts of family lineage or else I would have tried to decipher if this Varano family was traced to Calabria, Italy, also.
Jen and I both had some wine and we opted for salads with a home-made blue cheese dressing. Absolutely delish and possibly the best blue cheese dressing we've ever had. The bread to accompany our dinner was fresh-baked and delicious as well. For our entrees, Jen opted for Veal Bracciolettine while I opted for Veal Marsala. Since we sample each other's foods, I can confidently say that both dishes were absolutely delectable - the sauce and mushrooms were great accompaniments to the dish. We also enjoyed the side of penne in house marinara. After such a wonderful meal, we were easily convinced to also have dessert. We shared a helping of tiramisu and almond creme cake. Scrumptious.
Quite possibly one of the ten best meals I've ever had. Hands-down worth every penny (and there were many a penny for this meal).
After dinner we did what any two people could do in a tiny coastal town with not much going on - we played a speedy round of mini golf. I won. Winner winner chicken dinner.
Varano's was an amazing dining experience. We had a fantastic server, Shane, who met all expectations for "great customer service." Shane and I also had a nice chat about my family name being Varano; sadly, the owner was not in the restaurant so we couldn't swap accounts of family lineage or else I would have tried to decipher if this Varano family was traced to Calabria, Italy, also.
Jen and I both had some wine and we opted for salads with a home-made blue cheese dressing. Absolutely delish and possibly the best blue cheese dressing we've ever had. The bread to accompany our dinner was fresh-baked and delicious as well. For our entrees, Jen opted for Veal Bracciolettine while I opted for Veal Marsala. Since we sample each other's foods, I can confidently say that both dishes were absolutely delectable - the sauce and mushrooms were great accompaniments to the dish. We also enjoyed the side of penne in house marinara. After such a wonderful meal, we were easily convinced to also have dessert. We shared a helping of tiramisu and almond creme cake. Scrumptious.
Quite possibly one of the ten best meals I've ever had. Hands-down worth every penny (and there were many a penny for this meal).
After dinner we did what any two people could do in a tiny coastal town with not much going on - we played a speedy round of mini golf. I won. Winner winner chicken dinner.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Road Trip Day 5: Portland, ME, Part 2
We spent the majority of the day in Portland. Since we really didn't know anything about Portland, we decided to take a Land & Sea Tour through Portland Discovery. We hopped on a trolley in the morning and our driver, Marie, gave us an overview of the sights of Portland. Needless to say, there aren't a ton of sights so I think I can recall most of the knowledge she provided. Portland really doesn't have any major historical happenings, though the city did basically burn to the ground at one point in its early history. Portland has an observation tower that sits at the city's highest point, 175 feet above sea level. We also saw Longfellow's house and his statue near the arts district. Marie pointed out the different areas of Portland, the east and west sides of the penninsula. We saw a spectacular cathedral on the east side; in terms of sights, this was probably the most interesting to look at downtown. She pointed out three boats in Casco Bay that serve as taxis between downtown Portland and the nearby islands - people use these taxis as travel between different places, including school children who take them instead of the "bus" to school.
Throughout the city, on both the east and west sides, we were extremely impressed by some of the homes scattered throughout the different neighborhoods. Portland has some extremely old, beautiful Victorian homes of all colors and varieties, and some of these homes were just drop-dead gorgeous.
The sight in Portland I liked the most was the Portland Head Light, which is the oldest lighthouse in the country. It is located in Fort Williams Park on Cape Elizabeth and was commissioned by George Washington to be built in 1791. It still works today. There are actually a total of 65 lighthouses in the state of Maine. We saw a few others.
Throughout the city, on both the east and west sides, we were extremely impressed by some of the homes scattered throughout the different neighborhoods. Portland has some extremely old, beautiful Victorian homes of all colors and varieties, and some of these homes were just drop-dead gorgeous.
The sight in Portland I liked the most was the Portland Head Light, which is the oldest lighthouse in the country. It is located in Fort Williams Park on Cape Elizabeth and was commissioned by George Washington to be built in 1791. It still works today. There are actually a total of 65 lighthouses in the state of Maine. We saw a few others.
After a lunch of shrimp, lobster and crab sandwiches, we got to spend some time in Old Port actually visiting the shops we walked by the night before. My favorite store was Cool As A Moose while Jen's favorite was Life is Good. We bought some souvenirs in these fun shops.
We spent the afternoon on a boat for the "sea" part of our tour. It was so chilly on the boat that Jen had to make use of a wool blanket. The boat traveled around Casco Bay pointing out some lighthouses, former military buildings, oil freighters and rigs, and surrounding islands. We saw a few seals, ducks, and sea gulls. The boat was fun but still very early in the season to be completely enjoyable.
Our land and sea tour was a fun way to see Portland. It's definitely a nice small city.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Road Trip, Day 4: Portland, ME, Part 1
After checking into a crappy hotel in Portland, we decided to head to the Old Port District for dinner. We decided on DiMillio's Floating Restaurant on Long Wharf. We settled in for dinner on the lower deck so we could enjoy the great weather. We started off with a crab dip and later, Jen decided on a surf and turf while I opted for the twin-lobster special. This would be my first experience eating an entire lobster. Normally I've only eaten lobster tails so I needed a crash course on the whole lobster experience. The terrible server wasn't much help but she gave me a bib and a cheesy how-to guide. It couldn't be that hard, right?
In reality, eating the full lobster wasn't that hard just extremely messy. I was able to successfully crack the claws and clear out the tail in one giant piece. I was entirely grossed out by the cavity/body of the lobster and the green scum of the liver found inside. Needless to say, I decided to avoid this area at all costs.
While I'm glad I'm able to say I had the whole-lobster experience, I'm pretty confident I don't need a follow-up in my future. I think I'll stick to tails from here on out.
After dinner, we hung out in Old Port, which is a funky area of eclectic shops and restaurants. We spent some time wandering the streets looking in the windows of the shops and enjoying the auroa of the independently-owned stores. Unfortunately, the shops weren't open late so we couldn't actually do much exploration, but we did enjoy wandering aimlessly. We also had some ice cream, so that was a nice bonus.
In reality, eating the full lobster wasn't that hard just extremely messy. I was able to successfully crack the claws and clear out the tail in one giant piece. I was entirely grossed out by the cavity/body of the lobster and the green scum of the liver found inside. Needless to say, I decided to avoid this area at all costs.
While I'm glad I'm able to say I had the whole-lobster experience, I'm pretty confident I don't need a follow-up in my future. I think I'll stick to tails from here on out.
After dinner, we hung out in Old Port, which is a funky area of eclectic shops and restaurants. We spent some time wandering the streets looking in the windows of the shops and enjoying the auroa of the independently-owned stores. Unfortunately, the shops weren't open late so we couldn't actually do much exploration, but we did enjoy wandering aimlessly. We also had some ice cream, so that was a nice bonus.
Road Trip Day 4: Franconia Notch State Park, NH
Bright and early Tuesday morning, we put on some comfy sweats and sneakers so we could spend the day in Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Franconia Notch is a fairly large mountain range between the Flume Gorge and Echo Lake.
We decided to first experience the Flume Gorge which is a natural gorge that extends for something like 800 feet. So we signed up for the two-mile round trip hike to Avalanche Waterfalls and got a good bit of exercise on this excursion. The waterfalls and the gorge in general were absolutely spectacular. We enjoyed the running waters more than we enjoyed the actual hiking.
The funniest part of this excursion was when Jen tried to set her camera to automatically take a photo of both of us, and after getting the camera set, she ran over to me and slipped on a rock, and found her right foot submerged in the frigid cold water. It was definitely comical.
After our hike, we headed to another part of Franconia Park called Cannon Mountain. It has its name for an actual cannon that sits atop the mountain. The best part of this experience was that we were able to ride an aerial tramway to the peak of the mountain, which took us up to a total of 4180 feet. I call this a "gondola in the sky." From the mountain's peak, we could see Vermont, Maine and Canada way out in the distance. It was a little cloudy so Canada wasn't all that clear, but I will still tell everyone I saw Canada.
In general, the views from Cannon Mountain were absolutely amazing. Honestly, these mountains are spectacular. We kept wondering, "I bet this looks amazing in the fall." Perhaps we need another trip in the future.
After spending most of the days in the outdoors and feeling relieved we didn't acquire any ticks, we hopped back in the car to find out next destination, Portland, Maine.
The drive to Portland was pretty standard, so nothing interesting to report for this leg of the journey.
We decided to first experience the Flume Gorge which is a natural gorge that extends for something like 800 feet. So we signed up for the two-mile round trip hike to Avalanche Waterfalls and got a good bit of exercise on this excursion. The waterfalls and the gorge in general were absolutely spectacular. We enjoyed the running waters more than we enjoyed the actual hiking.
The funniest part of this excursion was when Jen tried to set her camera to automatically take a photo of both of us, and after getting the camera set, she ran over to me and slipped on a rock, and found her right foot submerged in the frigid cold water. It was definitely comical.
After our hike, we headed to another part of Franconia Park called Cannon Mountain. It has its name for an actual cannon that sits atop the mountain. The best part of this experience was that we were able to ride an aerial tramway to the peak of the mountain, which took us up to a total of 4180 feet. I call this a "gondola in the sky." From the mountain's peak, we could see Vermont, Maine and Canada way out in the distance. It was a little cloudy so Canada wasn't all that clear, but I will still tell everyone I saw Canada.
In general, the views from Cannon Mountain were absolutely amazing. Honestly, these mountains are spectacular. We kept wondering, "I bet this looks amazing in the fall." Perhaps we need another trip in the future.
After spending most of the days in the outdoors and feeling relieved we didn't acquire any ticks, we hopped back in the car to find out next destination, Portland, Maine.
The drive to Portland was pretty standard, so nothing interesting to report for this leg of the journey.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Road Trip Day 3: Drive to New Hampshire
Our drive from Ben and Jerry's into New Hampshire was actually more entertaining than one might think. We mostly drove on the interstate which normally isn't at all exciting, just the usual counting down of exits and mile markers. Driving through rural Vermont and New Hampshire, however, has one majorly exciting factor: Moose. Every few miles, we spotted one of the following signs: MOOSE CROSSING, MOOSE, MOOSE X-ING, or some other cautionary warning how moose are in fact present and can seriously damage you or your vehicle.
I'd say after a good hour and a half on this drive and after seeing a multitude of these signs, we began to question how present these moose actually are. As if the moose could hear us and our wondering about their roadside travels, we just happened to see one along the side of the road, drinking from a stream. We slowed down to take a photo and get a good look at this marvelous creature. Needless to say, we were then believers of the frequency of moose roaming near interstates.
My friend Kait was so kind to hook us up with a place to stay in New Hampshire. Her parents rent a condo at The Mountain Club on Loon Mountain so we had the privilege to stay here for the night. It was unbelievably fantastic and we (and our wallets) were extremely grateful for this hospitality!
I'd say after a good hour and a half on this drive and after seeing a multitude of these signs, we began to question how present these moose actually are. As if the moose could hear us and our wondering about their roadside travels, we just happened to see one along the side of the road, drinking from a stream. We slowed down to take a photo and get a good look at this marvelous creature. Needless to say, we were then believers of the frequency of moose roaming near interstates.
My friend Kait was so kind to hook us up with a place to stay in New Hampshire. Her parents rent a condo at The Mountain Club on Loon Mountain so we had the privilege to stay here for the night. It was unbelievably fantastic and we (and our wallets) were extremely grateful for this hospitality!
Road Trip Day 3: Burlington, VT
I was too tired last night to elaborate on my day in Burlington, VT, but I would like to reiterate: ILOVERMONT. Honest to God, I fell in love with Burlington to the extent that Jen and I had an actual conversation that contained comments such as "I could absolutely work at UVM" to "That hospital could be my future home" to "We could totally live in those condos." No joke, we found Burlington to be a little slice of heaven.
I owe my great friend, Jess, a good deal of credit for helping to make our stop in Burlington so wonderful. As a UVM alum, she had fantastic recommendations for us on how to take advantage of some gems in this great place.
On Sunday night, after the hotel desk attendant fell in love with me at first sight, we headed downtown for dinner. Taking Jess's recommendation, we decided on Trattoria Delia, and had a fabulous Italian dinner. We had some wine, some cheese, some meats, and some pasta, and all of it was absolutely delish. We then stopped at What Ales You, a local bar, where I had a Magic Hat #9 and Jen had some other local beer. (If we recall this at a later date, I'll let you know.) We weren't impressed by the bar tender at What Ales You, but we did enjoy the local brews.
After a good night's rest, we headed out early on Monday to explore Burlington. First, we headed to UVM and checked out the campus as well as the nearby hospital (which has a connection to UVM). We were impressed by the campus, particularly the architecture of some of the older buildings. It's evident that UVM is the 5th oldest university in the country when you see some of these buildings as they reminded me of architecture I've seen in Europe. We swung by John Dewey's house because the educator in me felt this was appropriate.
Next we headed to Lake Champlain Chocolates where we were given an overview of how chocolate is grown, harvested and produced, and in particular, how this little company produces amazing chocolates that are sold locally as well as shipped nationally. We got to sample different types of chocolates (white, milk, dark, and darker) as well as a truffle, a covered roasted almond, a caramel, and a peanut butter five star bar. As Jen noted, "The peanut butter sample was like an orgasm in your mouth." Needless to say, we enjoyed the chocolates.
After our chocolate tasting, we headed lakeside to check out the views of Lake Champlain. It was a fairly nice day, a little cold, but we had a delightful time walking out on the docks, seeing the North and South Lighthouses, and taking in the view of the mountains in the distance. Next, we headed to Church Street Marketplace and wandered this pedestrian area with a variety of eclectic shops and restaurants.
After our strolling downtown, we decided to have lunch at another of Jess's recommendations, New World Tortilla. I haven't had a good burrito in ages and Jen loves Mexican food so we decided to try this out. It was worth it. Jen had the Thai Chicken Burrito and I had the regular Beef Burrito. We both agreed that the tortillas were the best we've ever had. Glorious lunch.
From lunch, we headed out to Magic Hat Brewery which is probably the most unique brewery I've ever been in. Such a fun atmosphere. Unfortunately, we could only do the self-guided tour, but we did get to see beer being bottled at mass production. We also were able to sample a few beers. I enjoyed the Circus Boy while Jen enjoyed the Single Chair. We also really liked the young woman who served us; she had great personality and actually understood the hospitality necessary for a job in the hospitality industry.
You would think that by this point, we were probably stuffed full of chocolates, burritos, and beer and we couldn't possibly eat anymore, but we had one more necessary stop to make - Ben & Jerry's. We headed south to Waterbury to take the factory tour and see how this magical ice cream is made. The factory was a fun and colorful place, but it had two small downsides. One, they do not allow you to take photos of their production proccess, and two, they decide what sample of ice cream you get. We had a sample of orange creamsicle, which was good, but I would have preferred something with chocolate. I know, like I didn't have enough earlier? Ha.
I think it's safe to say we ate our way through Vermont. And like I said, I loved every minute of it. I just may have to explore it as a possibility for my future.
I owe my great friend, Jess, a good deal of credit for helping to make our stop in Burlington so wonderful. As a UVM alum, she had fantastic recommendations for us on how to take advantage of some gems in this great place.
On Sunday night, after the hotel desk attendant fell in love with me at first sight, we headed downtown for dinner. Taking Jess's recommendation, we decided on Trattoria Delia, and had a fabulous Italian dinner. We had some wine, some cheese, some meats, and some pasta, and all of it was absolutely delish. We then stopped at What Ales You, a local bar, where I had a Magic Hat #9 and Jen had some other local beer. (If we recall this at a later date, I'll let you know.) We weren't impressed by the bar tender at What Ales You, but we did enjoy the local brews.
After a good night's rest, we headed out early on Monday to explore Burlington. First, we headed to UVM and checked out the campus as well as the nearby hospital (which has a connection to UVM). We were impressed by the campus, particularly the architecture of some of the older buildings. It's evident that UVM is the 5th oldest university in the country when you see some of these buildings as they reminded me of architecture I've seen in Europe. We swung by John Dewey's house because the educator in me felt this was appropriate.
Next we headed to Lake Champlain Chocolates where we were given an overview of how chocolate is grown, harvested and produced, and in particular, how this little company produces amazing chocolates that are sold locally as well as shipped nationally. We got to sample different types of chocolates (white, milk, dark, and darker) as well as a truffle, a covered roasted almond, a caramel, and a peanut butter five star bar. As Jen noted, "The peanut butter sample was like an orgasm in your mouth." Needless to say, we enjoyed the chocolates.
After our chocolate tasting, we headed lakeside to check out the views of Lake Champlain. It was a fairly nice day, a little cold, but we had a delightful time walking out on the docks, seeing the North and South Lighthouses, and taking in the view of the mountains in the distance. Next, we headed to Church Street Marketplace and wandered this pedestrian area with a variety of eclectic shops and restaurants.
After our strolling downtown, we decided to have lunch at another of Jess's recommendations, New World Tortilla. I haven't had a good burrito in ages and Jen loves Mexican food so we decided to try this out. It was worth it. Jen had the Thai Chicken Burrito and I had the regular Beef Burrito. We both agreed that the tortillas were the best we've ever had. Glorious lunch.
From lunch, we headed out to Magic Hat Brewery which is probably the most unique brewery I've ever been in. Such a fun atmosphere. Unfortunately, we could only do the self-guided tour, but we did get to see beer being bottled at mass production. We also were able to sample a few beers. I enjoyed the Circus Boy while Jen enjoyed the Single Chair. We also really liked the young woman who served us; she had great personality and actually understood the hospitality necessary for a job in the hospitality industry.
You would think that by this point, we were probably stuffed full of chocolates, burritos, and beer and we couldn't possibly eat anymore, but we had one more necessary stop to make - Ben & Jerry's. We headed south to Waterbury to take the factory tour and see how this magical ice cream is made. The factory was a fun and colorful place, but it had two small downsides. One, they do not allow you to take photos of their production proccess, and two, they decide what sample of ice cream you get. We had a sample of orange creamsicle, which was good, but I would have preferred something with chocolate. I know, like I didn't have enough earlier? Ha.
I think it's safe to say we ate our way through Vermont. And like I said, I loved every minute of it. I just may have to explore it as a possibility for my future.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Road Trip Day 2: Drive to Vermont
For driving purposes, we have been using the GPS in Jen's car, which she calls Lola, due to the lovely female voice that tells us where to go. We decided to avoid the interstate for our drive from Cooperstown into Vermont and instead explore country and states roads. What an adventure! I'm glad Jen drove this leg of the trip because for roughly four hours, the roads were winding and curving as we climbed higher and higher into the Adirondacks.
Outside of Cooperstown, the little (and I mean tiny) towns we passed were occassionally dotted with either Amish or Mennonite families. We sometimes had to pass the horse and buggy in order to continue along our drive in decent time. As we got further into the drive, the towns were more spread out and basically set alongside the multiple lakes we passed. Honestly, it seemed like every ten miles we were passing another tiny town set up alongside another lake. Beautiful scenery amid the extremely green mountains. "Hey, look, another lake" was probably uttered twenty times during this voyage.
We basically drove near the NY/VT border as we traveled north to Vermont. We crossed into Vermont as a storm was brewing and came in to Burlington via Route 7, passing through Shelbourne. We were immediately impressed by the state of Vermont's dedication to signage; seriously, just about everything in Vermont is marked with a road sign telling you how many miles until you reach a particular site. We appreciated this informative approach and actually found the signs useful while in the state.
We settled into a hotel outside Burlington. I'm pretty sure the desk manager, who was definitely attractive, was in love with me immediately. Jen thinks I'm crazy, but I'm fairly certain in another life, this guy could be my friend or more. Ha.
Outside of Cooperstown, the little (and I mean tiny) towns we passed were occassionally dotted with either Amish or Mennonite families. We sometimes had to pass the horse and buggy in order to continue along our drive in decent time. As we got further into the drive, the towns were more spread out and basically set alongside the multiple lakes we passed. Honestly, it seemed like every ten miles we were passing another tiny town set up alongside another lake. Beautiful scenery amid the extremely green mountains. "Hey, look, another lake" was probably uttered twenty times during this voyage.
We basically drove near the NY/VT border as we traveled north to Vermont. We crossed into Vermont as a storm was brewing and came in to Burlington via Route 7, passing through Shelbourne. We were immediately impressed by the state of Vermont's dedication to signage; seriously, just about everything in Vermont is marked with a road sign telling you how many miles until you reach a particular site. We appreciated this informative approach and actually found the signs useful while in the state.
We settled into a hotel outside Burlington. I'm pretty sure the desk manager, who was definitely attractive, was in love with me immediately. Jen thinks I'm crazy, but I'm fairly certain in another life, this guy could be my friend or more. Ha.
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