Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Boston
We made it to Boston. We walked the Freedom Trail which led us through Boston Harbor, Paul Reaver's house, as well as many other historical places. Later that night we caught the train from our hotel down to The Boston Garden, for a Celtics basketball game. That was a lot of fun.
The next day, we rode a duck (part truck, part boat) and took a driving tour of Boston. Our favorite spot was the Dunkin Donuts that also sold sushi. Now that's a combo. After that we relaxe in our hotel and prepared for our flight home. It was a great trip.
We hope you enjoyed our Boston Blog. Stay tuned for other adventures soon.
Evan and Allison
The next day, we rode a duck (part truck, part boat) and took a driving tour of Boston. Our favorite spot was the Dunkin Donuts that also sold sushi. Now that's a combo. After that we relaxe in our hotel and prepared for our flight home. It was a great trip.
We hope you enjoyed our Boston Blog. Stay tuned for other adventures soon.
Evan and Allison
Friday, November 24, 2006
Colonial Village and Wampanoag
Thanksgiving, A time that we think of giving thanks for all that we have. We attribute this tradition to the Pilgrims giving thanks for a good first harvest and inviting their friends the Indians. This is what brought Evan and I to Plymouth, MA. Well, we have learned that it is not quite that way it happened. Quite to our surprise Plimoth Plantation’s (Yes it is spelt with an i, there were not rules for spelling in 1620 and people would spell Plymouth with a y or an i) goal is to change how people view Thanksgiving.
As most of us know: It was a time that the English (they do not like it when you call them Pilgrims) were going to celebrate their first successful harvest. The Wampanoag had messengers (aka spies) that told their chief of the planned feast. The Chief would visit his surrounding villages at this time of year. He decided to include the English in this visit; mainly to keep and eye one the village. The Wampanoag decided to stay for a couple of days. They ate, celebrated in Wampanoag traditional ways and in English traditional ways. This is what we took part in today. We met Wampanoag that are concerned with maintaining their bloodline, keeping their traditions alive – and have deep routed feelings against the English. We met people that were in total character for the village (and would not break character.) From them we learned that yes they wanted to practice their religion, but more importantly they wanted to make a profit selling furs. They did not quite get what they were bargaining for. We learned all this while exploring the recreation of Plimouth Plantation. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and our New England Thanksgiving meal, but we did tire of the constant barrage of “what really happened”.
The day was Very Cold, Incredibly Windy and we had an Inch of rain. We still braved the outside exhibits, and truly enjoyed our day!
As most of us know: It was a time that the English (they do not like it when you call them Pilgrims) were going to celebrate their first successful harvest. The Wampanoag had messengers (aka spies) that told their chief of the planned feast. The Chief would visit his surrounding villages at this time of year. He decided to include the English in this visit; mainly to keep and eye one the village. The Wampanoag decided to stay for a couple of days. They ate, celebrated in Wampanoag traditional ways and in English traditional ways. This is what we took part in today. We met Wampanoag that are concerned with maintaining their bloodline, keeping their traditions alive – and have deep routed feelings against the English. We met people that were in total character for the village (and would not break character.) From them we learned that yes they wanted to practice their religion, but more importantly they wanted to make a profit selling furs. They did not quite get what they were bargaining for. We learned all this while exploring the recreation of Plimouth Plantation. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and our New England Thanksgiving meal, but we did tire of the constant barrage of “what really happened”.
The day was Very Cold, Incredibly Windy and we had an Inch of rain. We still braved the outside exhibits, and truly enjoyed our day!
The Night Before Thanksgiving and Cape Cod is sure long!
This morning we discovered just how small Rhode Island is. We saw the sites and drove on by 10:30. It was beautiful and petite. Our next turn took us to Cape Code, MA. We had decided that we would drive to the end of the Cape. Yeah - we had no idea that it is as big as it is. We drove on side highways in order to enjoy the sites. We saw charming towns and beautiful buildings, yet everything was closed! Everyone on the cape closes up shop in November. They will reopen in March. This is the case for all of the New England area tourist stops, we have learned. We ate lunch at a local cafe with a very colorful waiter. With this stop we tied up my desire to find a "Luke's Dinner". The drive and all took us close to 5 hours.
This evening we checked into the Governor Bradford Hotel. Then we ate a 17-century dinner with the pilgrims. We ate the feast food the Pilgrim’s ate, and did so with local historians in full character. It was a truly enjoyable experience.
Our Bill of Fare was as follows with our translation of what it was to the right.
Ciderkin - cider
Cheate Bread and Butter - it had no salt (it looked like what I make when I mess up my bread machine bread)
FIRST COURSE
A Sallet - salad
Mussels Seeth'd with Parsley
A Dish of Turkey, Sauc'd
A Pottage of Cabbage, Leeks & Onions
A Sweet Pudding of Native Corn
SECOND COURSE
Stewed Pompion - pumpkin and vinegar (I love pumpkin - but not with vinegar!)
A Chine of Pork, Roast'd
Fricassee of Fish
Cheesecake made with spice and dried fruit
A Charger of Holland Cheese & Fruit
It was a fantastic experience! We are so excited to visit Plimouth Plantation tomorrow!
This evening we checked into the Governor Bradford Hotel. Then we ate a 17-century dinner with the pilgrims. We ate the feast food the Pilgrim’s ate, and did so with local historians in full character. It was a truly enjoyable experience.
Our Bill of Fare was as follows with our translation of what it was to the right.
Ciderkin - cider
Cheate Bread and Butter - it had no salt (it looked like what I make when I mess up my bread machine bread)
FIRST COURSE
A Sallet - salad
Mussels Seeth'd with Parsley
A Dish of Turkey, Sauc'd
A Pottage of Cabbage, Leeks & Onions
A Sweet Pudding of Native Corn
SECOND COURSE
Stewed Pompion - pumpkin and vinegar (I love pumpkin - but not with vinegar!)
A Chine of Pork, Roast'd
Fricassee of Fish
Cheesecake made with spice and dried fruit
A Charger of Holland Cheese & Fruit
It was a fantastic experience! We are so excited to visit Plimouth Plantation tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Chocolate Box Towns and Cozy America
Look out ahead!
Wow I could bow stall there!
After a restful morning and a jog around the town we were ready to continue our adventure. We found it – Stars Hollow – Well it is actually called Essex. It is a charming small town where we enjoyed chitchat with a local storeowner and engaged in playful banter with a baker regarding her pumpkin bread. My favorite part of the town was the historical homes with the original owner’s name and date posted on the front. Evan enjoyed the calm moving Connecticut River that flowed next to the town. We both agree that is beautiful countryside.
Our next destination was Mystic Seaport. We toured the village restored to resemble the original whaling town. We were able to walk through the only surviving wooden whaling ship and houses dated from 1676. We learned a new term – Bait Bucket. I plan on saving the use of this phrase for next time my Dad calls Evan “Meat head”.
From there it was over to Rhode Island, The Ocean State. Our last stop of the day was through Jamestown. There are beautiful homes on the location of one of America’s first settlements and a fantastic full operating lighthouse. We stopped for the night in Newport, Rhode Island. We are preparing for another adventure by sitting in a soothing Jacuzzi.
Wow I could bow stall there!
After a restful morning and a jog around the town we were ready to continue our adventure. We found it – Stars Hollow – Well it is actually called Essex. It is a charming small town where we enjoyed chitchat with a local storeowner and engaged in playful banter with a baker regarding her pumpkin bread. My favorite part of the town was the historical homes with the original owner’s name and date posted on the front. Evan enjoyed the calm moving Connecticut River that flowed next to the town. We both agree that is beautiful countryside.
Our next destination was Mystic Seaport. We toured the village restored to resemble the original whaling town. We were able to walk through the only surviving wooden whaling ship and houses dated from 1676. We learned a new term – Bait Bucket. I plan on saving the use of this phrase for next time my Dad calls Evan “Meat head”.
From there it was over to Rhode Island, The Ocean State. Our last stop of the day was through Jamestown. There are beautiful homes on the location of one of America’s first settlements and a fantastic full operating lighthouse. We stopped for the night in Newport, Rhode Island. We are preparing for another adventure by sitting in a soothing Jacuzzi.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Out of NYC and into CT
Sure I know where we are going! 
Hello Mark Twain - Are you home
We had a fantastic day! We were up a little before 8 and ready to leave our “exciting” hostel experience. We were able to sample NYC at rush hour. With our backpacks strapped to our backs, we took the subway 35 blocks to Grand Central Station. There we caught a train to Connecticut. The train took us on a scenic ride through Harlem and all the way to Waterbury, CT. Once in Waterbury we picked-up our rental car and headed North to Litchfield Hills, “The American Small Town.” Where we saw green hills dotted with white steeples. There were at least 3 churches in every small town. Even in the towns that only had 7 visible houses. We ate at a fun local Grill and drove through the picturesque hills. We kept looking for Stars Hollow, but it alluded us.
The evening took us to Hartford, CT – Insurance Capital of the Nation. We saw the down town area, the capital building, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and toured Mark Twain’s house – defiantly the favorite of Hartford. We found a great place to stay in New London. Wow, what a day! Tonight we are going to get a better night sleep – and wakeup to discover the Southeaster corner of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Hello Mark Twain - Are you home
We had a fantastic day! We were up a little before 8 and ready to leave our “exciting” hostel experience. We were able to sample NYC at rush hour. With our backpacks strapped to our backs, we took the subway 35 blocks to Grand Central Station. There we caught a train to Connecticut. The train took us on a scenic ride through Harlem and all the way to Waterbury, CT. Once in Waterbury we picked-up our rental car and headed North to Litchfield Hills, “The American Small Town.” Where we saw green hills dotted with white steeples. There were at least 3 churches in every small town. Even in the towns that only had 7 visible houses. We ate at a fun local Grill and drove through the picturesque hills. We kept looking for Stars Hollow, but it alluded us.
The evening took us to Hartford, CT – Insurance Capital of the Nation. We saw the down town area, the capital building, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and toured Mark Twain’s house – defiantly the favorite of Hartford. We found a great place to stay in New London. Wow, what a day! Tonight we are going to get a better night sleep – and wakeup to discover the Southeaster corner of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Even more pics
This is the Christmas tree before it's been decorated
This is the outside of our Hotel.
NY Baby
Marathon runners
New York has the best pizza
Today, we took a big bite out of the big apple. Allison and I started our day with a fun walk through central park. We walked the different paths and trails as we made our way through this beautiful park. Inside, we saw a marathon pass in front of us, we saw kids playing ice hockey, and we even scouted some waterfalls. Thanks to my IPOD and Nike+ shoes, I was able to track how far we walked today. We racked in 3 miles alone in Central park.
After a short break, we walked down Broadway where we enjoyed the different buildings, restaurants, and people. People watching is a favorite past time of ours. After having lunch with some of Allison’s friends from Camp, we made our way to Rockefeller Center. We almost went ice-skating, but decided to save the $40. Soon after, we walked to Time Square and got our tickets for the Broadway musical Spamalot. Spamalot is a Broadway adaptation of Monte Python’s search for the Holy Grail. It was cras and politically incorrect, and we loved every minute of it. After the show, we grabbed a hotdog and caught the subway back to our room.
My IPOD said we logged in over 12 miles of walking today. It was worth every step. We ate N.Y. pizza and hotdogs, saw a Broadway show, walked though Central park, and even met John Lovett (Saturday Night Live) as he stepped out of Trump Tower. It was a great day.
Tomorrow, we take the subway to Grand Central Station, where we will catch a train to Connecticut. From here on out we have no hotel reservations
Well we made it. We got to N.Y. at around 9pm. We took a shuttle to our hotel room and we’re a little shocked when we discovered that we had paid big bucks for a tiny little dive with a community bathroom. It’s sweet. It’s all part of the experience. Today we are going site seeing. Central park, Time Square, and Rockefeller Center are all on our hit list. I'll post pictures tomight.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Thanksgiving in Boston
It's 5:30am in Fresno CA. In a few minutes we will drive to San Jose, where we will catch a plane to New York. We will spend a day or so there and then work our way up the east coast until we end up in Boston. Allison has done a great job planning our trip. She has found some fun things to do, without packing too many activities into one day. Our goal was to keep our plans loose, so that we have the flexibility to explore as we go. Our only solid plans are a couple of hotel reservations, and Thanksgiving dinner. Other than that, we're just going to go with the flow.
I'll try to keep you updated on our journey with lots of pictures.
Take care
I'll try to keep you updated on our journey with lots of pictures.
Take care
Welcome
Welcome to my new blog site. I hope you will enjoy following me on my adventures. I'm going to try and use this as a journal of my activities. You'll see our trips, lots of kayaking, Mt. Biking, and other fun things that I think you'll like.
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