Late check out today, which techincally meant sleeping in but that didn't happen. We packed, and repacked, and then packed and checked out. The heat was pretty intense today so we stayed in the hotel lobby until we had to leave to return the car. The car temperature was 113F and it was warm outside. We returned the car. Checked our bags. Mine were unpacked by the TSA, wish I knew why. They left a little note card in my bag and crammed everything bag in roughing up the cover of a new book. Then we cleared security and had some lupper (lunch/supper, not sure which). And then the wait.
We boarded our little plane, and almost ready to leave when they came on and said the plane was over weight so they were randomly taking off 4 bags!?!?! Two hours in the air and then the pilots opened the little doors to the cockpit and we were able to watch the approach and landing in Toronto. Very cool!
Them the hurry up and wait! We rushed to get through Customs because our connection time was very short. We zig-zagged through the lines, cleared customs and collected our bags. We walked about 10 feet, put our bags back on the belt and lapped back to where we came from... and then back through security. My frustration is buying a drink (to stay hydrated in the crazy heat) within the secure area, never leaving the secure areas, going through another set of security and have it taken away because it was a liquid! Spent a lot on drinks that I only had half of...
We got to our gate and actually had some time to sit and as we were waiting for the boarding call, we get the dreaded page... the plane is not able to fly tonight. So we are waiting for another plane to come in, and it will be arriving in a couple hours. Thankfully I had a good mindless book to read, because we didn't board until 1am and watched part of my favourite movie before falling asleep. We arrived in Vancouver about 3am and got home sweet home by 4:45am. Just in time to get up (in EST) but convinced my body to sleep for a couple of hours.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Day #17 Mystic-Rhode Island Redo
For a day when we didn't need to be up that early, we were. On the road by 9am and heading back to spend more time in Mystic CT. We had heard about the heat dome and the 3 H's (hot, hazy and humid) and so we left expecting a warm day. The morning drive was cooler than expected and quite hazy/foggy. By the time we reached Mystic, the fog was heavy and we decided to head to Newport first and come back to Mystic.
We continued on the additional hour into Rhode Island and eventually across the bridge to Jamestown and then into Newport. Once we were onto America's Cup Ave we started to see the character and affluence that we expected.
As we drive past a couple of yacht clubs you could see the there was old money in town. Beautiful quaint town and very foggy.
We went to the Museum of Yachting
in Fort Adams and saw an exhibit on the Coronet, the America's Cup history in Newport and some beautiful old boats.
We returned to Mystic for lunch and as we drove west the foggy was beginning to disperse. By the time we got to Mystic it was warm and sunny.
We enjoyed lunch on the patio and explored a little before getting back into the car and the A/C. We ordered in and had a very quiet evening. We did comtemplate packing but that will be an adventure for tomorrow. Good night from an air conditioned East Windsor!
We continued on the additional hour into Rhode Island and eventually across the bridge to Jamestown and then into Newport. Once we were onto America's Cup Ave we started to see the character and affluence that we expected.
As we drive past a couple of yacht clubs you could see the there was old money in town. Beautiful quaint town and very foggy.
We went to the Museum of Yachting
We returned to Mystic for lunch and as we drove west the foggy was beginning to disperse. By the time we got to Mystic it was warm and sunny.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Day #16 Exploring the Ski Resort towns in summer heat
Because our next hotel is only an hour and twenty minutes away, we were able to have a lazy and slow morning. By 11am we checked out and got some advice from the front desk about where to explore. We headed north and saw the longest covered bridge in Vermont. We continued to Newfane and stopped at the Newfane Country Store. So many amazing quilts... it was a very cool little country store.
We continued on through Townshend and past the Scott Covered Bridge (which is now closed) but stopped to check it out. We drove through Wardsboro and then turned south and headed into Mount Snow resort. On the way down from the 'mountain' we stopped to see the 100 mile view, which on a clear day allows you to see all the way to Boston. Today was lovely and warm with humidity and haze, so we couldn't see a full 100 miles. We continued back into Brattleboro for a late lunch at Friendly's (great ice cream sundaes). New England loves their ice cream!
After lunch we headed south and drove straight through New Hampshire and into Connecticut to East Windsor. I ventured out for some geocaching. We went to a local pub for a late dinner and there was a trivia night. We did pretty well and ended up winning a $10 gift certificate. Second last night... it's a little bitter sweet, I'm ready to be home but have really enjoyed New England!
We continued on through Townshend and past the Scott Covered Bridge (which is now closed) but stopped to check it out. We drove through Wardsboro and then turned south and headed into Mount Snow resort. On the way down from the 'mountain' we stopped to see the 100 mile view, which on a clear day allows you to see all the way to Boston. Today was lovely and warm with humidity and haze, so we couldn't see a full 100 miles. We continued back into Brattleboro for a late lunch at Friendly's (great ice cream sundaes). New England loves their ice cream!
After lunch we headed south and drove straight through New Hampshire and into Connecticut to East Windsor. I ventured out for some geocaching. We went to a local pub for a late dinner and there was a trivia night. We did pretty well and ended up winning a $10 gift certificate. Second last night... it's a little bitter sweet, I'm ready to be home but have really enjoyed New England!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Day #15 the Green Mountain State
Road trip today. We left from the hotel in Freeport and wandered down Main Street. We looked in a couple of outlet stores and then stopped at Starbucks for breakfast. The it was on the road again. We were determined to not pay tolls today so we took the scenic route. Yesterday we paid tolls twice on the same road. We drove down the coast by-passed Portland and continued through to Old Orchard Beach. 
This is a beach that could rival any Mexican beach. Fine sand, beautiful long beaches. We wandered onto the beach but continued on because it was so busy with holiday tourists.
From Old Orchard Beach to continued onto Kennebunk, which was a much quainter little town. This one had a lot of character. We went out to the shoreline again and explored the rocks. There are beaches of sand and other rocky ones.
Stopped to pick up snacks and stamps and then headed out again.
We went from Wells to South Berwick to Dover to Northwood to Concord to down to Keene and then into Brattleboro Vermont. We might explore some tonight or wait until tomorrow. We are an hour and twenty minutes away from our final hotel. We headed down the road to the Marina for dinner. We sat on the patio over looking the West River merging with the Connecticut River. Beautiful warm evening and only a few bites on my ankles.
From Old Orchard Beach to continued onto Kennebunk, which was a much quainter little town. This one had a lot of character. We went out to the shoreline again and explored the rocks. There are beaches of sand and other rocky ones.
We went from Wells to South Berwick to Dover to Northwood to Concord to down to Keene and then into Brattleboro Vermont. We might explore some tonight or wait until tomorrow. We are an hour and twenty minutes away from our final hotel. We headed down the road to the Marina for dinner. We sat on the patio over looking the West River merging with the Connecticut River. Beautiful warm evening and only a few bites on my ankles.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Day #14 Goodbye Boston, Hello LL Bean
Boston was muggy today, humidity was high and thunderstorms were expected. We headed out after breakfast and went straight to Fenway Park. Even for someone who does not follow baseball, you can get caught up in the magic of Fenway Park. We walked around the outside and took lots of pictures. Fenway Park is 100 years and still looks impressive. From Fenway we headed into Cambridge to see Harvard. Unfortunately the parking gods where not smiling on us today, and we decided to just drive by. Equally impressive, but next time I will allow more time to explore. I was facinated by the quotes on the archways and I'm hoping some of the pictures Jenn took from the car will show the quotes.
We drove one through traffic today, it wasn't a long drive but it was a slow one. Next stop, Salem. Interesting little town... I likely wouldn't put this on the next trip itinerary, but it was good to see it this time round. Learned a lot about the history and circumstance around the Salem Witch Trials and left shaking my head. Still ... there is such an injustice in any kind of "witch hunt".
After a quick lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and a detour through a mall we were back on the road. We drove through New Hampshire and straight into Maine. Still geocaching, and trying to get at least one cache per state - luckily there are so many caches. We headed straight through to Freeport Maine. We got the torents of rain that we had heard about from the West Coast, but it passed quickly. We still haven't seen any beaches or lighthouses. I am hoping to tomorrow we might see both, if not they too are adding to the list for the next trip.
Freeport Maine has many outlet shops. And when we booked our hotel we did not realize that this was the case, neither did we realize that the LL Bean Flagship store(s) are here. I'm loving LL Bean.
Enjoyed shopping in there main retail store, which is open 365-24-7. I still love MEC, but this was so much more. We had another amazing Italian dinner, I don't think I have eaten this much pasta in a long time. Will need to be back to gluten free when I get home! No pictures today, because the cord is packed deep and I don't want to wake Jenn. Good night from the home of LL Bean.
We drove one through traffic today, it wasn't a long drive but it was a slow one. Next stop, Salem. Interesting little town... I likely wouldn't put this on the next trip itinerary, but it was good to see it this time round. Learned a lot about the history and circumstance around the Salem Witch Trials and left shaking my head. Still ... there is such an injustice in any kind of "witch hunt".
After a quick lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and a detour through a mall we were back on the road. We drove through New Hampshire and straight into Maine. Still geocaching, and trying to get at least one cache per state - luckily there are so many caches. We headed straight through to Freeport Maine. We got the torents of rain that we had heard about from the West Coast, but it passed quickly. We still haven't seen any beaches or lighthouses. I am hoping to tomorrow we might see both, if not they too are adding to the list for the next trip.
Freeport Maine has many outlet shops. And when we booked our hotel we did not realize that this was the case, neither did we realize that the LL Bean Flagship store(s) are here. I'm loving LL Bean.
Enjoyed shopping in there main retail store, which is open 365-24-7. I still love MEC, but this was so much more. We had another amazing Italian dinner, I don't think I have eaten this much pasta in a long time. Will need to be back to gluten free when I get home! No pictures today, because the cord is packed deep and I don't want to wake Jenn. Good night from the home of LL Bean.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Day #13 The Freedom Trail and the heat
Today I had a hard time with the heat and tried to stay hydrated. It was in the mid-30's and had a warm breeze blowing for most of the day.
We cabbed back into downtown and started the Freedom Trail
at the Boston Commons. [will add more details about the Freedom Trail later]
After a little shopping close to the waterfront, some icecream and a couple more cold drinks, 
we caught a cab back to the hotel for a rest in the A/C. After cooling down, I shopped at little at Old Navy and TJ Maxx. Didn't really buy anything, but enjoed their A/C. Dinner tonight was tricky, with a veggie and a allergy ordering can be challenging. So we started at Applebees for the first attempt and followed it up with Olive Garden.
Now we are back trying to fit everything into suitcases and getting laundry done. Heading north tomorrow. Good night from the home of the Stanley Cup winners 2011.
We cabbed back into downtown and started the Freedom Trail
Now we are back trying to fit everything into suitcases and getting laundry done. Heading north tomorrow. Good night from the home of the Stanley Cup winners 2011.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Day #12 Boston...
This morning we were able to sleep in. We had a good breakfast to start the day at the hotel. Jenn found that the Samuel Adams Brewery was relatively close to our hotel. 
We drove over, through several neighbourhoods to get the to brewery. Boston is distinctively different from other areas we have been in on this trip. The 3-story houses have unique fronts and there is a blend of older brick and new designs. We drove to Jamaica Plain neighbourhood and learned how America's finest beer is made. We learned about the different types of hops, and the different barley that can change the taste. After touring, we went into the tasting room and learned how to properly do a beer tasting with the funniest tour guide ever. Listening to her was worth the tour! And it was a tour by donation for local charities! I had another of my now favourite rootbeer! I wish it was available in BC. We hoped the trolley bus to a local Irish Pub for lunch - again best pub food of the trip at Doyle's.
We went back to the hotel for a quick break and a call home. We caught a cab into downtown (to avoid the expensive parking) and ended up at the New England Aquarium. It was very busy and touristy, so we decided to walk along the Harbour Walk. We headed down the Long Wharf and then back along past the Liberty Schooner and several other charters. We wandered down the Central Wharf and the Rowes Wharf. We walked across the bridge and past the Courthouse. We continued until the Institute of Contemporary Art and then headed back. We criss-crossed the Rose Kennedy Greenway. We stopped for a quick dinner at a pub/restuarant and got a quick ice cream back on the wharf. Before we grabbed a cab back, we wandered past Custom House Tower. Even through we had a quiet day, we both were very ready for a quiet evening. It was great that there were some good chick flicks on TV and after dozing off early in the evening... it is now good night from Beantown!
We went back to the hotel for a quick break and a call home. We caught a cab into downtown (to avoid the expensive parking) and ended up at the New England Aquarium. It was very busy and touristy, so we decided to walk along the Harbour Walk. We headed down the Long Wharf and then back along past the Liberty Schooner and several other charters. We wandered down the Central Wharf and the Rowes Wharf. We walked across the bridge and past the Courthouse. We continued until the Institute of Contemporary Art and then headed back. We criss-crossed the Rose Kennedy Greenway. We stopped for a quick dinner at a pub/restuarant and got a quick ice cream back on the wharf. Before we grabbed a cab back, we wandered past Custom House Tower. Even through we had a quiet day, we both were very ready for a quiet evening. It was great that there were some good chick flicks on TV and after dozing off early in the evening... it is now good night from Beantown!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Day #11 on the road again
This mornning we packed and checked out of the hotel. We returned to campus for the closing keynote and final session. After lunch we headed out and south. Stopping for a couple of geocaches, we enjoyed some backroads through Ledyard and ended up in Mystic. Checked out the boardwalk and the tallships from a distance. If we have time at the end of the trip, we'd like to go back and spend some more time. The traffic started to build as we approached Providence, Rhode Island. After a heavy rain storm for 5 minutes, we are heading north into blue sky again. Somewhere near the state line we stopped for dinner at the Olive Garden, my first time there. Even with our wandering ways, it still only took us about 3 hours to get here.
We have arrived in Boston and we are trying to figure out what the next few days will include.
We have arrived in Boston and we are trying to figure out what the next few days will include.
Day #10 Variety Show
Conference continued. Great sessions. And tonight was the Variety Show... the Canadian delegation presented "I am a Canadian teacher" by Mark from Toronto and then the 'winners' of "So You Think You Can Dance Canada - the Prairie Dancers" from Manitoba. The poem is included below and you'll have to imagine the slideshow and the dancers....
I am not a farmer, a lumberjack or an eskimo ... I am a Canadian teacher.
I don't teach in an igloo - thanks to global warming.
We say project not prawject,we say you all, not y'all and we say eh, eh!
I teach students that the alphabet ends with zed, not zee, zed - through we call this a zebra, not a zedbra.
We love our neighbours to the south, and while team does not have an I, neighbour does have a you, and so does colour, flavour, behaviour and confratute - even if spell check doesn't recognize it as correct.
In Canada, Yukon starts with a Y. And our Yukon has huskies that might pull dog sleds, but the stink when it comes to basketball - then again nobod cares.
We are the first nation of hockey. We play even when the temperature dips below -20C that's about -4F. We believe false teeth and concussions are just part of the game. When a Canadian team loses at hockey, we might take it too personally. Still, I can cheer for the Bruins, or the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars or any other American team, even the Atlanta Thrashers, oops - now the Winnipeg Jets - and still be patriotic as most of their players are Canadian.
I put the Canadian flag on my backpack so when I meet Americans they can ask me if I know John from Toronto, Nicole from Montreal, or Sean from Vancouver - and through I don't know they, I'm sure they are polite, nice and deserving of enrichment opportunities.
We believe a rising tide raises all ships including our canoes and kayaks, and when a high tide freezes it makes for a bigger ice surface for hockey.
We believe football should have three downs, a baseball world series should involve other countries.
We use the metric system - why because it's base ten, it's elegant and it respects the decimal!
We don't have freshman, sophomore, juniors or seniors, we have grade 9, 10, 11, and 12 so our kids understand place value.
But then out money is colour coded so our kids don't need to know numbers. Two blues equal a purple, two purples equals a green, two greens and a purple equals a red, and two reds equal a brown. We call out dollar coin a loonie and our two dollar coin a toonie.
We don't have state wide testing - we don't have states. But now that we know how much you like it we're just wondering which state's tests to adopt.
In Canada, Renzulli is a pasta dish and Reese is a peanut butter cup coated in chocolate and you'd never put the two together. But they go together well here.
A teacher in Quebec gave a class a Type 3 challenge of creating a recipe for a new food. They took fries, smothered them in gravy and topped that with cheese curds and called it poutine, and we believe it is the pinnacle of creativity, the crowning achievement of SEM in Canada.
We believe coffee is ordered black, regular or double double. We believe Tim Hortons coffee (named after the hockey player) is better than Starbucks....
We believe in sharing and that is why we have given you Justin Beiber, Celine Dion and William Shatner. Please keep them - we insist.
We believe in high taxes, universal health care and that winter is the best season of the year.
We are Joe Canadian and this is our Canada.
I am not a farmer, a lumberjack or an eskimo ... I am a Canadian teacher.
I don't teach in an igloo - thanks to global warming.
We say project not prawject,we say you all, not y'all and we say eh, eh!
I teach students that the alphabet ends with zed, not zee, zed - through we call this a zebra, not a zedbra.
We love our neighbours to the south, and while team does not have an I, neighbour does have a you, and so does colour, flavour, behaviour and confratute - even if spell check doesn't recognize it as correct.
In Canada, Yukon starts with a Y. And our Yukon has huskies that might pull dog sleds, but the stink when it comes to basketball - then again nobod cares.
We are the first nation of hockey. We play even when the temperature dips below -20C that's about -4F. We believe false teeth and concussions are just part of the game. When a Canadian team loses at hockey, we might take it too personally. Still, I can cheer for the Bruins, or the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars or any other American team, even the Atlanta Thrashers, oops - now the Winnipeg Jets - and still be patriotic as most of their players are Canadian.
I put the Canadian flag on my backpack so when I meet Americans they can ask me if I know John from Toronto, Nicole from Montreal, or Sean from Vancouver - and through I don't know they, I'm sure they are polite, nice and deserving of enrichment opportunities.
We believe a rising tide raises all ships including our canoes and kayaks, and when a high tide freezes it makes for a bigger ice surface for hockey.
We believe football should have three downs, a baseball world series should involve other countries.
We use the metric system - why because it's base ten, it's elegant and it respects the decimal!
We don't have freshman, sophomore, juniors or seniors, we have grade 9, 10, 11, and 12 so our kids understand place value.
But then out money is colour coded so our kids don't need to know numbers. Two blues equal a purple, two purples equals a green, two greens and a purple equals a red, and two reds equal a brown. We call out dollar coin a loonie and our two dollar coin a toonie.
We don't have state wide testing - we don't have states. But now that we know how much you like it we're just wondering which state's tests to adopt.
In Canada, Renzulli is a pasta dish and Reese is a peanut butter cup coated in chocolate and you'd never put the two together. But they go together well here.
A teacher in Quebec gave a class a Type 3 challenge of creating a recipe for a new food. They took fries, smothered them in gravy and topped that with cheese curds and called it poutine, and we believe it is the pinnacle of creativity, the crowning achievement of SEM in Canada.
We believe coffee is ordered black, regular or double double. We believe Tim Hortons coffee (named after the hockey player) is better than Starbucks....
We believe in sharing and that is why we have given you Justin Beiber, Celine Dion and William Shatner. Please keep them - we insist.
We believe in high taxes, universal health care and that winter is the best season of the year.
We are Joe Canadian and this is our Canada.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day #9 Must learn more trivia
Sessions, sessions, session, and practice for the Canadian contribution to the Variety Show. The Trivia night... must learn more trivia.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day #8 We meet the rest of the Canadians
We knew there were at least 5 of us here but in fact there are 10. Rumor has it that the Canadians have a long standing reputation for Variety Night shows. Needless to say, the 10 of us are rehearsing tomorrow. Stay tuned for more details.
Busy day with sessions and keynotes - no exploring again today.
Busy day with sessions and keynotes - no exploring again today.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Day #7 Gear Up and Engage
Today was back to school. There is so much to do. It is a conference and an institute with fraternity in between.
No exploring today - great sessions.
No exploring today - great sessions.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Day #6 exhale and rest
Last night we arrived in Storrs CT, and after the excited of NYC it was a bit of a culture shock. We had a quiet morning, I drove around the country roads and did some geocaching. It was a restless day after so many busy, packed days. We had a great lunch on the patio of a pub in Willimantic, CT. And then returned to our hotel to get ready for registration, dinner and the evening keynote.
The campus has all the charms of the east coast - red brick, trees, tall steepled white churches and rolling green lawns. The keynote was good, thought-provoking and we are still talking on the drive home. There was a short social after and we stayed, but did really mix with folks yet. I'll blog about the conference content on my other blog. A couple of pictures from the day. An early goodnight from a cooler, less humid east coast.
The campus has all the charms of the east coast - red brick, trees, tall steepled white churches and rolling green lawns. The keynote was good, thought-provoking and we are still talking on the drive home. There was a short social after and we stayed, but did really mix with folks yet. I'll blog about the conference content on my other blog. A couple of pictures from the day. An early goodnight from a cooler, less humid east coast.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Day #5 Culture Shock
Alarm went off late this morning, which was a blessing. The past few days have been very busy and I was grateful of an extra half hour to sleep. Today we were under the time crunch. Our train left at 1pm and we were still hoping to get some things done off our list. We got the bell man to get us a cab and we headed straight for Battery Park. We had not yet been this far south and so enjoyed the ride through different neighbourhoods along the water. We arrived at Battery Park, cleared security and we thankful that our City Pass let us jump to the head of the line. We got on the Liberty Island Ferry but realized if we got off the ferry on Liberty Island we might miss the train. The ferry got us around the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island. It was beautiful to sit on the upper deck in the sun and take in the skyline, the rivers, and the sights.
Being in the Financial District weighed heavy on my heart, we decided not to go to Ground Zero but you could feel the sorrow seeping from the pavement. The city has picked up and moved on, but it bears the scars. We listened to the people talking on the ferry, remembering where they were for 9-11 and hearing the stories and legacies that will never be forgotten.
After a stroll through Battery Park, we caught a cab back to the hotel and returned to the Comfort Diner for another round of pancakes for breakfast. We took our last walk, for this trip, up 42nd Ave and retrieved our bags from the bellman. Onward to Penn Station – it’s been a blast NYC.
Things to see on the next trip:
Get off on Liberty Island & Ellis Island
Tiffany’s
Serendipity’s
Another Broadway show
Guggenheim Museum
Bike ride through Central Park
Bloomingdale & Macy’s
NY Stock Exchange
When we arrived in Penn Station, we found a place to sit and wait; mailed some postcards; got some food; called home to talk with my parents and nephew. And then we waited. The train was delayed. But eventually the gate was announced and we were standing right beside it – so down the escalator we went and we were off. I watched the skyline recede into the Bronx and then the inside of my eyelids. When I woke, we were already heading through Connecticut. Watching the clock closely, we saw the time before our connection get closer and closer. When we arrived in New Haven, we stepped out of the train, across the platform and onto the next train and we pulled out of the station.
We returned to our quaint Windsor Locks Amtrak Station and called a cab to come and get us. We rented our car a set out through Connecticut countryside. We drive through to the University of Connecticut and have had a very quiet evening. We are surrounded by rural country and it is so dark and quiet outside. We have gone to a near polar opposite of NYC. Looking forward to exploring New England before heading into Boston. A quiet goodnight from the sleepy countryside.
Being in the Financial District weighed heavy on my heart, we decided not to go to Ground Zero but you could feel the sorrow seeping from the pavement. The city has picked up and moved on, but it bears the scars. We listened to the people talking on the ferry, remembering where they were for 9-11 and hearing the stories and legacies that will never be forgotten.
After a stroll through Battery Park, we caught a cab back to the hotel and returned to the Comfort Diner for another round of pancakes for breakfast. We took our last walk, for this trip, up 42nd Ave and retrieved our bags from the bellman. Onward to Penn Station – it’s been a blast NYC.
Things to see on the next trip:
Get off on Liberty Island & Ellis Island
Tiffany’s
Serendipity’s
Another Broadway show
Guggenheim Museum
Bike ride through Central Park
Bloomingdale & Macy’s
NY Stock Exchange
When we arrived in Penn Station, we found a place to sit and wait; mailed some postcards; got some food; called home to talk with my parents and nephew. And then we waited. The train was delayed. But eventually the gate was announced and we were standing right beside it – so down the escalator we went and we were off. I watched the skyline recede into the Bronx and then the inside of my eyelids. When I woke, we were already heading through Connecticut. Watching the clock closely, we saw the time before our connection get closer and closer. When we arrived in New Haven, we stepped out of the train, across the platform and onto the next train and we pulled out of the station.
We returned to our quaint Windsor Locks Amtrak Station and called a cab to come and get us. We rented our car a set out through Connecticut countryside. We drive through to the University of Connecticut and have had a very quiet evening. We are surrounded by rural country and it is so dark and quiet outside. We have gone to a near polar opposite of NYC. Looking forward to exploring New England before heading into Boston. A quiet goodnight from the sleepy countryside.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Day #4 MoMA, Radio City Music Hall and a little Cirque
The alarm went off too early today. It wasn't really, but the late night put me back onto Pacific Standard Time. Joni met us for breakfast and we went for pancakes at the Comfort Diner on 45th. Still feeling the previous days walking, we caught a cab straight to the Museum of Modern Art. We were there for the opening and spent four hours exploring and that will need to be another post as well.
We started to walk and wandered passed Rockefeller Plaza, which lead us to Radio City Music Hall and a super ticket sale for Cirque du Soliel's Zarkana. We needed some nourishment and ended up at the Bouchon Bakery for soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. We ate in the Plaza and the rain began. I quickly stopped in the NBC Store and then we walked back to the hotel for another nano-nap.
And before we knew it, it was time to meet Joni for dinner. Jenn and Joni introduced me to Chipotle Mexican Grill. We need a franchise in Vancouver! We said goodbye to Joni and walked back down to Radio City Music Hall. As the rain continued, we popped into the Museum store, Build-A-Bear and then lined up to get in.
Radio City Music Hall was so amazing. Stunning design and beautiful. Zarkana was a treat to see and was another great Cirque show.
After the show... we were so close to Time Square and wide awake... we wandered... and shopped. M&M Store... Fossil... through Grand Central Terminal... quick treat for ice cream... and now we are home by midnight and contemplating our plans for tomorrow and how to pack and catch our train.
We started to walk and wandered passed Rockefeller Plaza, which lead us to Radio City Music Hall and a super ticket sale for Cirque du Soliel's Zarkana. We needed some nourishment and ended up at the Bouchon Bakery for soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. We ate in the Plaza and the rain began. I quickly stopped in the NBC Store and then we walked back to the hotel for another nano-nap.
And before we knew it, it was time to meet Joni for dinner. Jenn and Joni introduced me to Chipotle Mexican Grill. We need a franchise in Vancouver! We said goodbye to Joni and walked back down to Radio City Music Hall. As the rain continued, we popped into the Museum store, Build-A-Bear and then lined up to get in.
Radio City Music Hall was so amazing. Stunning design and beautiful. Zarkana was a treat to see and was another great Cirque show.
Day #3 Meet me at the Empire State Building at midnight
Our first full day in NYC and we wanting to see as much as we could. We slept a little to recover from the travel and first adventures into the city. We headed out our hotel lobby and turned right, walked a block through Tudor City, crossed the street and turned left and we we at the United Nations. I couldn't believe how close we were, so we cleared through security and headed in. We booked onto a guided tour so we could see the General Assembly. We took a look around, as we waited for our tour.
Our tour took us around the General Assembly, exlpained the Millenimum Goals and the different branches of the UN. We have people from Australia, the Netherlands, Qatar, San Fran and Vancouver on our tour. Geniune UN. This was one of the highlights of this trip! Mailed myself a postcard with a UN stamp from the UN's own post office. This tour and UN experience took us longer than we had anticipated. So at noon, we ventured back to our hotel to drop off some purchases. And then headed out again...
This time we grabbed a cab and headed toward Central Park. We walk up 5th Ave to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservior. The heat and humidity were starting to wear us down, so after more water we headed indoors to check out the Met. The Met will need to be a separate post, but sensory overload - completely different from Time Square but just as intense.
During the day, I had been texting with my cousin and we made plans throughout the day to meet at the Empire State Building at midnight.
We left the Met and got lost in Central Park. What we saw: found the Guarian geocache, Turtle Pond, Belvedere Castle, Delacorte Theatre, tried to find Shakespeares garden (and didn't), Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace & Fountain, Boathouse, Strawberry Fields, Imagine Mosaic, Hans Christian Andersen, Alice in Wonderland, Literary Walk. While we were in the park we had a sprinkle of rain and a thunderstorm. We left the park through Columbus Circle and caught a cab back to the hotel.
After a nano-nap, we met up with Joni and headed for dinner. We went to a non-Irish, Irish Pub on 33rd and 3rd and then headed up to Empire State Building. We opted for an express option (wouldn't do it again) and saw the NY Skyride. There were a group of Russian boys behind us, and I chuckled because I understood a little of what they were talking about and then they tried to talk with me. We got up to the 80th floor and then took the second elevator to the the 86th floor. (The elevators do not look like they did in 'Sleepless in Seattle'). We we got out at the top, the view was amazing and I was surprise by how quiet and still it felt. Caught another geocache and then started the trip down the elevators.
As we were exploring the lobby, my cousin texted and she was in a cab and coming to meet us. It was great to see her after years and years. We walked back up to the hotel and went to a close bar to catch up. We closed the bar and called it a night. 2:30am was too late to blog... so now it is a day later and I keep asking Jenn, "what did we do yesterday??"
Our tour took us around the General Assembly, exlpained the Millenimum Goals and the different branches of the UN. We have people from Australia, the Netherlands, Qatar, San Fran and Vancouver on our tour. Geniune UN. This was one of the highlights of this trip! Mailed myself a postcard with a UN stamp from the UN's own post office. This tour and UN experience took us longer than we had anticipated. So at noon, we ventured back to our hotel to drop off some purchases. And then headed out again...
This time we grabbed a cab and headed toward Central Park. We walk up 5th Ave to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservior. The heat and humidity were starting to wear us down, so after more water we headed indoors to check out the Met. The Met will need to be a separate post, but sensory overload - completely different from Time Square but just as intense.
During the day, I had been texting with my cousin and we made plans throughout the day to meet at the Empire State Building at midnight.
We left the Met and got lost in Central Park. What we saw: found the Guarian geocache, Turtle Pond, Belvedere Castle, Delacorte Theatre, tried to find Shakespeares garden (and didn't), Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace & Fountain, Boathouse, Strawberry Fields, Imagine Mosaic, Hans Christian Andersen, Alice in Wonderland, Literary Walk. While we were in the park we had a sprinkle of rain and a thunderstorm. We left the park through Columbus Circle and caught a cab back to the hotel.
After a nano-nap, we met up with Joni and headed for dinner. We went to a non-Irish, Irish Pub on 33rd and 3rd and then headed up to Empire State Building. We opted for an express option (wouldn't do it again) and saw the NY Skyride. There were a group of Russian boys behind us, and I chuckled because I understood a little of what they were talking about and then they tried to talk with me. We got up to the 80th floor and then took the second elevator to the the 86th floor. (The elevators do not look like they did in 'Sleepless in Seattle'). We we got out at the top, the view was amazing and I was surprise by how quiet and still it felt. Caught another geocache and then started the trip down the elevators.
As we were exploring the lobby, my cousin texted and she was in a cab and coming to meet us. It was great to see her after years and years. We walked back up to the hotel and went to a close bar to catch up. We closed the bar and called it a night. 2:30am was too late to blog... so now it is a day later and I keep asking Jenn, "what did we do yesterday??"
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Day #2 East Windsor/Windsor Lock to New York
Ventured out from our quaint little town and the train station... 
was cute and small town. We arrived much earlier than needed to and were ready to board the train when it arrived. We caught the Amtrak and headed in from the heat, toasty warm today. We rode a two car train into New Haven, CT. The countryside was so beautiful. I am looking forward to having the rental car to explore more of CT and New England. The train line traveled through a lot of industrial areas and modest neighbourhoods. We arrived in New Haven and had a 40 minute delay on our connection, so we had the chance to explore the train station and to have a slice of pizza. 
We boarded our next train to New York... and this is what we learned. Always go to the back of the train - there are more seats; take a sweater and wear socks - the air con will be on... I ended up sleeping for most of the ride, but did wake up when we crossed the state line and made our first stops in New York. It was a little surreal to see the approaching skyline and to recognize several buildings. We came into the busy Penn Station and headed above ground for our first views of NYC.
This is what we saw:
Penn Station
Madison Square Gardens
Empire State Building
...then we hailed our first cab
Time Square
Grand Central Station
our hotel...
Then we headed out walking...
back down 42nd Ave,
to Time Square where we met a friend of Jenn's.
We entered a ticket lottery for front row tickets to Priscilla Queen of the Desert for $40 each. I won but could only get 2 tickets and there were three of us, so we bailed. We went to the TKTS booth and got 3 tickets to "Catch Me if You Can." Got the best salad and red velvet cupcake from Europa Cafe and enjoyed that while taking in Time Square.
While waiting for the show to start we walked down Broadway, passed the Ed Sullivan Theatre, walked through Columbus Circle and ducked into Central Park for a quick walk before heading down Central Park South to check out the Plaza Hotel. WOW! Again surreal to see it after seeing it so many times in movies.
A quick walk and cab ride back to the theatre to see our first Broadway show! Loved it! And loved it so much that I later bought the soundtrack.
Coming out of the theatre at 10:30pm to see the lights of Time Square brightly lighting the area was unlike anything I have ever seen. We took advantage of the open shops and did some window shopping. No purchases yet.
After remembering to stop to buy more water, we returned to our lovely hotel overlooking 42nd Ave. I keep looking at the time and realizing that the computer is still in PST and it's now 1:30am... good night from the city that really never sleeps!
This is what we saw:
Penn Station
Madison Square Gardens
Empire State Building
...then we hailed our first cab
Time Square
Grand Central Station
our hotel...
Then we headed out walking...
back down 42nd Ave,
to Time Square where we met a friend of Jenn's.
We entered a ticket lottery for front row tickets to Priscilla Queen of the Desert for $40 each. I won but could only get 2 tickets and there were three of us, so we bailed. We went to the TKTS booth and got 3 tickets to "Catch Me if You Can." Got the best salad and red velvet cupcake from Europa Cafe and enjoyed that while taking in Time Square.
While waiting for the show to start we walked down Broadway, passed the Ed Sullivan Theatre, walked through Columbus Circle and ducked into Central Park for a quick walk before heading down Central Park South to check out the Plaza Hotel. WOW! Again surreal to see it after seeing it so many times in movies.
A quick walk and cab ride back to the theatre to see our first Broadway show! Loved it! And loved it so much that I later bought the soundtrack.
Coming out of the theatre at 10:30pm to see the lights of Time Square brightly lighting the area was unlike anything I have ever seen. We took advantage of the open shops and did some window shopping. No purchases yet.
After remembering to stop to buy more water, we returned to our lovely hotel overlooking 42nd Ave. I keep looking at the time and realizing that the computer is still in PST and it's now 1:30am... good night from the city that really never sleeps!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Day #1 Vancouver - Toronto - Hartford
So today was the first day of summer travel 2011 and it was a pleasant day in transit. Early morning departure from YVR and a little additional stress from huge road delays and traffic detours. Dad and I arrived at the airport with plenty of time and I got checked in without any trouble.
Jenn and I stopped for a quick breakfast at Monks, great sourdough toast and then onto the gate. I realized that I haven't flown via Toronto in a very long time and the planes through Phoenix (that I've been on most recently) are so much smaller than the 767 we flew on today. We got settled in for the flight and enjoyed the individual screens in the headrests. Two TV episodes and a movie and a short nap later we arrived in Toronto.
Now the last time I flew through Toronto was likely about 10 years ago. And it might be another 10 years before I decide to make US connection through Toronto again. It was so disorganized and inefficient. However, with about 10 minutes to spare we were able to get through the lines and inspections and down to our gate. As we walk further and further, it seems like we are heading out into the middle of nowhere. Gate 270 was as far as we could go and with 7 other passengers we boarded our little plane for Hartford. It reminded me of the plane to Barra in Scotland... only we were in Toronto and these were cities.
The flight to Hartford was so smooth, I slept the whole way. I woke as my ears were depressurizing and got to see the New England countryside. It looked so beautiful and I'm looking forward to our road trip in a couple of weeks. !
The Hartford airport was a delight. The fastest I have ever gotten my bags and got out. The hotel shuttle came to get us and we got checked in. I do love Holiday Inn... the service here in East Windsor has been superb! The shuttle took us to an local Italian restuarant, Sophia's, for an amazing dinner. I felt guilty leaving so much food, but the portion was huge. The shuttle came back and picked us up and tucked in for the night. Good night from the East
Jenn and I stopped for a quick breakfast at Monks, great sourdough toast and then onto the gate. I realized that I haven't flown via Toronto in a very long time and the planes through Phoenix (that I've been on most recently) are so much smaller than the 767 we flew on today. We got settled in for the flight and enjoyed the individual screens in the headrests. Two TV episodes and a movie and a short nap later we arrived in Toronto.
Now the last time I flew through Toronto was likely about 10 years ago. And it might be another 10 years before I decide to make US connection through Toronto again. It was so disorganized and inefficient. However, with about 10 minutes to spare we were able to get through the lines and inspections and down to our gate. As we walk further and further, it seems like we are heading out into the middle of nowhere. Gate 270 was as far as we could go and with 7 other passengers we boarded our little plane for Hartford. It reminded me of the plane to Barra in Scotland... only we were in Toronto and these were cities.
The flight to Hartford was so smooth, I slept the whole way. I woke as my ears were depressurizing and got to see the New England countryside. It looked so beautiful and I'm looking forward to our road trip in a couple of weeks. !
The Hartford airport was a delight. The fastest I have ever gotten my bags and got out. The hotel shuttle came to get us and we got checked in. I do love Holiday Inn... the service here in East Windsor has been superb! The shuttle took us to an local Italian restuarant, Sophia's, for an amazing dinner. I felt guilty leaving so much food, but the portion was huge. The shuttle came back and picked us up and tucked in for the night. Good night from the East
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