NEW YORK CITY - Summer 2010

New York City--Brooklyn Bridge:

We actually walked the Brooklyn Bridge.  It is a very busy place.  There are lanes painted on the bridge for walkers and bicyclists.  And all the bicyclists had little bells they used to honk at the walkers.  There are some pretty serious people in New York.

We went with our little group of 6--Brent, Vickie, David, Luci, Laura, Matt.  Is that the Empire State Building in the background?  I think it is!                                      

New York City--World Trade Center Memorial:

There is currently a lot of activity at the 9-11 sight.   We took a tour and the WTC is being rebuilt.  The World Financial Center was part of our tour.  It is right across from the WTC and it had the most beautiful tribute to the eleven of the 9-11 casualties.  These 11 were employees of American Express in the World Financial Center and were killed when the towers plummeted down and blew out the windows where they were working.  The memorial is entitled, "11 Tears."  It has 11 facets--one for each employee killed.  The families were invited to write 11 words or less about their loved one.    Favorite Tribute was for Sigrid Wiswe:  "Loyal  Beautiful  Thoughtful  Determined  Loved Family, Adored Cats".  Every minute, 11 tears drop into the pool.  It was a very quiet and peaceful area.  One can see the new WTC construction through the windows behind us. 

New York City--Staten Island Ferry:

Did you know that it costs $$$ to walk around the feet of the Statue of Liberty?  $$$ to climb to the crown?  Did you know the Ferry to Staten Island is free? 
God Bless America!

MAINE--Summer 2010

MAINE--Bar Harbor (Pronounced Bah Hahbah):We started out sightseeing with a Whale and Puffin Tour.  We saw an island full of puffins. Three puffins flew over and landed in the water next to the boat we were on.  

The scenery was beautiful, but the boat ride was a little rocky and wavy.  (Whew!  Glad that's over!)

MAINE--Acadia National Park:  Brent and Vickie rented bikes and rode on the Carriage Trails in Acadia National Park.  The carriage rodes were originally actual carriage roads where the cars are now not allowed but you can ride your bike, walk, or jog.   Quiet, peaceful,and serene.  We met one family that comes to Acadia every summer, just to ride their bikes on the carriage rodes around the park.  I think they have to live nearby.  Although a very nice ride, it's a long way to travel just to ride your bike on the carriage roads.

Brent and Vickie at the top of Cadillac Mountain.

And did you know that Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the US to see the sun rise?  (Well, just October through March, but still--that's pretty cool!)  And they had the best gift shop at the top!

MASSACHUSETTS--Summer 2010

What a trip of a lifetime!  I loved all the places we went along the North Atlantic area.  And we, Brent and Vickie Richey, had the best time and best traveling companions ever:  David and Luci Richey!

MASSACHUSETTS--Boston: 

We earned a new appreciation for our country and those who walked in these trails before me.  It was exciting to see the places that have existed for hundreds of years.

 

MASSACHUSETTS--Plymouth: 

The Mayflower II was wonderful.  The people on the ship are completely in character including wonderful English accents of the time period. They said, "Julee" instead of July and "Novembree" instead of November.  We asked, "So how is the water on the ship?"  This girl answered, "Oh we don't drink water.  'Tis not safe.  We drink beer.  Much more healthful."

MASSACHUSETTS--Cape Cod: 

Lighthouses in Cape Cod are truly a wonder!  We visited two lighthouses Chatham and Highland.  This lighthouse is the Highland Cape Cod lighthouse.  It had to be moved in 1990 because it was only about 100 feet from the eroding cliff.  It now sits about 500 feet from the ocean.

 
Here is Brent at the Chatham Lighthouse.  He is looking like the typical tourist:  hat, sunglasses, shorts, camelback, binoculars,  and purse.  

 



 MASSACHUSETTS--Concord: 
Walden Pond was beautiful.  We can see why Thoreau wanted to spend time here--July 1845 to September 1847. The water was clear and warm.  The beach was sandy. The trees were everywhere.  We could hear the occasional chipmunk chatter.  Very peaceful.  It is truly an inspirational place.

The current cabin was reconstructed following Thoreau's detailed descriptions.  The original cabin sight is along a little path, back behind the trees and along the pond.  One hundred years after Thoreau lived here, his chimney stone was unearthed and in 1965, Walden's Pond became a Registered National Historic Landmark.  

 

MASSACHUSETTS--Quincy: 

Adams Family pew

We toured the Church of the Presidents.  Both Adams presidents are buried in the basement there, along with their wives. The tour guide let Vickie played the organ there.  Vickie played a hymn from the hymnal that we know in the LDS church as, "Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah."

Decorated pew

 A fascinating thing about these churches was the pews.  Families can purchase a pew and decorate it any way they would like.  They can put chairs in their pew, pictures, upholstery, wallpaper, etc.  

Also in Quincy, we toured the John Adams Family homes.  And the library of John Quincy Adams.    A large room full of books from the floor to the ceiling.