Philadelphia

We drove south to Philadelphia; well, Jerry drove and Anna Lee slept.  Our prime purpose was to visit with Anna Lee’s cousins Barbara and Bob, secondarily to visit a city that has an endless supply of wonderful things to see and do.  Our first evening’s weather was perfect and we enjoyed a delicious dinner while catching up on each other’s lives.

We did learn an important lesson at the 100-year old inn where we stayed.  We are no longer built to stay on the third-floor of an old inn.  Not matter how delightful the breakfast conversation, the shlep up the stairs is not worth it.

After a good lunch (all the eating in Philadelphia was good), followed by a shared massive cookie,

we went to the National Constitution Center.  We had been here before, but as we studied the exhibits, we were reminded that it is vital to continually learn about and be aware of the amazing basis for this county.

The museum’s emphasis is that we, as American’s, are responsible for controlling our destiny.  Freedom Rising is  “360-degree live theatrical production that tells the story of the U.S. Constitution and the American quest for freedom.”   The program, "We the People"  demonstrates how the people have changed the country over the past two centuries. 

In Signers’ Hall the most photographed statue is of Alexander Hamilton.  With one exception, each signatories’ statue is based upon a real painting or portrait created during their life.

Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality is newly opened.  The exhibit tells both of the wonderful goals and the horrible reactions following the Civil War.

Among the artifacts is this remnant from the flag that draped Lincoln’s coffin as it travel from DC to Springfield, IL

In 1864 forty-eight signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation were offered for $10 each as a fundraiser to help Union soldiers.  Not all the them were purchased.  Recently, one sold for more than $2 million.

With no hint as to where we were going, Bob and Barbara took us to the Curtis Building where Bob had worked.  Upon entering we saw this overwhelming 15 x 49 foot glass mosaic.  Designed by Maxfield Parrish and created with 100,000 pieces of “favrile” glass by the Tiffany studios, the Dream Garden was unveiled in 1916.  But it was almost lost forever.  At one point in its history, owners of the building ordered the wall demolished.  On seeing the mosaic, which was hidden behind some drywall, the contractor asked if the owners were sure they wanted to demolish it.  Instead, a collection of trusts and benefactors purchased it and donated it to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to remain forever on display in its original home.

We dined at McNally’s where the Schmitter, a kaiser roll smothered with beef, salami, cheese, onions and more, is their specialty.  Jerry loved it, Anna Lee made a different choice.

Food is always part of our wonderful visits to Philly but the favorite is the Night Kitchen, an outstanding bakery where Barbara and Bob have ordered Bennett’s birthday cakes.  We bought a brownie for our flight home.  Mmmmm.

We had such a lovely time that we have made plans to return later in the year to continue conversations and visits, but we will stay in a more appropriate place.

Saranac Lake

Cheryl, Dave & Bennett's new home is in the small town of Saranac Lake..

We found the town quite charming with a lovely variety of good places to eat like the Blue Moon Cafe that we have now dined at thrice.

We walked around the town and visited this mural produced about 20 years ago by high school students.  It is one of several murals in the downtown area.

These bears greet anyone driving around Riverside Park.

There are excellent opportunities to experience nature indoors and out.  An ornithologist, accompanied by a Great Horned Owl and a Screech Owl, presented an outstanding talk on Birds of Prey that educated both the young and old.

On our last day we visited the just-opened farmers market where Anna Lee bought a wood-burned necklace.   Dinner was at a great Mexican restaurant.  Saranac Lake, we found, has a terrific food scene.

We continued eating, this time in Albany where the family enjoyed a Chinese dinner followed by a HUGE soft-serve ice cream with our cousins.

We must have still been hungry because Jeff took us to an excellent restaurant for brunch.  Next time we will share the creme Flan French toast, luscious and large.

ADK

Bennett had his first day of T-ball and had fun being a leader for red light/green light.

We finally made it up to the Adirondack Experience where Cheryl is now employed. .   The Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier and the Grand Canyon combined.  We were here ten years ago.  This trip we barely saw a few acres.

A popular photo stop is this chair.

Can you tell which picture was taken on our trip here ten years ago and which is current?

 


















We spent two hours in the Life in the Adirondacks, a two-story building chronicling the history of the area from indigenous peoples to about the 1950s.  The excellent displays are supplemented by recordings of descendants of early people and of more recent residents of the area.

“So Be It Our Minds,” a cradle board made of natural and man-made products, tells the positive and negative history.

The Rockefellers and their ilk were influential in keeping the area “forever wild.”  But the wealthy were still apparent in their luxurious way of travel, taking their private railcars to their "great camps".

This quilt was made by a guild in tribute to the area being preserved as it has been for most of time.

.This is the actual cabin of a man who lived on the land.  In an interview with him, one feels his love of the mountains

Beginning in the ‘50s this RV became a popular way to experience the area.

Anne LaBastille, a PhD in wildlife ecology from Cornell in 1969, spent her life in the Adirondacks working and fighting to preserve the land.  This is the cabin she built and lived in.

Maple syrup has long been a staple of these mountains.

One important thing we learned is that we will be most happy to return and continue our education.

Burlington, VT

After a two and one half hour drive, we arrived in Burlington.  We have been to the town before on an RV trip but this time was dedicated to ECHO, an environmental museum for children.

The museum has excellent hands-on exhibits as well as displays of local fauna, both native and invasive. 

Bennett became a weather reporter, following the script of an actual report.

He enjoyed climbing on a sunken ship

 and made a new friend.

He learned about “diversion,” creating new routes for the flow of water.

This spiny soft-shelled turtle is native to the area.  Only a few hundred remain in the Lake Champlain watershed.

The museum breeds and raises the young for return to the wild.

 The sand pile was used to demonstrate the effect of tide on sandbars.

The day ended with a serendipitous experience.  We had looked up the ferry schedule and there were no ferries at this season, at least so we thought.  Apparently, we didn’t look at all the schedules.  Our GPS took us on a different route going back to NY, right to the ferry.  We were the last car to board.  Not only did the boat shorten our two and one half hour drive back, it was also lovely.