Columbus Day in New York

I won't go into the gratuitous Italian stroll down 5th Avenue today, with three or four floats, a few marching bands and every Italian police officer and fire official in the city and surrounding area. I say strolling as they didn't march. They were strung out with huge gaps, necessitated by the near to let cross town traffic get over the Avenue at times. I did see a group representing the Garibaldi Freedom fighters,  several versions of Dean Martin's "Amore" and a few songs from Verde - it being his birthday this year. Can anyone tell me how a Columbus Parade has a group of Basque dependents in costume, mind you, joining in? Did they move to the Italian Peninsula? Missed that one in Geography. Kailey got bored and had to go to class and missed the Mayoral candidates and a collection of all the Italian cars in the state that ran.
Fought my way down to the World Trade Center construction area. The country may be shutdown and ready to default, but the capitalist part of this economy is still working. St. Paul's Church has been all put back together and was flocked with visitors, me included.

Shining through the reflection of the Hilton's glass front.

After that I made an obligatory stop into Fraunce's Tavern, where Washington had is going away party with his officers, and had a beer and a rest, or a rest and a beer?? Nearby is the Vietnam Memorial for the dead of New York. Stopped by to have a look. Still think of brother Jim. There was a lady there taking rubbings and made a good pix, I thought.

Dinner at Cafe Du Soliel. Good food and good service. Tomorrow back on the plane and home again.
Enjoy everyone :-)

The Big Apple

Still trying to find that 'Big Apple'!
Went for a walk into Grand Central Park this AM after leaving Kailey to finish some work on her papers for class. Watched a who;e lot of people trying to kill themselves running around the lake. I mean some jog around like its a 'walk in the park'(sorry, couldn't not say that!) and other were making the circuit as though there was a gun to their heads to keep running. There was one little old guy (I know I have to now be careful how I use this descriptor) shuffling around, heaving for breath. I figure that he will be flat on his face before long. I take a rest on a bench to watch the parade go by and start to walk toward the Met to see some art. Damn, if this same little guy doesn't pass me again going around the lake. Just shows you that you can't rule anyone out.

Yes, this is in Central Park! The leaves are just beginning to change here, and there are quiet places in the park away from everyone.
There was the Columbus Day Parade (But I thought it would be tomorrow) so I missed - avoided - this but I found the Whitney Museum on Madison. Since I went to Art School in the 60's how could I miss a collection of Robert Indiana's work. If you don't know who this Pop Art Guru is (yes, he's still going strong at 87) then maybe this will kick a few brain cells back into form. (They wouldn't allow photos in the gallery, but this was in the main Lobby.)

Un-color corrected/edited.
Off to dinner. Kailey plans her days around food. In NYC - who can blame her!!

Train to Beantown

It has been such an experience seeing the Great Maine Coast and some of the interior this last week. I have many eclectic thoughts going through this bubble brain as the fall color go speed blurring by the train window in all the kaleidoscopic oranges, yellows and greens on this overcast day that makes these colors so intense. The people I have met, whether at a garage in Bethel, ME while looking for that covered bridge that I never would have found down Frog Lane, to the Taxi drivers or Mark at the Bistro in Boothbay with his extensive knowledge of wines and his wife's wonderful cooking - no creative food; the people have been wonderful. Sure I found a couple of redneck Mainers but they were harmless and rather kind in their own way.
I have a large collection of shots that I have yet to go through and ones I want to spend more time to improve their looks for myself and then put up on the website. The ones I put up here were done rather quickly and just before hopping in bed. Much to do when I'm home, I'm looking forward to that, as well as seeing our little nugget, Dahlia. It's time to go to the pumpkin patch and get ready for Halloween. What, or who, will you be this year??
Thanks for the comments from you all and I'll try to put up a few more while in NYC with Kailey.

Last Days of Maine

Did you miss my notes for yesterday? Oh, that's right I'm writing this for myself so I can look back on this in the future to see what I was doing.
Anyway, yesterday I went to see a couple the last of the lighthouses on the Maine coast. Cape Elizabeth outside Portland

and Cape Neddick near the New Hampshire border.

Today I left the coast and went into the interior to find a couple of covered bridges and try to find some colored leaves. Most of the leaves have come and gone, but I did find a couple of nice colors in the White Mountain National Forest along the New Hampshire border.

Here's a Covered Bridge outside Bethel, ME.

It has been a wonderful journey around the coast and interior of Maine. Tomorrow I leave and go to see Kailey in NYC. She just sent me a reservation for dinner at a place called Ouest on Broadway. I'm sure I'll be ready after the train ride.

Hendrick's Head Lighthouse

It was a wonderful day herein Mid-Coast Maine. I got up early and went toward Bath, ME and went to the Maritime Museum there. It is a fabulous collection of early American - North Eastern American- ship building and and the history from the 1600's until now. It was a great deal of relevance as it is next door to the Bath Iron Works. Haven't heard of them? Neither had I bur they are the sole surviving shipbuilders from the tradition started back when. They are a General Dynamics company now and they are building a new state of the art ship for the Navy that looks like a Stealth ship. Amazing!! I'll share a picture later.
Tonight I want to share a sunset shot of Hendrick's Head Light. I got there a little while before the sun went done, checked my apple app and discovered that I could get a shot with the sun setting right behind the light. Problem was, the spot was on someone's land. That's where Gene comes in. He was outside putting varnish on an old rocking chair and I started talking with him. You want to go there? Okay, come on, I'll take you there. The people have already left for the winter.
Okay, you tell me if it was worth it. (By the way - I know some of you do stop by, but no one every leaves a comment. Say something. It keeps the zookeeper happy.)

The light is always a solid red, doesn't flash. Like all the lights on the coast, they are no longer operated but are just maintained by the Coast Guard.

Beautiful Night!!
For you food groupies - Diet!!! Me - I had a Duck breast with Cherries and a very nice Chilean Pinot Noir. And no dessert.
Travel tomorrow toward Portland and more lighthouses and I have got to get my IR camera out and do some shots with it.
Be Happy!!

What a Beeautteefull Day

The rain stopped last night, finally, and I got up early to catch the sun at my first New England lighthouse at Fort Point just North of Belfast, ME (where I stayed last night. The sun was bright and it  continued to be a wonderful day traveling South until I reached Boothbay Harbor, where I'm staying tonight and tomorrow. Good thing I came this week as EVERYTHING is locking up for the winter next week. They say that Boothbay goes from 15,000 in the summer PLUS tourists to 1200 locals for the winter. The Grocery store and essential services stay open, but only two restaurants stay open and most all hotels close. Most aren't insulated, so heating is prohibitive.

There are a few good shots today. What a difference some sun makes! I spent some time in Camden, ME and had lunch in Wiscasset before heading to Boothbay. The Google thing here is soooo slow that I'll cut to a sunset shot in Boothbay Harbor.

For those of you who are vicariously wanting the menu of the day I tried (in no particular order) a Tomato Brie Bisque, Crab cakes, Smoked Duck with Pears in a Blueberry balsamic. Oh and Lobster Thermador. 

See what tomorrow brings...

Belfast, ME

Why is Northern Ireland here in Maine, not sure but they say it was first called Londonderry so that might be a clue.

Rained all day here on the trip from Portland so there wasn't much in the way of picture takin' today. When it wasn't raining, it was fog and the leaves are still just changing, so I guess my best chances for them will be as I getting ready to leave(sic). Had to satisfy myself with what cropped up, like these little mushrooms growing on a tree stump in the fence row at the Weeks Mill Cemetery.
(Google Blog Su**s for adding photos - Life is too short for waiting for it to upload!!!!)

Or these in the church yard in Belfast.

There was one interesting country lane with a little color but that's the best I saw today.

Portland Tonight

Just when I went out for a bite after spending some time going thru the photos and catching up, it was raining, well finishing a rain. I took a couple of pix, wiping the lens with the tail of my shirt (good old cotton) and getting something. Had dinner, I tried a lobster and streamers - heard they were good around here, and then headed back only to find the rain stopped and I re-shot the pix. This was better as there was only one car parked out front.

This one looks quite good in Black and White:

And then there is tomorrow...

Portland, ME

Got into Portland about 8pm and checked into my room at the Marriott.. Great room (suite more like as it has a kitchen of sorts and a sitting area). Got the word that the best place for lobster was J's Oyster. It's not a tourist place, the locals go there. Walked down to the harbor area to J's and saw a large group of tourists coming off a cruise boat heading in the direction of J's and of course I got worried and didn't want to get there after them. I start walking faster and they head down the street I going to as well, trouble?!, I get around them and find J's and I pause:

Here I go again, following the recommendation of someone I met on a train, but they said it was great and a local place. Okay, I go in. PACKED to the walls, People waiting to get tables all ten of them maybe. Seats at the bar and I jump into one between a young couple and an older one. Neither one knew I was there. The young ones were into each other and the older ones were just ready to get out. Oh, well. The food was great. The lobster comes with streamers and coleslaw if you can figure. 1-11/2 of good lobster and you're full. Really good.

I have decided that I will be exploring the clam chowder as well as the lobster while I'm here. The chowder is all cream style but it is so different.. Try one in Boston - it got too hot and the cream was separating. The one at J's was very good. Creamy and lots of clams. Had one for lunch today and it was thin, not creamy, but lots of clams but needed some flavor.

Walked around alot today and saw the harbor area, walked up High Street and down Congress and saw some of the older buildings in town. Most all the town burned to the ground in the 1800's so most all are brick now. There is a good Art SChool here I guess, as I also saw many storefront galleries near there. Good to see that encouraged.

Working wharf next to an apartment development. Boy they love their lobster!

These lobstermen painted their shacks the same colors as their floats for the lobster pots. Orange and white; white and orange; white and green, etc. Makes for a very colorful row of sheds.

Won't be a sunset tonight, but I did find a couple of places that might make for a good night photo. Off to dinner - gee, what shall I have?? and then off to bed. I get my car tomorrow morning and I'm driving up the coast. Colorful leaves I hope.

Boston Layover

Amtrak from Penn Station to Back Bay Station in Boston was pretty, easy and relaxed. Got a chance to go thru some photos and decided that my 'down time' was not conducive to good photos. Of course I was just walking to Penn Station, but nothing really caught my attention and I know it will get better.
Boston was beautiful between the storms and I was happy to be there. There is always so much going on and I got the feeling that the locals were out enjoying the last of the good mild weather.

The leaves are just beginning to change in Boston. I just heard that the leaves are always the colors that we see them as they change, it is just that the 'green' is from the photosynthesis at work and that when the green goes away it is time for that process to stop and the trees go into their winter 'hibernation'.

Anyway, the City of Boston could use to spend a little on signs in the city including a few to help people find the North Station. Granted it is in the Garden Arena, but you wouldn't know it if you weren't born here.
Couple of more hours and I'm in Portland, ME and the beginning of the Maine experience.
http://www.pixstix.biz

Clouds over Boston

Columbus Park looking toward Faneuil Hall

Beginning of the trip

Well yesterday I began with a very crowded flight to NYC aboard United. I arrived in time to catch a frantic Hindu taxi driver who whisked me to my Hilton in downtown Manhattan. Kailey came down to join me for a late snack, as the meal selection aboard was dismal and there were no food stalls at United worth spending money on. I was STARVING. Found a little pub close by the hotel where I was able to catch the last inning of the Dodger lose to Atlanta. On to LA for them and a tied series at one each.
I got up this morning early and walked the streets of the city as the sun came up. There are so many places to watch this happening, but as I wanted to walk, I just went over to Park and then Fifth and walked to 33rd and over to Penn Station for the train to Boston.

Got there early and decided to take the earlier train to give me more time to walk about Boston as I move from Back Bay station to North Station to catch my last train to Portland Maine later this afternoon.

This is my parting shot of NYC. Our "Education Nation". I wonder - is the Lion protecting our homeless kid as he sleeps outside the Library, or is it keeping him from going inside and using the Library??

I decided to make this entry aboard the Amtrak as we head to Boston. Free WiFi and everyone else got the window seats along the oceanside.
The leaves are beginning to change here so I am hopefully that I am in time to see the full beauty of the Autumn colors in Maine.
More later after Boston