spring break vacation, Day 2

Vacation, day 2.  Another day of travel.  That 6AM flight was so darn early, but it was sunny out when we were ready to depart. 

Two flights to go, first on to Chicago, where we had some luxury of time to hang out in a United Club, munch some lunch, and then wander to our gate.

From Chicago,

it was a comparably long hop as the first flight to take us to Providence.  As we got close to landing, there were some gaps in the clouds, and there it was below:  Rhode Island. 

Hooray!

Bags, then the walk to the connecting structure where we picked up our rental car.  I did all the driving in that car, Conrad navigated.  Although it looks like the airport is a goodly way out of the city, on that Easter Sunday it was a very quick drive, perhaps 10 minutes.  We were checked in to the hotel well before it was time to meet friends for dinner.  Given that time, we ventured out to see the downtown surrounding the hotel, admiring the many murals we found there. 

And getting my shoes soaked.  Ah well.  We were a little peckish, so we eventually parked ourselves in a Japanese grocery near the hotel and had a little bite.

We spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking and then freshening up.  Evening rolled around, and before it got dark we were strolling up into the Federal Hill neighbourhood to meet Jack and his husband, James,

at Pane E Vino.

Dinner was leisurely, old school Italian.  I didn't photograph the food, but I remember liking my gnocchi with braised lamb quite well.  We had a round of cocktails, then Jack ordered a bottle of wine for us to share.  They offered us a ride back to the hotel, but the night was not too chilly, and we decided that the walk would do us some good.  A stroll back, some water, and then to bed.  The New England vacation was truly underway!

spring break vacation, Day 1

8 days ago Conrad and I headed to Burbank Airport.  Oh yes, I am digging into the blogging of the spring break trip to New England.  Day by day - there's a lot of ground to cover!

Day one was easy.  Burbank to Denver, and that was it.  We had wanted to get to Providence in time for dinner with friends, and to do that, we needed to break the outbound trip in two.  That meant we could leave from Burbank, though, which is always preferable.  Such an easy airport.  And hey, first ones on the plane!

Rather than head into the city (and, sadly, we no longer have Courtney and Robert there)(and Laurie and Marc were busy with family visiting), once we got to the airport in Denver,

we picked up our luggage and headed to the adjoining Westin Hotel.  I love the looks of the hotel.  So cool.  Every time I have been to or through Denver, I admire the design.  And now was my chance to stay.

We had a regular room,

and rather than a view of the tented terminal we looked down on the train station for the metro coming in to the airport. 

That was fine.  The room was for one night, and we had an early Sunday morning flight.  We dropped off bags then headed down to the lobby bar for a cocktail

(appropriately enough, an Aviation for me). 

That refreshed us.  We then headed to the ground floor plaza to wander, take photos of the installations on each side,

get a few steps in.

Dinner that night was at Grill & Vine at the hotel.  Conrad taught the bartender how to make Last Words,

and we sipped them whilst enjoying a shared tuna tartare (pictured)

and genuinely super burgers (not pictured).  Bellies a little too full, it was upstairs with us and on to bed.  That 3:45 wake up was going to come far far too soon....

Boston (the US one)

Howdy!  I’m sitting in a United Club at Logan, wishing we were already home.  I always get this way with travel, wanting the return to be over with and done.  It will be a slog home, connecting through Chicago.  Ah well.  In my own bed a little after midnight, I hope!

This has been my first time in Boston in ten years.  10!!  That doesn’t seem real.  It’s a fine city but not one for which I feel any particular affinity.  Still, it was a lovely day today, and we had a nice morning walk in the newly-developed Seaport area.

I’ll really blog the trip when I get home, I promise.  Boarding in 40 minutes here.  I can’t wait to be home despite how delightful the vacation was.

A correction

Oh Peter, you blockhead.  Miscounting visited states?  For shame.

Rhode Island was number 37.  

New Hampshire was number 38.  

Sorry for the mixup, folks!

Dartmouth

Hey!  I know, you are dying to read tonight’s brief missive.  And here it is!

I will write up more on the New England trip when I get home, I promise.  A lot to talk about.  Friends, libraries, meals - so many highlights.  And here was one from today:  Dartmouth College.  The Ivy League.  A very old, very wealthy college in a bucolic, remote New England setting.  The sort of place one thinks about as defining a college.  It was lovely.

So here is a shot of the outside of the Baker Library.  We had a tour there today, and I was a delight.

On to Boston tomorrow!

No. 34

Rhode Island was the 33rd state I visited.  Today New Hampshire became number 34.

We left Providence late morning.  Ed drove.  North through the state and then on across the width of Massachusetts, stopping for lunch near Nashua after we had crossed the next state line.  

A Thai(ish) chicken wrap for me.  

We pressed on, stopping at one of the many liquor and wine no-sales-tax places the state is known for,

and finally making it to Lebanon, near the Vermont border.

It’s now past ten.  We have come back from dinner and FaceTimed Van.  More on this day’s adventure to come, but I head to bed one state richer in experience.

fitting in

Our last day in Rhode Island is drawing to a close.  We made it back from Narragansett in time to have a we nightcap at the hotel bar (yes, that is a martini in a white wine glass - apparently they only have two martini glasses at the bar)

(I did not finish my martini).  Soon to bed.  We have to pack in the morning, take the car to the airport, and then meet Ed for our jaunt up to New Hampshire.  Full days ahead!

So once again, it is a short entry for me and a photo or two.  We visited Ed’s library earlier today, and I continued a tradition of getting photos taken in a little reading cubicle in the children’s room.  Cute, no?

To bed, to NH.  I’ll check in quickly tomorrow!

Roger

We are back at the hotel after a day spent down in Newport.  Much to post, not tonight.  I want to get into comfy clothes, read a little head to bed.  Libraries to visit tomorrow, and a dinner down in Narragansett.  Looking forward to it all.

So, for tonight’s glimpse of the vacation thus far, here is a shot from the International Tennis Hall of Fame, items contributed by one of this year’s inductees, the great Roger Federer.  A legend, truly.

On to jammies and soon to bed….

sweet sweet jasmine

And another short post while we we are out of town.  The jasmine plants out back popped last week, and man oh man, are they gorgeously fragrant.  I absolutely love this time of year when the air is so perfumed all about.  Delightful.  If only this blog were scratch and sniff!

where we are

Hey, it’s me, checking off another state visited.  Number 33:  Rhode Island.  

We flew from Chicago to Providence earlier this afternoon, and we have settled into our hotel downtown.

 It’s a grey, damp day, but ah well.  It’s a nice break from the SoCAL heat.

More blogging to come in days ahead!

still cute as all get out

Conrad and I are en route today from Denver to Providence by way of Chicago.  Fun times.  More to come on the travels, but in the meantime, why not appreciate again that Olive is such a frickin' cute little girl....

Friday night before vacation

Writing this on Friday night, posting on Saturday.  Conrad and I have an afternoon flight from Burbank to Denver and an overnight at the Westin at the airport there.  I wish we were getting together with Laurie and Marc, but next time.  I hope!  My spring break looms, and time in New England beckons.  And what better way to head off on vacation than by enjoying dinner at Maestro?  You got me!

Mild evening temperatures meant we could sit outside.  No live music tonight, alas, but we still had a good time, and the restaurant (indeed, many of the restaurants in the neighbourhood), was doing some good business.  We ordered cocktails - a mezcal negroni for me

- and a starter of queso fundido,

and settled in to enjoy the evening.  Conrad and Van were across the table from me,

sipping their drinks.  Conversation ranged all over.  We had a good time.

Calamari followed the queso,

and then the cochinita pibil. 

My gosh, that last one, a pork dish, is so good.  Yum.

No dessert for us.  We came back to the condo for a bit, discussed Olympics tickets purchases, and then Van headed home.  A nice night before heading out of town, very welcome.

Happy Saturday, happy Easter weekend! 

April showers

The LA rainy season is not yet done with us even if it hasn't reared its head in weeks.  Not a heavy rain this past week, but we'll take it.  How lovely to see droplets on the olive tree leaves outside our front door the other morning.

It's April.  Conrad and I are leaving Van behind in California and heading east tomorrow for my spring break.  I'll see if Blogger is still not cooperating with use on my phone or not.  If it is, then it will be a bit of a break in blogging and then a return with vengeance when I get back!