New England

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Janette

It’s like England…only newer 🙂

New England

After being here for a few years, I’ve gotten to sample much of what the area has to offer.  Clearly, Rhode Island will have more notable mentions, because that is my home.  However, all the other New England states are special and sweet in their own way.  Below are some points of interest I’ve gotten to enjoy.

MAINE

I would consider Maine my favorite New England state, and I can’t exactly put my finger on why.  Perhaps it has to do with its large coastline, or maybe it’s because it’s an edge of the country, a finger reaching far to the north, beckoning me to come see what it’s pointing at.  In a nutshell: it’s beautiful. 

A capital city is always a main stop on my US travel agenda, so naturally, Augusta was the first stop.  It was a small, friendly city with a nice history museum and quaint surroundings.  But, Portland was more my speed.  A coastal city has so much to offer.  Some highlights were a beautiful twilight lighthouse tour, an amazing dark cherry chocolate chip milkshake, and my first authentic “lobstah” dinner.  Portland was scrumptious. 

Finally, Kennebunkport was a mini stop before heading home, and I’m so glad I got to see it.  There’s not really that much to see, but it’s one of the cutest places I’ve ever been.  Besides the expensive homes (which is inevitable), there is plenty of small-town charm, little shops and beautiful beach. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

This was a quick get-away, but I still had a fabulous time.  Of course, Concord was the first stop…another sleepy New England city, that feels more like a town. And, once again, the coastal city of Portsmouth drew me in much faster than the hills in the center of the state. 

Portsmouth looked like a well taken care of city.  There is nothing better than drinking sweet coconut lime juice and taking a stroll through a beautifully manicured park, down to the water.  The water, by the way, seemed to have the fastest current I’ve ever seen!  Also, along the waterfront, is a thriving art community.  There are so many shops selling local pottery, glass, textiles, etc.  It was great to see a community have such pride expressing their creativity. 

VERMONT

By far, the most sleepy New England state, Vermont has a charm like no other.  The whole state seems like a small town where everyone is your neighbor.  In Montpelier, which is the size of a small neighborhood, no one monitors the parking meters and you get instant assistance from people on the street the moment you pull out a map.  🙂

The Ben and Jerry’s factory was a delicious stop, as well as the Morse Farm Sugar Works, where you taste maple syrup instead of ice cream.  All-in-all, a tasty destination!

CONNECTICUT

People from New England seem to not be very fond of CT, but it’s great, especially for history buffs. 

Mystic Seaport was a fun place to go.  It’s a step back in time where you can see what life was like “back in the day.”  You can also step on board a few boats and get a lesson in the seafaring lifestyle.  There is much to see and do in this cute family friendly town. 

You guessed it, Hartford was the next stop, and I did not allow enough time to see everything!  Many famous people were from, or had lived in CT, so many of their houses are now museums.  There are also some very old gravesites and the capital building was the most elaborate I’ve seen, as well as the surrounding grounds. 

 

 

Hartford State House

 

I feel like I have just seen the tip of the iceberg, so this is definitely a place I’d like to spend some more time. 

MASSACHUSETTS

There is soooo much to see!  If Florence is “quintessential” Italy, then Massachusetts is “quintessential” New England.  It’s a cornucopia of various historical points with perfect picturesque scenery peppered in for flavor.

Growing up around theatre, and reading “The Crucible,” sparked my interest in Salem.  I happened to be there during Halloween which was…interesting.  It seems like a friendly, small town with no big buildings and no hustle and bustle.  It has lots of museums and protected historical sites.  I’m sure the holiday brought lots of extra people to the area, flooding the city, but the costumes I got to see were out of this world. 

Boston (aka Beantown) requires lots of time to explore.  It’s a pretty large city.  It has beautiful government buildings, gorgeous parks, museums, theatres, and nightlife galore.  Boston has pretty much everything one could ever want, except cheap rent. 😉

 

 

Boston’s North End

 

But, if it’s R & R you’re looking for, then Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard may be a better location.  Whether it’s driving through rows of summer cottages that are wedged between sparkling sand dunes and the great blue, or shopping for local art made with seashells and sea glass, both locations have an endless supply of things to hold one’s interest. 

It’s also fun to be around the water and see all the boaters that sail in from all over the world in their various crafts for the sole purpose of doing exactly what you are doing…just enjoying. 

RHODE ISLAND

I’m proud to say that this state has been my home for the past few years, and probably will be for a few more.  I still remember the day I was working in North Carolina when I got the phone call accepting me to the intern program at Trinity Rep in Providence.  I was elated, considering that I only applied to 3 programs, and also that I didn’t have to go back to Pennsylvania, hehe.  That opportunity gave me wings, and when I found out the state motto is “Hope,” I took it as a sign that the stars were aligning themselves, pointing me in a certain direction.  I had to go, and I’m so glad I did. 

The beauty of Rhode Island is that there is something for everyone and it doesn’t take long to get anywhere.  Plus, the public transportation reaches just about anywhere in the state. 

The first place I lived was in Providence.  Even though there is constant change, there is never a shortage of things to do.  Every neighborhood has its historic sections and notable landmarks, as well as little museums and parks.  I addition to these items, Providence also has tons of cafe’s, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and shops.  But one of my favorite things to experience is “waterfire.”  Usually just during the summer months, the downtown area is flooded with family’s, couples, and drunk singles on Saturday nights at sunset.  In the middle of the river are burning fire pits that add a beautiful glow and aroma to the evening experience.  Combine that with beautiful music, some food, spirits and street performers, and you have an enchanted evening. 

The East Bay is where I live now.  A few miles south of Providence is like another world.  It’s very quiet and peaceful and cozy.  The town has everything I need, and I can walk just about everywhere.  Even though Fall is my favorite season, I always look forward to sunny afternoons at the town beach under a nourishing sun, and tranquil evenings at the town wharf, being lulled by the lapping water against beautiful boats under a luminous moon. 

Newport is also a fun destination.  Ocean Drive, the Newport Mansion museums, and the Cliff Walk are all must-sees while in town.  Also, just North of Newport is where I went skydiving years ago…a must-do for those adventure seekers out there.  Off the coast of Newport is Rose Island.  There is a self-sustainable lighthouse/museum/inn on the island.  You can stay for a night or a week and learn how to be a temporary lighthouse keeper! I was only there for a day and it was a cool experience. 

 

 

View from Cliff Walk

 

Speaking of lighthouses, Point Judith is a really pretty place to visit.  There is a gorgeous picnic area right by the lighthouse with the sea and horizon as the backdrop.  No wonder they perform weddings there 🙂

As one of the “exotic” RI destinations, Block Island should be seen at least once.  If you stay for a day or two, you can bike basically the entire island, spend a little time on the beach, do a little hiking, and reward yourself with some delicious ice cream afterwards.  Once you see it, you instantly understand why people from all around choose to stand in huge lines for a ticket on the slow ferry…it really is worth it. 

 

 

South point of Block Island, tempting huh?

 

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What happens in Vegas….

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Janette

Ahhh, the desert.  This trip was very exciting for me, for a few reasons.  First, I had never been west of the Mississippi.  Second, I had never been to the desert.  Third, this was the first trip that I had planned, from start to finish, all by myself.  I kinda felt like a grown up, for a few minutes, hehe.

Truth be told, the real reason for going to Vegas at all, was to have a cheap area to stay in while getting to tour the Grand Canyon, in nearby Arizona.  And, that arrangement worked out quite well.  Las Vegas, NV is usually a pretty cheap city to fly into, so air travel was not expensive.  Plus, I found a small hotel in the old part of the city that was cute, and quiet, for $60 a night…not too shabby.  I’m definitely not a 5-star hotel kind of girl…gimme a clean, safe, quiet, cheap room, and I’m as happy as a clam! 🙂

Also, I’m not a gambler, so I wasn’t tempted to throw lots of money into the pockets of scary looking machines and people wearing funny sequined vests.  Although there are opportunities lurking everywhere…besides every single hotel having at least one casino, you can also begin gambling right in the McCarran airport, hehe.

Even though it was a short trip, the few days I had to explore Vegas were lots of fun.  Especially since there is a lot to see for free.

The first thing I got to enjoy for free was the scenery.  Even the view from the airport was breathtaking.  I didn’t know what to expect when I tried to picture what the desert was going to be like.  And seeing the colors in the distant rocks, the reds, purples, tans and browns, were absolutely beautiful.  The lack of trees did not seem weird at all and it did not make the view seem naked one bit.  Trees would have just subtracted from the perfection.

Driving along The Strip was fun.  And, I didn’t realize how long The Strip actually is.  The road seems to go on forever, passing hotel after hotel after hotel.  To make the journey easy on tourists, taxi’s are never hard to find, and there are also double-decker busses making the rounds every 20 mins, which is very convenient.

The Strip at night

Evening is when the city comes alive, and all the hotels have something exciting to show off.  The Bellagio has a larger-than-life dancing fountain, the Mirage has a tranquil waterfall that turns into an angry volcano, and Treasure Island has a pirate ship battle in their moat! There is also the Freemont Street Experience, where a canopy covers a few blocks that are closed off to cars.  The canopy is like the world’s biggest screen-saver, and every 30 mins or so, huge light shows and animations are shown, often to a different style of music.  Pretty cool.

The Freemont Street Experience

In between seeing all the sights the city had to offer was a day-trip to the Grand Canyon…aka…the real reason for going to the desert.  The package I chose was a door-to-door service helicopter tour, and it was fabulous.  After getting picked up from the hotel and driven a short distance to the air strip, I was whisked away by plane to the Grand Canyon site.  Even though the flight was short, we still got to see the beautiful topography, the Hoover Dam, and gorgeous Lake Mead.  And then…out of no where, I saw cracks in the earth so large, it was as if I had a magnifying glass up to my eyes.  The Grand Canyon was before me and it was indeed grand.

aerial view

I have to say, a helicopter is an awesome mode of transportation, and if they weren’t so expensive, I’d get one.  🙂  I got to sit right next to the pilot to drink in 180 degrees of unobstructed canyon view as we flew into the massive cracks.  We were bobbing and weaving around pillars of rock and sheer cliffs, before touching down on a bank near the Colorado River.  Then we had a leisurely boat ride down a portion of the water before having the helicopter take everyone further on, through more crevices, before bringing us to our complimentary picnic area.  After we had a delicious meal, everyone had some time to look around the little gift shop before being whisked back to where we all came from.  An excellent use of a long afternoon.

Deep inside the canyon

It was late October, the temperature was a perfect 75-80 degrees, the sun was shining, and it was impossible to take a bad picture of the beauty before me.  I remember a sense of accomplishment washing over me as I was returning to the hotel.  I had wanted to see the Grand Canyon for a long time, and I made it happen, and it was easy, and most importantly, it was everything I expected it to be and more.

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Carolina in my mind

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Janette
Can’t you see the sunshine,
Can’t you just feel the moonshine?
You must forgive me,
If I’ve up and gone to Carolina in my mind.

James Taylor sings right to me…I don’t know if many people knew that…but he does 🙂  And the sentiment of the song fits perfectly with my experience of North Carolina.

I worked in the Western corner

I’m taking you back to my summer stock theatre days, where I worked in a land of make-believe.  Picture it: Two months in the summer, for three years in a row, working 80+ hour weeks, in 95 degree heat, in the middle of nowhere, making almost no money.  I know what you are thinking, but my time in the North Carolina hills was pure magic, (especially my very first summer there), and I learned how little one needs in life to be happy, not how much.  It was a surreal experience, to say the least. 

Brevard, NC is a small town located in Transylvania County, in the western part of the state.  The music center I worked for was a semi outdoor venue which produced 4 operas, countless orchestral recitals, and touring performances like Peter, Paul and Mary, Burt Bacharach, Lucinda Williams, etc.  During my time there, I did everything from clean the dressing rooms, to build and paint scenery, to assistant stage manage guest artist performances, to run lighting equipment for the other shows in between.  Our schedule was tight, considering how much we had to do in 8 weeks.  On a normal day, I would get up around 7am and walk to work, to the tune of someone practicing a cello, or upright bass, while dew drops were still on every blade of grass.  Not a bad way to begin a day of work.  Then, after hours of moving set pieces, or orchestra pieces, putting on a show, or just assisting with a full rehearsal of some sort, I would return to my cabin, while being serenaded by a pianist or violinist.  My days were so long, that time seemed to stand still.  Sometimes it seemed like a never-ending summer, but in a good way…no one wanted the enchantment to end. 

I joke that I used to live in a shack in the woods behind a dumpster, but that really is true.  Staff housing was located all over the wooded “campus” and mine was right behind a dumpster next to a babbling brook.  The boys cabin was on the other side of the dumpster and dirt trail, and in between was the area called “roadside.”  That is where we made our nightly camp fires, which lasted for hours.  The crew for the music center comes from all over the US, so we would talk to our compadres about life in different parts of the country, listen to someone play the guitar/sing, roast marshmallows, play lots of Bob Marley,  and stargaze into the wee hours of the morning.

The music center had a large pond on one side, and any moment of free time (during a work day) would be spent down there.  There was no better way to get cooled off than a dip!  Plus, it was one of the only areas of the compound that you could just listen to nature, and nothing else…incase you were tired of listening to beautiful classical music every now and again. 

Days off were a different story.  Everyone had an adventurous spirit, and that spirit was put to good use.  No one went into “town” unless it was necessary, most of the time.  It was the cutest town ever, but the crew seemed to be made up of adventure seekers, so exploring nature always came first. 

Transylvania county is the land of waterfalls, and Brevard is in the middle of a rain forest.  Water was everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE.  Ponds, streams, rain, waterfalls, rivers…we were surrounded.  I made it my mission to seek out as many waterfalls as I could manage, and in 3 years, I made it to 13!  Considering that there were hundreds to hunt for, this may not sound like a lot, but although some were on the side of the road, others required hours of hiking.  And with one day off a week (maybe), time was limited.  Here is a list, incase anyone wants to do some sightseeing down there: Hickory Nut Falls, Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Cullasaja Falls, Connestee Falls, Toxaway Falls, Whitewater Falls, Slick Rock Falls, Dry Falls, Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock Falls, Skinny Dip Falls and Triple Falls.  And, they were all amazing….

Triple Falls

Cullasaja Falls

When waterfall hunting wasn’t on the menu, the crew would always find unique, fun things to keep everyone busy.  This included going to the Hob Nob (a local bar/cafe) to listen to live Jazz on the weekends, having themed costume parties, watching movies outdoors via projector and sheet, and taking leisurely drives along the fabulous Blue Ridge Parkway (where the mountains really do look blue).  And no matter where we were or what we did, the sounds of rolling water and the smell of campfire lurked around every corner. 

Blue Ridge Mountains

Plus, I would always arrive a few days early and leave a few days after the season ended to take advantage of the other points of interest on my to-do list.  One summer I went hangliding, which was awesome.  And another summer, I got to go to Cliff Rock park, with a boat cruise down Lake Lure, and also made a stop at Grandfather Mountain to see the mile-high swinging bridge.  Every where you turned, there was something breathtaking to see or experience. 

Grandfather Mountain

Life there was beautiful.  Even during the daily rains, through the stifling heat, the sunlight or starlight was always glinting on the water, and everything seemed to sparkle. 

Carolina is in my mind quite often…. 🙂

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Italy: part due

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Janette

For me, Florence was “quintessential Italy”.  Everything I expected to see and feel and experience, I found in Florence.  Romance seemed to ooze out of every nook and cranny, and life there just seemed to have a warm glow of love.

The hostel where we stayed was an old villa set on top of a hill, surrounded by nature…so peaceful.  We journeyed to downtown to see the Duomo, the Baptistry, Santa Maria Novella, the Boboli gardens and the Pitti Palace, all of which were amazing and beautiful.  But my favorite part was an afternoon in Fiesole, a little tiny town on a hill that sat just above the city.  It was quite a hike, considering that in order to get there and back, we had to climb hundreds of stairs…everywhere!  But it was definitely worth it.  We saw an oldfashioned outdoor theatre, walked through a delicious smelling vineyard, and made our way to a cliff to get a bird’s-eye view of the city down below.  There were musicians playing accordion music like you would expect to see in the movies, and rows of artists on the street, each with an easel, painting the beautiful skyline.  What a life….

ancient theatre

typical streets

Venice was our last city to visit.  I didn’t feel as though it was the “most romantic place on earth,” but it was still pretty cool.  We stayed on the Island of Giudecca, which was very tiny but very cute.  (For those of you who may not know, Venice is built on 120 little islands, connected to the mainland by 400 bridges.)  There definitely was a majestic quality to life in Venice…having to take water taxis or gondolas everywhere, seeing huge buildings rise straight out of the water, and wondering how they were able to have streetlights all over the city with no visible power lines.

While we searched the islands, we saw St. Marks square/basilica, the Doges Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge, took a Gondola ride down the Grand Canal, shopped for famous Murano glass, and ate lots of gelato…which is nothing like we have over here!

The pace of life seemed to be the slowest in Venice.  Especially on our little island, in the evenings, where everyone spent time at the little cafe, sipping the most delicious coffee in the world.  We spent a few nights staring at the stars, while listening to the constant movement of water that was literally at our doorstep, a few feet away.  Not too shabby.

Multiple times during my trip I felt that I was really at home.  Perhaps it was the gestures and mannerisms of the locals that I found familiar, or maybe deep down, I could just sense that my blood had come from this magical place.  Either way, it was hard to leave.  After 10 perfect days, miles of trekking, tons of pictures and countless cones of strawberry gelato, it was time to say “ciao.”

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Italy: The Mother Land

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Janette

viva italia

Going to Italy for 10 days in college was a dream come true.  I worked with one of my theatre professors to create this trip, and we actually got it approved for credit.  It counted as a “senior synthesis” course…college is all about what you make it, so I made the system work for me 🙂

We worked for a few months getting everything together, and I selfishly got to see the country where my roots all began.  Mapping out our trek was exciting enough, but actually getting to see all the things in person that I grew up reading about was incredibly moving.

This was my first real trip anywhere.  I changed time zones, crossed an ocean,  heard lots of different languages being spoken in the airport, and I couldn’t read any of the Italian signs…the weight of my adventure was sinking in!

Rome was the first stop, naturally.  Where to begin?  Our small group stayed in hostels, which (I believe) cost about $20 a night (which included a free standard breakfast).  It was like dorm life at school, which was fun.  Guys and girls were separated, we had large bunk rooms and shared bathrooms.  And I don’t think I met another American staying at any of the hostels we went to, which was a nice change of pace.

I guess I expected Rome to be less hectic, a diamond in the rough, so to speak.  I was blown away by how busy, noisy and modern it was.  Everyone drove scooters or smart cars, and parked them in every free inch of space that was available.  The constant stream of traffic was reminiscent of NYC, and public busses were everywhere.  And as we were whisked away through unsafely crowded streets, every so often we could catch a glimpse of a famous building, old ruins or other point of interest.

The Vatican was a high point of the trip, of course.  It was by far the largest building I had ever been inside of, and it was actually a little overwhelming.  Every inch of the building was beautiful.  Uniquely colored marble was everywhere.  The huge altar was completely hand-carved wood.  The dozens of large mosaics were so big and perfectly done, that everyone thought they were smooth paintings.  I was totally awe-struck at the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into every inch of the building.

After seeing the most iconic structure in Italy, we continued to see a number of other landmarks that also inspired awe.  Some of these included the Pantheon, the church of Santa Maria Minerva (which had beautifully painted blue ceilings), The Bridge of Angels, the Coliseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain (the most popular tourist place in Rome), and St. Paul’s cathedral.  And lastly, before moving North, we took a drive to Pompei for the day, to see the remains of the city.  After the congestion of Rome, it was so nice to be out in nature for the day, drinking in the sun and fresh air, and imagining what life must have been like for my ancestors before the volcano erupted.

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Meaningful Memories

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Janette

I have always been a journal junkie…tirelessly writing my thoughts down in order to preserve a particular location, feeling or event, trying to remember every last detail so those experiences would not be lost forever.

After traveling to a number of enchanted places and diligently documenting the beauty I’ve been lucky enough to see, I realized that I wasn’t doing that beauty any justice if I wasn’t sharing it with anyone else.  Many people who are close to my heart are far away from me, and by pouring out these closeted memories, I could be inspiring others to make a reality out of their daydreams as well.

Travel has been a dream of mine, a privilege, a goal and a way of life…and it has never let me down.  As I go back and talk about my past trips and as I continue to write about any future experiences, I hope you get lost in the majesty like I do, every single time.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

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