Indian Summer

This is the second part of our first cruise, see before.

Sunday, 09/12/2004

By bus to Plymouth Platation. This is a faithful replica of the Pilgrims‘ first settlement. Actors in historical costumes walk around as they did back then, speaking old English. We continue to the Mayflower, two miles further along the coast. I have forgotten something else. Indians also live in the settlement, also actors, but real “savages”. The Mayflower, a replica, sailed over from Plymouth in 55 days.  You can climb aboard the ship, it must have been very cramped for 100 people.

On to Cap Cod, where the Kennedy’s lived. You can’t see the estate, but it is beautifully situated by the sea – a sailing area. Then to Newport, Rhode Island. On the way there our attention was drawn to large decommissioned warships, there used to be a large shipyard industry here. 

Monday, 09/13/2004

Today just a short bus tour to the mansions that are dotted around the area. They were built around 1900 by industrial barons like the Vanderbilts. They had a fortune of, in today’s terms, 100 billion dollars. They invested in railroads and steamships. We visited the cottage, or rather the castle, which was big, rich and tasteless.

Apart from that, we had a good time. Swam in the pool again after a long time, made an appointment to eat lobster, were able to carve the animal ourselves, then went on a single whisky tour with Mr. and Mrs. K.

Tuesday, 09/14/2004

Onto the bus and off to the coast to Providence, the capital of Rhode Island. We visited the oldest Baptist church, no cross, but lots of stars and stripes in front of the entrance. Then to the State House, far too big for the smallest state in the U.S.A. Curiosity: a water park in front of the building, a mini Venice with gondolas (all automatically powered).

Cross the border into New Hampshire, towards the White Mountains.  Stop in Lexington, famous site of the War of Independence, shortly after the Boston Tea Party. Pit at Bunker Hill, 700 Redcoats against 70 colonists, the famous Minutemen. Visited a large brewery on the way back, the huge brewery horses, the shire horses, were interesting. Not so much the beer, there is better in Germany. Tomorrow we’re off to the mountains.

Wednesday, 009/15/2004

This time we went to the capital of New Hampshire, a small town called Concord, but with a large capitol with a golden dome. Inside there is a lot on display from the Civil War, weapons, uniforms, regimental flags, a picture of someone who fell at Gettysburg. On into the mountains, which are called the White Mountains here and are a mixture of low mountain ranges and the Alps, often with deciduous forests in the early Indian summer. Past Lake Winnipesaukee, the name comes from an ancient Indian tribe. The lake is quite large, an old steamer sails on it, the Washington.

Further into the mountains over a pass, already over 1,000 m high. In between, we visited a bridge which, like all the bridges here, has a roof to make it last longer. Reminiscent of the movie Sleeping Hollow. Then the bus reaches the mountain village of Lincoln. A river rushes through the middle of the village. Even higher up is The Mountain Club on Loon hotel, from where all the gondolas and ski lifts start. We took the gondola, which was put into operation especially for us, to the summit. Wonderful views of the Indian summer. An uplifting experience.

Thursday, 09/16/2004

Today we cross the White Mountains and their sights. First stop: Franconia Valley, called Notch here because it is a glacial gorge. We walked up and down the gorge with a circular path, two miles with a waterfall, pools and the typical covered bridges. All very beautiful. Second stop: Brettenwoods, a very important place. The World Monetary Conference was held here in 1944, in the middle of the war. Keyword gold parity. The place consists of a large hotel. I was inside.  

Third stop: White Mountains, with the cog railroad up Mt. Washington. Took a good hour, at 7 miles per hour, that’s all the old steam locomotive could manage. Arrived at the top and no view, the summit was in the clouds. Fourth stop: shopping at the supermarket for dinner, salami in oz. Then pizza plus red wine in the apartment. Gin and tonic at the bar in a fun atmosphere. Tomorrow we’re off to see the witches in Salem and then on the plane in the evening.

Friday, 09/17/2004

Today is the last day in America, so we pack our bags, have breakfast and get on the bus, head down from the mountains, up onto Ocean Drive New Hampshire, on to Rockport, an artists‘ village, where we go shopping and have lunch (clam chowder). Rockport is beautifully situated by the sea, but is a dry town, so you can’t get alcohol there. In the afternoon to Salem, the witch town. But we didn’t go to the witch museum, it’s all kitsch. The fact is that nineteen women were hanged and one man stoned to death at the beginning of the 18th century. A terrible thing.

We were now halfway to Boston. Chris, the bus driver, got his tip and drove really well. Shortly before nightfall, we had a beautiful view of the Atlantic. There we met a woman who emigrated from Germany over 50 years ago. She told us about her experiences in the new world – all that glitters is not gold.

At Logan Airport, it took a long time for us to get through. The plane was also overbooked. A few more Amber Ale before take-off. Cheerfully onto the long-haul flight.

Back in the country, and how was it?

Dear children,

We arrived in Frankfurt dog-tired. I’m sitting here writing these lines. Mom is lying on the seats in front of me and sleeping. We fly on in 2 hours and hope that we arrive safely and with our suitcases. I’ll make a phone call now, maybe someone is at home.

To sum up: above all, we had good weather. The Atlantic crossing was quite something. The cruise alone would have been boring. Boston is a must-see. The New England tour was well organized and interesting. The fellow travelers were very nice except for the neurotic. Maybe we’ll go on another big trip in two years‘ time.

Your dad,
Frankfurt am Main, 09/18/2004