Istanbul -NYC-MA-VT-ONT-MI-IL, A Sinner and an Angel on Pilgrimage
Oct 15th, 2012, 04:08 AM
#61
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My husband just had coffee --no liquor-- on the drive home from Brattleboro last night. I think the Turkish delight and baklava helped to offset the effects of the alcohol consumed during the meal.
Unfortunately the foliage in southern VT is not great right now. I hope you and Eser will enjoy driving around today anyway, OC.
If there is a food snack truck in the parking lot when you stop by the Brattleboro outlet stores, I recommend trying some of their food. it is surprisingly good. Excellent all beef hot dogs with all kinds of fixings and maple creemees (soft ice cream)
Unfortunately the foliage in southern VT is not great right now. I hope you and Eser will enjoy driving around today anyway, OC.
If there is a food snack truck in the parking lot when you stop by the Brattleboro outlet stores, I recommend trying some of their food. it is surprisingly good. Excellent all beef hot dogs with all kinds of fixings and maple creemees (soft ice cream)
Oct 15th, 2012, 05:05 PM
#63
By the time I finished writing the few lines last night Eser was fast asleep with the TV blaring about something called 'election'. I had to wake her up for a few seconds to turn her away from the remote that she probably had thought was her much desired grandchild and was cuddling.
Spent another twenty minutes changing our reservation for next night from Brattleboro again to saratoga Springs to reduce each day's driving.
So here we are at a better but more expensive Hampton Inn in Saratoga Springs after some walking in Brattleboro, the drive to Manchester Center outlets again and visiting BCBG where Eser made like the foretold grandchild, giving little and large shrieks of delight. "Can you imagine one long dress, two cocktail dresses, one wool dress and one other wool over-all with mini shorts and a pair of satin evening heels for only...."
Well, I do not need to imagine, I know, I know very well, have memorized and will remember until well after the credit card account is settled.
The foliage was still mostly there in certain parts. The roads were very beautiful despite and sometimes because of the rain.
We missed the Brattleboro outlets and the food truck and ate a late lunch at a Manchester Center diner which had a great ice cream.
There were some lovely towns on the route and some very run-down ones. It is a pity that some places seem to be in the process of being abandoned.
The car may be trying to tell me something for the last 200 miles but not being very multi-lingual, I find it easier to ignore it rather than making foolish attempts at understanding. There is some writing in the middle of the speedometer which days "Service B Due". It is nor flashing and it is not in red, so i figure it is just trying to make conversation. The only problem is that it has replaced the mileage figures, total, this trip, since we started that morning, etc.
Had burnt hamburgers with a hint of some cheesy substance on it tonight, and now at as early as just past 9PM, we are being hit by jet or car lag or the pastrami summer wind of Saratoga Springs. Good Night.
Spent another twenty minutes changing our reservation for next night from Brattleboro again to saratoga Springs to reduce each day's driving.
So here we are at a better but more expensive Hampton Inn in Saratoga Springs after some walking in Brattleboro, the drive to Manchester Center outlets again and visiting BCBG where Eser made like the foretold grandchild, giving little and large shrieks of delight. "Can you imagine one long dress, two cocktail dresses, one wool dress and one other wool over-all with mini shorts and a pair of satin evening heels for only...."
Well, I do not need to imagine, I know, I know very well, have memorized and will remember until well after the credit card account is settled.
The foliage was still mostly there in certain parts. The roads were very beautiful despite and sometimes because of the rain.
We missed the Brattleboro outlets and the food truck and ate a late lunch at a Manchester Center diner which had a great ice cream.
There were some lovely towns on the route and some very run-down ones. It is a pity that some places seem to be in the process of being abandoned.
The car may be trying to tell me something for the last 200 miles but not being very multi-lingual, I find it easier to ignore it rather than making foolish attempts at understanding. There is some writing in the middle of the speedometer which days "Service B Due". It is nor flashing and it is not in red, so i figure it is just trying to make conversation. The only problem is that it has replaced the mileage figures, total, this trip, since we started that morning, etc.
Had burnt hamburgers with a hint of some cheesy substance on it tonight, and now at as early as just past 9PM, we are being hit by jet or car lag or the pastrami summer wind of Saratoga Springs. Good Night.
Oct 16th, 2012, 02:48 AM
#65
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It makes sense that you changed your itinerary and drove to Saratoga Springs yesterday. I am glad Eser was able to hit the Manchester outlets even if your checkbook isn't.
I have never been to Hattie's, but I would trust jubilada on this one. it looks as though their chicken shack is open for lunch
http://www.hattiesrestaurant.com/index.php
By the way, you are only half an hour south of another big outlet center in Glens Falls, N.Y.
I have never been to Hattie's, but I would trust jubilada on this one. it looks as though their chicken shack is open for lunch
http://www.hattiesrestaurant.com/index.php
By the way, you are only half an hour south of another big outlet center in Glens Falls, N.Y.
Oct 16th, 2012, 10:51 AM
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OC...sorry I missed you in NYC...would have loved to meet Eser. Too bad you couldn't include L.A. this time. I would have hosted you far beyond what Adu was capable of. Adu, his dear suffering wife and I had a mini GTG in NYC at my hotel in July. Still paying off my credit card for that Sunday breakfast. Mrs. Adu tried to get Adu to pay..to no avail. I will be in NYC again in November and I will leave my wallet in the safe at the hotel so Adu won't stick me with the bill again.
I noticed above that you mentioned Neve Shalom. If you recall, it was included in my Istanbul pics/ I met with the congregation President whom I interviewed for one of my books. He showed me the bullet holes from that murderous attack a few decades back. Eerie to say the least
Happy you had a great trip. Much good fortune to you and yours in the future. Please pencil in L.A. for a future trip.
Stu Tower
I noticed above that you mentioned Neve Shalom. If you recall, it was included in my Istanbul pics/ I met with the congregation President whom I interviewed for one of my books. He showed me the bullet holes from that murderous attack a few decades back. Eerie to say the least
Happy you had a great trip. Much good fortune to you and yours in the future. Please pencil in L.A. for a future trip.
Stu Tower
Oct 16th, 2012, 03:02 PM
#68
Just checked in at the Hilton garden Inn, Auburn, NY, after a brief visit to the Hertz place at Utica. The dumb speedometer started saying "you are 200 miles late for service B" . I figured it could not have been another service at the church at Pittsfield although the distance sort of matches. hence a visit to Hertz could save me from further embarrasment. Well, it did not. Because, apparently, all I needed to do was push a button that said "OK" on the left side of the steering column and the nasty words disappeared to be replaced by the miles and the mileage and gasoline consumption and Eser's weight, and other very useful and necessary information for the serious traveler when they need to rest their tired eyes by taking them off the road to the consternation of other drivers on the road and passengers in the car.
Past 7PM, tired again. Fortunately missed Glenn Campel's Falls (an old country song, I guess), but will probably be caught at the Premium Outlets, "over hundred stores" at Waterloo, on the way to Niagara, unless I can get Eser to drive and give her the wrong directions.
Will probably eat at the wine house and chop bar at the hotel. What a strange name.
Past 7PM, tired again. Fortunately missed Glenn Campel's Falls (an old country song, I guess), but will probably be caught at the Premium Outlets, "over hundred stores" at Waterloo, on the way to Niagara, unless I can get Eser to drive and give her the wrong directions.
Will probably eat at the wine house and chop bar at the hotel. What a strange name.
Oct 16th, 2012, 03:13 PM
#69
Forgot to say that we actually did have lunch at Hattie's on route 50 which turned out to be next to a Target store. That meal cost a great deal because eser needed a few small things and our shorthairs were also remembered by, i must admit, by their adoring grandpa. Since we could nor very well carry the leftovers of our chicken meals back to Turkey, we had to get them scratch pads and toys and catnip, etc., thus increasing the market value of plots in our luggage.
The chicken was good but I would have wished for some seasoning in the batter or a marinade before deep frying. I had to anoint it orange with spicy hot sauce which attacked my very delicate lips.
The chicken was good but I would have wished for some seasoning in the batter or a marinade before deep frying. I had to anoint it orange with spicy hot sauce which attacked my very delicate lips.
Oct 16th, 2012, 03:24 PM
#70
Tower, Adu was a perfect gentleman when we met. he not only paid the whole bill but also slipped in a hundred USD in my shirt pocket saying he was sorry I had to go through so many areas with outlet stores.
we also wish we could have met you, even though Eser likes older men, and you're still rather young.
There are still a few more days to go through on this trip.
The news from home is that, Nese, our older DD is conducting guided tours through our living room as a part of the architectural biannual. Some people disappeared within the colors of the walls and got lost in the endless corridors of despair and joy which permeate the apartment, never to be heard again. (How's that for poetic license?)
we also wish we could have met you, even though Eser likes older men, and you're still rather young.
There are still a few more days to go through on this trip.
The news from home is that, Nese, our older DD is conducting guided tours through our living room as a part of the architectural biannual. Some people disappeared within the colors of the walls and got lost in the endless corridors of despair and joy which permeate the apartment, never to be heard again. (How's that for poetic license?)
Oct 16th, 2012, 08:30 PM
#71
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Your scurrilous attacks made me re-activate my account.
First I stuck $100 in OC's shirt becuase it looked like he needed a new one.
Second, Tower did pay for breakfast, but it must have been the first time because his wallet needed oil when he opened it. And second, the guy buys me an omelet and that turns me into Tonto like I owe him my life.
First I stuck $100 in OC's shirt becuase it looked like he needed a new one.
Second, Tower did pay for breakfast, but it must have been the first time because his wallet needed oil when he opened it. And second, the guy buys me an omelet and that turns me into Tonto like I owe him my life.
Oct 17th, 2012, 06:02 PM
#74
We did not see much of Auburn. I am not sure there was much to see either, at least around the Hilton garden Inn.
I will not mention shopping anymore so that Eser does not get upset. The warning kept on appearing every time we turned the car motor off. I sometimes suspect that it really is a message sent by James the priest at Pittsfield calling us to "Service B".
Another thing that scared me was the stop signs at the empty lanes at passport control check point upon entring Canada. Our queue was longish, I had taken my glasses off to rest my eyes and suddenly realized that there were four signs at empty booths on our right, about 75 feet away saying "STOP AHMET" For a split second I wondered if I should try to make a u-turn and get back into the US. Then I blinked and realized that the signs said STOP ARRET.
It was fine after that until the chap at reception at the Hilton tried to give us a double falls view which needed a periscope neck. Had to go back down, approach a tougher looking clerk who apologized under my steel-boring stare and moved us to a one bed-room suite on the 30th floor with real both fall views.
Walked towards some scenic look-outs, saw the falls steaming and being lit against the approaching night, possibly to help the fish jumping upwards to reach their spawning grounds, the possums begging for food or a kiss, and the casino being flooded with potential carpal tunnel victims wrenching their arms.
I heard no mysterious voices giving me any numbers as there were in New Orleans last year. So we just walked in the casino, exchanged some USD to Canadian Dollars, checked out the people and the croupiers, and came out even by not playing at all.
Ate a very expensive pizza, found out that you cannot take a half drank bottle of wine out of the restaurant in Canada. (I wish I had given Frankie's at Lenox, MA five stars instead of four on my TA review) Told the waiter that we dropped some lemongrass and mussel sauce in the wine bottle anyway, and walked out.
Came to the hotel to find that the room had heated to 89 degrees F although I had left it at 67 to cool. That was over one hour ago. temp down to 80 and still no sign of the promised person called "someone" by the front desk to come and have a look at it.
Persuaded Eser not to take the "stupid" $Can 159 tour tomorrow. Now, I have to take the 30 minute boat trip and the 40 minute walk under the falls with her. Boat is OK but my claustrophobia may hit in under those tons of water. Well we shall see.
I will not mention shopping anymore so that Eser does not get upset. The warning kept on appearing every time we turned the car motor off. I sometimes suspect that it really is a message sent by James the priest at Pittsfield calling us to "Service B".
Another thing that scared me was the stop signs at the empty lanes at passport control check point upon entring Canada. Our queue was longish, I had taken my glasses off to rest my eyes and suddenly realized that there were four signs at empty booths on our right, about 75 feet away saying "STOP AHMET" For a split second I wondered if I should try to make a u-turn and get back into the US. Then I blinked and realized that the signs said STOP ARRET.
It was fine after that until the chap at reception at the Hilton tried to give us a double falls view which needed a periscope neck. Had to go back down, approach a tougher looking clerk who apologized under my steel-boring stare and moved us to a one bed-room suite on the 30th floor with real both fall views.
Walked towards some scenic look-outs, saw the falls steaming and being lit against the approaching night, possibly to help the fish jumping upwards to reach their spawning grounds, the possums begging for food or a kiss, and the casino being flooded with potential carpal tunnel victims wrenching their arms.
I heard no mysterious voices giving me any numbers as there were in New Orleans last year. So we just walked in the casino, exchanged some USD to Canadian Dollars, checked out the people and the croupiers, and came out even by not playing at all.
Ate a very expensive pizza, found out that you cannot take a half drank bottle of wine out of the restaurant in Canada. (I wish I had given Frankie's at Lenox, MA five stars instead of four on my TA review) Told the waiter that we dropped some lemongrass and mussel sauce in the wine bottle anyway, and walked out.
Came to the hotel to find that the room had heated to 89 degrees F although I had left it at 67 to cool. That was over one hour ago. temp down to 80 and still no sign of the promised person called "someone" by the front desk to come and have a look at it.
Persuaded Eser not to take the "stupid" $Can 159 tour tomorrow. Now, I have to take the 30 minute boat trip and the 40 minute walk under the falls with her. Boat is OK but my claustrophobia may hit in under those tons of water. Well we shall see.
Oct 18th, 2012, 10:16 AM
#75
OC - don't worry about the boat trip - we did it with DD 24 years ago when she was a year old - she claims not to remember it, strangely.
as for the walk under the Falls, if we did it, I've forgotten. which tends to suggest to me that we didn't do it. We loved the Falls but stayed at Niagara away from the nonsense which is plaguing you.
as for the walk under the Falls, if we did it, I've forgotten. which tends to suggest to me that we didn't do it. We loved the Falls but stayed at Niagara away from the nonsense which is plaguing you.
Oct 18th, 2012, 10:25 AM
#77
The boat was well worth the long walk from the hotel and the 18 or 19 $. Took a great many photographs without getting the camera wet by wisely staying on lower deck at the rear of the boat.
Our compulsory photos at the mafia price of $30 were good. I actually asked for a better looking lady to be photographed with but they would not do it. It is possible that Eser threatened them behind my back. There was also a good photo of a nice family which the family did not buy. I offered the photographer one Dollar for it but they would not sell. Eser wants to be called the "Lady of the Mists" now.
The walk under the falls was a definite scam. You donned ponchos again to walk less than a quarter mile in a corridor with two exits to the falls where the falls look like any place where someone is pouring lots of water down. You cannot even get close to the end of those short hall ways because it is too wet. If it were hot and everybody was naked and could take quick showers it might have been a scene from a Fellini movie. But all we had was Japanese or Koreans posing with their fingers making the victory sign for an unfathomable reason.
Back in the room for the best view ever and with no more walking. A local wine with a twist lid tucked under our arms, some cheese and crackers for lunch, because the Fall Walk took our lunch budget away.
Tonight cocktails at the roof lounge with live music (as opposed to dead music, I presume) and tomorrow an early morning start towards Detroit.
Our compulsory photos at the mafia price of $30 were good. I actually asked for a better looking lady to be photographed with but they would not do it. It is possible that Eser threatened them behind my back. There was also a good photo of a nice family which the family did not buy. I offered the photographer one Dollar for it but they would not sell. Eser wants to be called the "Lady of the Mists" now.
The walk under the falls was a definite scam. You donned ponchos again to walk less than a quarter mile in a corridor with two exits to the falls where the falls look like any place where someone is pouring lots of water down. You cannot even get close to the end of those short hall ways because it is too wet. If it were hot and everybody was naked and could take quick showers it might have been a scene from a Fellini movie. But all we had was Japanese or Koreans posing with their fingers making the victory sign for an unfathomable reason.
Back in the room for the best view ever and with no more walking. A local wine with a twist lid tucked under our arms, some cheese and crackers for lunch, because the Fall Walk took our lunch budget away.
Tonight cocktails at the roof lounge with live music (as opposed to dead music, I presume) and tomorrow an early morning start towards Detroit.
Oct 18th, 2012, 02:34 PM
#79
Thanks 5alive. Naturally, I bought country shirts, checkered, some thin, some thick, of all colors, in New England farm country. The Niagara tourist tees were not very nice so could only buy two small, light tin trays to prove to folks back home that we were here. And we are keeping the ponchos from the boat ride and the drag under the falls.
The taxi we took to find a liqueur store where we bought the wine and which brought us back to the hotel said this was the most European city in Canada with mostly new immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italy. That is probably why everything is so expensive.
The taxi we took to find a liqueur store where we bought the wine and which brought us back to the hotel said this was the most European city in Canada with mostly new immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italy. That is probably why everything is so expensive.
Oct 18th, 2012, 02:54 PM
#80
Reading back, I see that I have not reported on our church service last Sunday.
This was the first that we ever attended. The preacher and our friends from the community, now numbering too many to name, showed us that brotherhood, friendship and peace knows no boundaries. We were treated to beautiful music by the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors, including one of our favorite pieces, "Take Five" by Dave Bruebeck. Later the choir and an eleven year old girl who had the most beautiful voice and ability made our eyes get wet. I hope the church gets a larger congregation and more support as its fame grows and that they can sponsor another trip abroad for the jazz group.
I hope I was able to respond to their trust by giving a good speech after the service and answering some questions about the current politics of the Middle East and possible catastrophe scenarios, about men's greed, avarice and desire for violence, all supposedly for good reasons and ends.
I will get over this maudlin stage soon as Eser leaves the whirlpool with Falls view and stops trying to lure me into another wet episode.
This was the first that we ever attended. The preacher and our friends from the community, now numbering too many to name, showed us that brotherhood, friendship and peace knows no boundaries. We were treated to beautiful music by the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors, including one of our favorite pieces, "Take Five" by Dave Bruebeck. Later the choir and an eleven year old girl who had the most beautiful voice and ability made our eyes get wet. I hope the church gets a larger congregation and more support as its fame grows and that they can sponsor another trip abroad for the jazz group.
I hope I was able to respond to their trust by giving a good speech after the service and answering some questions about the current politics of the Middle East and possible catastrophe scenarios, about men's greed, avarice and desire for violence, all supposedly for good reasons and ends.
I will get over this maudlin stage soon as Eser leaves the whirlpool with Falls view and stops trying to lure me into another wet episode.
