Well it is very hard to believe that a year has passed already. It seems like just yesterday and it seems like forever ago. We headed off to Kingston New York for a two day getaway. We didn't even bring our computers!! Whoo Hoo!! (I did have my droid phone so we peeked at email but didn't respond and used the gps.)
We left on Friday, late in the morning. We had directions and gas and snacks so we were good to go. And we avoided major highways at all costs. It doesn't get any more boring and monotonous than Rte. 87. Besides, we had no place to be until Saturday night when we were seeing Mummenchanz. I know, I know, so many of you out there have no idea what Mummenchanz is, which totally amazes me. It's performance art + puppetry + silence + imagination.
So, through the hills and trees of New York we went until we got ourselves good and turned around, at which time we turned on the g.p.s. and found ourselves right where we did not want to be...on Rte. 87. Ah well, it was only for the last 30 miles or so.
Kingston, an interesting town. Apparently it is made up of what were once several smaller towns. They got together and formed Kingston, the city. We stayed down near Rondout, right by the Hudson. We were a bit confused when we got to the neighborhood. We had reservations at Calder's Cottage, a bed and breakfast, but this neighborhood couldn't have been the right place. It was somewhat rundown with several empty lots full of local flora. But, after a couple of trips around and a phone call to the owners, we were where we were supposed to be. We had an entire house to ourselves. Built somewhere around the 1860's with original pine flooring and local artwork, it was a very pleasant surprise.
This was the master bedroom. Lots of light, comfy chairs, a giant walk-in closet that leads to the bathroom. There is a second bedroom, smaller but just as pretty. There is a large attic space as yet unoccupied. Would make a fantastic studio or another bedroom.
It even has a Harry Potter door!
When we arrived on Friday, we took the short walk downtown. But being the adventurous duo we are, we walked over a huge bridge first and watched enormous hawks and blue herons doing their thing along the Hudson. Downtown, we lunched at Dermot Mahoney's Irish Pub. Fresh Guinness, yummy potato skins and panko chicken tenders. Service was superb and they even had country music interspersed. That evening there was an Irish band playing but we were pooped from driving so we headed back and pretty much turned into lazy bums for the rest of the day. We had tv, which we don't at home so we watched movies and slept.
On Saturday, we walked the brandy new river walk along the Hudson.
Wouldn't this be a wonderful place for a craft show? We sat at the rivers edge and just enjoyed the sunshine. Saturday was an absolutely stunning day.
We lunched at Ship to Shore and OMG was it good. Vin had chicken corn chowder (to die for) and a salmon salad sandwich. I had a caesar salad and butternut squash/local honey ravioli (also to die for). We sipped gigantic cosmos in the tiny restaurant and felt like we'd entered an old seaside tavern.
For dinner, we ate at Savona's and again, delicious. Vin had a pumpkin martini and prosciutto and fig pizza. I had a cucumber martini and alfredo with prosciutto and asparagus. Everything was fantastic.
And then it was off to Mummenchanz. It was so much fun and the Ulster Performing Arts Center is wonderful. Small enough that where ever you sit, you can have a great view. We're going back in December for Vin's birthday to see Cindy Lauper.
We found it rather interesting that this is the neighborhood we ended up in. A river town with lots of old homes and shops, gradually being taken over and re-imagined by artists. Our landlord is a sculptor. Across the street is a stained glass artist. There is much art to be found and studios abound.
The architecture is quite interesting and the people are super friendly. No computers and no work to occupy us and the phone hardly rang, we spent the weekend just hanging out and wandering. It was great.
Here's to another wonderful year and then another and then another....
I love you V.
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