A day transformed

We woke to rain.  Heavy rain, on this the day we planned to tackle the new walkway across the Hudson.  On second thoughts, we decided to head for the Hyde Park area of Poughkeepsie where there were three possibilities.

In order of (our) interest:

• Eleanor Roosevelt’s cottage “Val-Kill”
• The Vanderbilt Mansion
• FD Roosevelt’s home and library

Yet, for some reason, we found ourselves at FDR’s place first.  A quick rethink, armed with advice from a helpful National Park Ranger saw us dash across to Val-Kill for the 10am tour which we made with minutes to spare.  We requested entrance tickets and got out the $35 or so to pay.

Except that there was no 10am tour today.  The next tour was to be at 11.45 and no, we couldn’t view the house without a guide.  Some customer service training was needed there, for sure.

Feeling more grumpy than ever – hard to believe – we drove off in the direction of the Vanderbilt Mansion where we encountered Dmitri, who single-handed transformed our day.  Having identified Mary’s entitlement for a “Golden Pass”, thereby getting us all in for $10 and unlimited National Park entry for her forever, he added that he was leading the next tour.

This remarkable young man not only charmed three grumpy visitors, he delighted the youngster in our group, kept everyone enthralled with his entertaining and interesting account of the Vanderbilt story and perked up our day no end.  Employee of the month?  Undoubtedly.

The Vanderbilt Mansion was beautiful and included some fine examples of craftsmanship.  The carvings on this portico were done in situ by local artisans; no easy task, for sure.

 

Having “done” that, we gave Val-Kill a second go, feeling better now we knew that we’d all get free access armed with Mary’s Golden Pass!  But yet again, there was a problem with the timing of the tours and we found ourselves hanging around.

Thankfully, our guide was pretty good and we learned a lot.  I’m glad we went back there, but sadly, the organisation left a little to be desired.

What was missing was some of Eleanor’s courage and leadership!

Which left one final challenge.  Would we make it across the Hudson?  Would we be able to work out how to pay for our parking?

We did our best by stuffing a $5 bill in the small #14 slot using the “stuffer” tool chained to the pole, but set out too late to even consider going the whole way across the bridge.

It was dry, at least, and warm enough to enjoy the fresh air and open space on the bridge.  About a quarter of the way across was far enough to enjoy the view and feel comfortable about the two hour drive which lay ahead.

With clear heads and feeling better for our brief but invigorating walk, we took to the road.  Poughkeepsie more than delivered in the end.

Saratoga Springs, here we come!

A few downpours

It might be hot hot hot here but we’re getting our fair share of the rain too.  Looks like the rest of the week is going to be a little damp in one way or another and we’re feeling more like we’re in Singapore than anywhere else!

 

Anyway, good fun though NYC most certainly is (especially when Jordi is in the picture), we simply couldn’t stand the pace any more (!)  and it was time to move along.  We thought we’d left the rain behind as we set out on the FDR along the Hudson Valley towards Tarrytown with our long list of places to see.

Most of which were closed on Tuesdays.

Harrumph.

Fortunately, Lyndhurst was open for business and even more fortunately, the sun was out when we got there.

Most of the photographs of Lyndhurst are taken from the more imposing, river aspect which gives a rather different impression from the one visitors receive on arrival.  Nevertheless, the interiors are surprisingly modest in size for a family with six children, albeit lavishly decorated.  I suppose that it’s not bad for a weekend retreat, though!

The views over the river were lovely but no sooner had we reached the car, the heavens opened and it was time to move on.

Next stop, the Hopper House in Nyack, which is closed on Tuesdays.  Ho hum…what else can we do but:

Go shopping.

Result: One pair of perfectly fitting white jeans, on sale at $30 with further discount reducing them to $28.50.

Too tired to talk

Taken at M&J Trimming :: Purl :: Anthropologie :: ABC Carpet and Home :: 14thSt Subway Station.

Manhattan Solstice

Sadly too cloudy/hazy to get the full effect tonight but nevertheless, an interesting phenomenon.  Jordi scooted out of the restaurant at 8.43pm sunset to do a recce but returned to suggest the rest of us stayed put and enjoyed dessert.

All day we’d encountered groups of orange-clad tourists, supporting the Netherlands team in the World Cup final.  But walking back towards the bus stop for our journey home, we spotted the Empire State Building illuminated in red, yellow and red stripes and realised that those Dutch fans had been disappointed.

A fun and slightly quirky means of learning the result, though!

Visual feast

Quite how I’d ever get anything done if I lived here, I don’t know.  Around every corner, on every street and in every subway station, there’s a feast for the eye.  This morning, walking out in search of breakfast (because our favourite Red Flame diner is closed for rebuilding, sadly) we came across this terrific advertising display on the corner of a very tall building.  So cleverly designed to exploit the limited space available, that long, thin screen showed parachutes, people in a lift and other similarly long and thin images and caught the attention of us all.  The technology of enormous TV screens has really moved on apace and there are many distractions to cause a crick in the neck!

Go down to the subway and the crick in the neck is gone.  The art here is on the walls and rewards the most relaxed search.  42nd Street station (correct me, please, Jordi, if I’m wrong!) has wonderful mosaics, including marbles

and great vignettes of people having fun.  This is the party station, it seems.

We were heading for South Ferry station and the Staten Island Ferry.

The ride may be free but the views are priceless.  On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, plenty of people were enjoying the fresh air on the water,

especially when a certain lady came into view.

I wonder how many cameras captured this image as we passed?  At least four in our party!

Fortunately we didn’t have to carry the paraphernalia Alice Austen did when she took her photographs.  We were headed to her house, on Staten Island, to the opening of a new exhibition of some modern photography.

Needless to say, we preferred the wonderful spirit of Alice’s own work.  The house itself was interesting too, but it was those wonderful photographs of Alice and her friends having fun which stayed with me.  Having never heard of her until our visit, I will now investigate further!

Back on the bus, the ferry and the subway, enjoying more station art.  South Ferry terminus has a tree theme running through.

Not only that, but that rare experience of having the carriage to ourselves for all of thirty seconds!

Meanwhile, on 42nd Street, the mosaic party goes on

observed by a party of ladies dressed more conspicuously than yours truly!