Back To NY

Two weeks ago we traveled back to New York to visit Grammy, who is still in the hospital. We rented a room at the Best Western in Albany and the boys were so excited that they were wide awake and bouncing off the walls when we got in shortly after 11 at night. Finally they sorta settled down and Walter read a book for bedtime to Byron.

But Byron being Byron was still aiming to get rambunctious.

That is, until he really began to crash.

We had a great trip, getting to see Grammy, a bit of Albany's nicer neighborhoods, some shopping at the Price Chopper, two big and awesome breakfasts at the hotel (really the best hotel breakfast that we've ever had before...), a late night 9PM dip in the inside hotel pool and despite the rain and cool temps we had a great time. The boys still talking about going back and getting our room. Byron here had surrounded himself with a pillow fort and refused to leave.

Walter joined him.

The boys taking a few nice photos with Grammy.

Albany Med is interesting and old with alot of newer wings built on. The walkway from the parking garage is filled with historical plates and info about the city and the hospital. I loved this quote, "By all accounts mid-nineteenth century Albany was not a place of beauty... Pigs grown mean and fat on the city's garbage ran loose on the cobbled streets." Wow, talk about telling the truth! Pigs everywhere!

Melissa, who never likes her photo taken does take a nice photo!

Breezy day...

On our way back we drove the scenic long way, through Troy and out of NY on Rte 7 into Bennington, Vermont. This old hotel, mansion? is always a surprise. You first see it coming around the corner just as you get into the city. Its immensity is partially hidden by the trees, but as you get around it you realize that there are four stories, a rusting and precarious metal fire escape system and dilapidated siding. At first it doesn't seem like its inhabited and I always wonder what is inside, but as you come around the front, it seems like there is always a car parked on the opposite side and possibly a small portion of the house is actually inhabited.

And is it just me or is there a human shape looking out of the top right window at me? Hmmm...

And no trip throuhg Bennington is complete without a trip to the Revolutionary War monument for the Battle of Bennington. Its amazing and you catch a glimpse of it just outside of Bennington before you come into the city. Its amazing and the first time that I saw it, I said, Is that an obelisk? Wow, yep, it is a 300 foot tower! We had always wanted to go up in the elevator (though Walter wanted to walk up the stairs (which are unfortunately closed except for emergencies...)) and did this time!

I took this picture as it lists the lightning rod as being manufactured by a company in Springville, NY where Melissa grew up.

The circular tube that at the top that has a sign warning that if the door is opened an alarm will sound. The boys brushed past the clumsily latched door enough times that I had to tell them to stop going around the mighty small observation deck that way. The tube/ stairway is covered by visitor's graffiti.

Wonder when the cornerstone time capsule will be opened?

A diorama in the base which the boys loved to gawk at. Byron was saying and this guy died and this one was shot and he was killed. It shows a charge by the British and Hessians up a hillside defended by Minutemen.

On our way back we stopped briefly in the always scenic town of Dublin, NH to trade spots. Dublin is very much so the stereotypical New England town, spotless, red and white and interesting architecture and of course, a big church as well as the headquarters for Yankee Magazine. We almost always park in their parking lot on our way through to get out and stretch.