The Best Day Ever....

Today did not start out as the best day ever.  Today was the day we were supposed to head to New York City.  We had planned on taking the train but found out at the last minute that they did not allow luggage, it was a passenger train only.  We looked into the bus but we had too many items per person and no way to get to the bus terminal from where we had to drop the car.  It seemed like problem after problem.  Not to mention that since I had been throwing up the night before we still had packing to do and I was seriously depressed about leaving Newport.  I honestly loved it so much. 

After all was said and done we ended up paying the surcharge to drop off our rental car in NYC instead of Providence and opted to drive down the next day.  Of course, our hotel was booked for the night so we stayed at the one next door (total dump). 

After making our decision and handling all of the logistics we set out to do the one thing we had been wanting to do but weather and timing just hadn't cooperated with us.  We headed to the Cliff Walk. 

We walked past the beach that was right across from our hotel to get to the Cliff Walk.  There it is...across the water.

The surfers were out in force.  I would imagine that yes indeed the water was cold but they all had on full body wet suits and seemed perfectly comfortable.  For the record it was about 65-70 degrees.

It was cool to look back on the beach and what not.  I can only imagine how packed it is in the summer.

This is one of my favorite pictures.  We had just started out on the walk and stopped to take a family photo. 

Part way through Charlotte fell asleep it is about a 3 mile walk and it was mid afternoon so after so long boredom hit and she was out.

We ventured off the course at one point to find a bathroom and ran into some beautiful fall foliage.  By now in Iowa everything was dead and gone, it was so nice to see such beautiful colors still.

Most of the mansions line the cliff walk and it was cool to see them all from a different view.  This building belongs to a local university.  It is nestled in among the mansions and it owns quite a few historical buildings. 

This was a vacant, dilapidated, yet still huge home setting right there.  Between giant mansions there it was just waiting to be turned beautiful again.  Jim and I want it so bad, lawn full of weeds and all.

We walked, hung out, and enjoyed every split second of it.

We finally reached the point on the walk where it was no longer safe to traverse with a stroller so we turned around to head back.  It ended up working out great because as we made our way back the sun was setting and the mist was rolling in off the water.

Soon the day was done.  It was perfect.  We went out for pizza where I proceeded to cry because I truly didn't want to go.  I was slapped back to reality when we arrived back at the crap hole hotel and soon we were ready to head to New York

Workshop

Jim didn't take a single picture today...I know, totally unbelievable.

Him and the girl hung out while I went to my workshop.  It kicked butt!!  LOVED IT!!!

And when they picked me up I was surprised with the most gorgeous necklace with a pendant I had been eyeing on a bracelt since the time we got here.  So cool!

Not so cool....I went home and puked the rest of the evening.

Newport

On Thursday we spent another perfect day in Newport.  Our pass for the mansions allowed us to see up to 5 and since we were so enamored with them the first time we were excited to go and see some more.  See...they are pumped!

We began this time at Marble House.  Like all the rest it was breathtaking to walk up to.  This one was one of my favorites as far as stories went.    The house was also part of the Vanderbilt clans (CorneliusVenderbilt family also owned The Breakers).  This was primarily, Alva Vanderbilt's cottage.

Her husband built it for her and she insisted that he give it to her for her 39th birthday present.  She envisioned it as the hub for social affairs in Newport.  And it  pretty much was.  Party after party.  She was gifted the house in 1892, and divorced her husband in 1895.  She was one of the first women of her stature to initiate a divorce.

The part I found interesting about that was that she not-so-gently persuaded her daughter to marry into royalty.  In fact, she insisted up on it and did not let her marry the man she really loved.  I found this odd by a woman who was divorced because she didn't really love her husband but she would encourage the same for her daughter. 

The house was very unique and the rooms were almost themed.  A gothic cathedral sitting room with stained glass windows, a completely gold ballroom, and her daughters room was even decorated and set up very ornately to teach her how to be royalty.

Alva remarried and moved down the street to Belcourt Mansion.  After her husband died she re-opened Marble House and had a Chinese Tea Room built on the seaside cliffs out back.

The place became a hub for the women's right to vote and she  may rallies there. 

This was such a  cool building and the view from this mansion was one of the best.  Perhaps one of my favorites...althought I say that about them all.

After leaving there the inevitable happened...Charlotte fell asleep and we went to Ocean Drive.  We found the most beautiful place where the waves were crashing the sun was shining.   Jim and I were both mesmerized and took our turns ogling and snapping pictures.

It is a bit hard to tell in this picture but on the right is a giant stone wall.  They would crash into it so hard the waves would crest over the wall.  So cool!

We gave it a bit more time and then headed to our next mansion, Chateau sur Mer.  This one was unique because it was the only one that was used as a year round residence and it was not right on the ocean.  It was built long before the other mansions came to grace Newport (1860's the others in the 1890's).  At one point it hosted a party for over 2000 guests and some say it lasted 3 days. 

All of the trees were imported from other countries and were tiny when first planted, it is amazing to see them now.

The man who built it left it to his son and daughter in law.  They had two daughter, but neither ever married and when they passed away the house was left empty and ill cared for.  After awhile the auctioned off the house and its contents.  The home originally had one of the most expansive collections of porcelain and although Doris Duke (owner of Rough Point) bought the house and most of the porcelain she donated the home to the Newport Historical Society and kept the porcelain for her own collection.

Also interesting, the 2 sisters lived a Victorian lifestyle until the time of their death. 

We had planned on eating lunch at Flo's Clam Shack since it has been featured on the food network twice and was right across the street from our hotel, but when we got there they only opened for dinner.  So, all we got was this picture and went back to our room to eat.

After eating we went across to the beach to collect shells and play.  We all had a blast and the views were amazing.

Shortly after leaving the beach we went to downtown Newport.  We checked out some shops and made out way to the pier to watch the sunset.

We enjoyed the views from a set of adirondack chairs.

Charlotte will forever have a friend in Newport.  Rio, here with Charlotte, was just a doll and she had so much fun trying to entertain her, although that meant that her baby said gobble gobble.

After eating dinner and an errand for my workshop we finally went back to the hotel to settle in for the night. 

Boston

On Wednesday we had plans to head to Boston for the day.  We took off in the morning and with traffic it took about an hour and half to get there...it took another half hour to park.  The GPS didn't work so great between all the big buildings but we eventually found where we needed to be.  We had booked a hop on hop off site seeing trolley.  It was a great choice.  Here we are on our way to get to the trolley depot.

We boarded and enjoyed the first part of the tour.  So much history in Boston.  It was very cool to get to visit.  Because it was near lunch time we had decided to eat at Cheers, because where else should you get a burger in Boston?

The meal was good and we had a nice time.  Got a picture at the bar of Jim and Charlotte and another of me and her outside before heading out for the day.

We hopped back on the trolley and enjoyed more of the tour before getting off at our next stop.  We had bought tickets to tour Fenway.  Best choice ever!

The history of that ballpark was so cool!  It is 98 years old and so small compared to other ballparks but they have really remained true to its history.  They are waiting 2 more years because when it is 100 they can apply for it to become a historic national landmark and guarantee that it won't be torn down.  They won't consider a new field until that happens. 

We went out on the Green Monster which is a giant Green wall in the outfield.  It was built because once the baseballs were wound tighter too many people were hitting home runs and the guy who had bought the team in the 1930's simply could not afford to replace any more car windows.  The team was very poor when he bought it.

The seats are from the 1930's as well.  They have been re-done and they actually take out each piece of wood and cast iron and restore it meticulously.  One section was out when we were there.  They are taken out under high security.  It is really a pretty cool process to hear about. 

We also got to hear about all of the Red Socks/Yankees rivalry.  I would totally reccommend it to anyone visiting Boston.  And on our way out I got my favorite picture of Charlotte and Jim.  I love it so much!

Before leaving we hit up Quincy Market and then headed out.  Someone was kind enough to get a family picture for us too.

We had no problem getting back to Newport and the drive definitely seemed quicker.  When we got back we decided to go swimming again.  Charlotte is totally pumped to be at the pool!

It took us a minute to get used to the water when we got in...Jim us trying to grin and bear it!

Charlotte swam and hung out with both of us....

...but she would have swam away on her own if we would have let her.  Brave little girl!

Done for the night!