Ahoy, mateys! Your gracious, modest host has returned from his 10-day tour de force through the Northeast. It was my first real vacation. Yes, that infamous "v" word that has been absent from virtually my entire existence. Yes, moi knows how to relax and have a little fun after all. Mindy and I began the journey with a flight to Washington D.C. Our first stop was at Market Inn, which was featured on the Travel ChannelWe had a pleasant overnight stay at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, wherein we entertained by the locals (especially at an Irish bar where cool live music and luscious drinks were thoroughly enjoyed).
Then it was off to take in some sights and sounds of D.C. Mindy and I engaged D.C. traffic in our rental PT Cruiser. Then we drove to Mindy's ol' stomping grounds of southern Pennsylvania. I loved spending 4-5 days, meeting some of Mindy's family and friends. More laughs, games, drinkin', eatin' and nostalgia were to be had. A drive and stopovers through Gettysburg and Amish country, and even a train ride in Strausburg, were particular highlights.
Then we were off to Baltmore to catch a New York City-bound train. Navigating the backroads of semi-rural southern Pennsylvania was not exactly the easiest long-range driving task I've ever taken, but it was a breeze compared with finding a gas station or the rental car return around the ridiculously sprawling Baltimore airport. Good lord! I am so petitioning the city and the state of Maryland.
The train ride itself was okay save for a rather abrupt worker who was lacking for tact in explaining the proper way of changing seats. After a scenic ride through Philly and Jersey (yeah, I could clearly see why Jersey is called the Garden State LOL), Mindy and I finally arrived in New York City. Ooh boy. It was quite fun toting around luggage on foot for several blocks in search of transportation to our Jersey City hotel. Once we were there, for the first night, it was all about ordering in delicious Chinese and a few rum cocktails.
The rest of the time, Mindy and I took Manhattan by storm. No non-chain restaurant, bar or museum was safe from our curiosity or our charms. Greenwich Village, Tribeca, Chelsea, Central Park, Financial District, Uptown, Statue of Liberty...it was all for the taking. We didn't get to a few other things. But like Mindy says in her blog, we have no regrets. It was an awesome time. By trip's end, we had taken virtually every mode of transportation conceivable save for a Segway or pedicab. Oh well, there could always be a next time!
The day we returned home had a few twists and turns, especially with a long layover in Atlanta and a delayed flight. We didn't get back to the townhouse until after 1 a.m. only to be greeted by a Topaz who was not short on supply of meows and purrs. So now we're recuperating at home, enjoying some more adult beverages (the best kind of beverages) while suffering a case of the sniffles. Who knows how we contracted whatever ails us. I do recall us walking past a dead rat on a sidewalk outside the Jersey City hotel. I suggested that we could perhaps pick up a new strain of the bubonic plague and initiate a new pandemic. Or maybe it's just a simple head cold. In any event, we have plenty of photos to enjoy of our grand adventures (being uploaded soon!) and loads of great memories. Gracias to you, Mindy, for a tremendous (and much-needed/long overdue) vacation. And I look forward to many more with you. West Texas in the late summer is next up, right?! ;-Ps
