If you are still along for the ride, it is now Day 7 of our fall New England trip and the last of three in a series of write-ups I have shared with you. If you are getting the feeling that there was a lot of history involved in this tour, you are right. We were living it as we made our journey.
It is Sunday and a beautiful day as we are beginning our second week. Not tired yet, and we’re ready for a busy day. It's Old Cape Cod. As in the song sung by Patti Page, with a street named "Patti Page Way." Our step-on guide for the entire day took us to many of the 15 areas that comprise distinctive towns, Cape Cod style homes, art, culture and endless sea activities, of course, including sailboating.
The Kennedy Compound on Hyannis Port Historic District has given its name to 6 acres of waterfront property on Cape Cod, and along Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port, Mass., once the home of Rose and Rose Kennedy and more recently the home of the U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy until his death last year.
A stonewall of the Kennedy memorial is a profile of JFK with the presidential seal and placed across the scenic view of sailboat. The Korean War Memorial is next to the Veterans Park bench there. Cape Cod supports six lighthouses.
We saw that the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on South Street, where President Kennedy attended Mass, is a small wooden structure and Masses are still held there. As we travel along, we make our way to America’s oldest art colony, Provincetown, on the extreme tip of Cape Cod, population of 3,400. Artists swarm this town in many unique venues. As we leave the Cape, we make our way to Newport, R.I.
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Our guide explains this beautiful area is also known for its New England summer resort homes of the famous in their fabulous mansions. Jackie and John Kennedy were married there, as it was her father's home.
New York City
An evening of entertainment on our first night in New York was at the Winter Garden theater on Broadway. The musical "Mama Mia" was delightful.
Continuing with personal guides, we take our first walk through Central Park. Among sites we see is the John Lennon Memorial, which was dedicated in his memory after his famous song "Straw-
Berry Fields Forever." We also toured many other sites: Ground Zero, Chapel of Trinity Church directly across from Ground Zero, which became a relief center for the firefighters. Their badges
are displayed there. We also were able to watch the "Today" show outdoors during one telecast.
A ferry ride from Battery Park took us to the Statue of Liberty and also to Ellis Island, where more than 12 million immigrants have passed through during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Philadelphia was a natural stop at the Independence Mall, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the recently established National Constitution Center, which had many interaction areas, including the Signers Hall with 39 life size bronze statues of the signers in 1787. A theater featuring a live actor with the "Freedom Ring" was most impressive.
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Lancaster, Pa.
We explored Amish country amidst farms with horse-drawn buggies with a stop in Bird in Hand, a quaint town of tiny shops, quilters, general stores, farmer markets and homemade goodies. An Amish meal is served with all the fruits of the land.
Here's a recipe for Amish peanut butter: ½ c. creamy peanut butter, 1/4 C. marshmallow creme, 1 C. light corn syrup. Mix well, refrigerate, serve at room temperature on bread or ice cream.
Our dessert following was shoo-fly pie. The Amish are great cooks for the hearty appetite.
The Gettysburg National Military Park with a licensed guide was a highlight for many of our
travelers because many are veterans. Many memorials, including the Minnesota Memorial, had so many stories to tell about each state involved. The large site hosts a Civil War re-enactment the first week of July each year.
If you are counting states visited, we made 13 plus Canada, having a map or souvenir
to show for it. The trip mixed fun with new destinations to visit and provided us much to learn about our USA.
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Reminders
• New Year's Eve Gala Night at the Orpheum. We are excited to be see the musical "Billy Elliot." Call to sign up for this overnight celebration. Sign-up deadline is coming soon.
• Nov. 12-15 Branson tourwill depart at 8 a.m. from the area south of King Buffet. Return time will be 6:30 p.m.
The November newsletter is available at the Mower County Senior Center.
