May 7, 2006

• Caught up through DC...Phew...Here's the outline for the last 5 days that I'm needing to catch up on.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Wednesday May 5th - Chadds Ford PA

  
  

  We got in late on Tuesday night to Chadds Ford and visited for an hour or so before making our way to the bedroom Elliot and Pat had for us.  We hadn't expected to stay with them as two kids are a lot to handle in a home where kids aren't the norm.  They were gracious and asked us to stay and it ended up being a lot of fun for us.  When Pam and I went to NYC eight years ago we'd stayed with them for a day or so and it was a blast.  This time was no different.  Serra was her normal high energy self and Sophia was well behaved. Serra loved Pat and Elliot instantly and she kept calling them Grandpa and Grandma...they didn't seem to mind.  We really wish we lived closer as we enjoy their company so much.  The picture of them was taken by Serra using Pam's small camera....Serra's going to be a photobug as well.

  
  

  

  
  

  Our first day in Pennsylvania was a much needed day to catch up on some work/home/laundry stuff.  Both Pat and Elliot worked so we slept in.  It was much needed after our busy days in DC.  Pam got the girls up and fed and then started on laundry.  I peeled myself out of bed about 10:00 and then went about finding somewhere to cut my hair.  I'd initially planned on getting my haircut before graduation but with the trip back to get the extra stuff in LA it just didn't happen.  I just started driving towards what I felt was downtown and finally found a barber shop in the old part of town called "Burtons Barber Shop".  It looked a little old fashioned but that didn't scare me at all.  I walked in and there were three old guys standing behind chairs cutting hair.  One of them looked up and yelled "Turn right back around and go right out that door!". I wasn't sure I heard him right and it kind of angered me until he said "The Eagles need a new offensive lineman and you're it!".  It took me half a second but my confused look turned in to a big smile. I sometimes forget how big I seem to other people.  Anyhow, the haircut went ok.

  
  

  The rest of the day was spent by me making phone calls getting the lending squared away on the new house in Las Vegas and taking care of a few issues with work.  Pam spent the day with the laundry and found time to do an impromptu photo shoot.  Serra was more than happy to oblige and Sophia was extra cute as well.

  
  

  

  
  

  Today was also the first day that Sophia rolled over on her own.  She's always been real strong but it was fun to see her make progress.  Her personality is really starting to show.  She mimics Pam when Pam clicks her tongue and she's smiling 99% of the time...it's very cute. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Thursday May 6th - Lancaster County, PA (Amish Country)

  
  

  After the much needed catch-up day we spent Thursday with Elliot as he took the day off to spend time with us.  It was a real treat to spend time with him as my father has always talked very highly of Elliot and I really enjoy spending time with my Anderson family as I never got to know them as a youth.  I'm very proud of my Anderson side and it was great to catch up and get to know him better.

  
  

  He took us up to Lancaster County, PA which has a huge population of Amish and Menanites.  It was fascinating to see how the Amish live without modern electricity and without dependence on the government utilities.  We saw a lot of them working in the fields with their team of horses and old fashioned plows. It was an interesting contrast as often the field next to the one they were working was full of giant tractors.

  
  

  It was Pam's goal to get a quilt while we were there so we dropped by a small area that had several gift shops.  It was a tourist trap but it was just what Pam was looking for.  We had a good time going through the various shops and helping ourselves to a nice ham sandwich lunch.  After we went through the shops, with no quilt success (most were in the $1500 range....a little pricey!), we went to a visitors center down the road that we had a flier for  We went there hoping to catch a video that talked about the Amish/Menanite Culture and we weren't disappointed.  The video was about 30 minutes and was very informative. 

  
  

  It reminded me a bit of how people must feel when they come to Salt Lake City and watch a video about Mormon's.

  
  

  After the visitors center we made our way back to the original shopping area and Pam made the rounds looking for a suitable, and affordable, quilt.  She found two smaller quilts and some nice pottery for a fraction of what one of the larger quilts was going for.

  
  

  The following pictures are a typical Amish farm and some buggies cruising down the road.

  
  

  

  
  

  A lot of the buildings here have posts out front where people can tie up their horses.  Just like in the olden' days.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  This bridge was near Pat and Elliots home...very picturesque.

  
  

  

  
  

  Friday May 7th - Philadelphia, PA

  
  

  The next day we were lucky that Pat was off and she volunteered to spend they day with us.  We had a great time in Philadelphia seeing the sites and partaking in more US history.  Little did we know what we were in for though when Pat arranged for a Philly Duck  Tour!  They were recommended to Pat by someone she had had dinner with the night before and she got the tickets that morning.  They were an absolute blast, mainly due to our crazy driver and these "duck whistles" they handed out.  On top of the typical sightseeing tour the driver played really loud music while doing dance moves and yelling at people outside the bus.  Also, not only was it a bus of sorts but it also drove right out in to the river so we took a spin out in to the river to get a great view of the skyline.  We all had a blast and had a smile on our face the whole time. Check out their website to see more about them.....Philly Duck Boat Tours.

  
  

  

  
  

  A great shot while out in the water of the Ben Franklin bridge and then City Hall back on land.

  
  

  

  
  

  Serra V at the Liberty Bell.  Very cool.

  
  

  

  
  

  If you don't recognize those steps then you need to brush up on your 80's pop culture. While I didn't get out and actually run up the steps like Rocky I did pay homage by at least going out of my way to drive by.  And "No"...there is no Rocky statue at the top of the steps like in the movie. I confirmed that with Aunt Pat.

  
  

  

  
  

  Independence Hall....Does it get any more historically significant than the spot where they signed the Declaration of Independence?  Also it was the first home of the president and capital of the country before being moved down to DC.  Unfortunately by the time we made it there the tickets for the tour were all gone and we didn't get to go inside. Doh!  No biggie though as we saw the exterior and all the other historically significant buildings next to it.

  
  

  

  
  

  Speaking of other buildings...this one is to the right of Independence Hall if you're looking at the front door. This housed the House of Representatives and the Senate as well as served as the Philadelphia courthouse after the capital moved to DC. 

  
  

  

  
  

  Here's the girls and their proud papa.  Serra is very giving and loving to Sophia and it warms my heart.  She's always concerned about her and goes out of her way to sing songs and play with her.  They are a fun pair.  I don't know if I've mentioned this before but a lady asked Serra "Where do you live?" to which she replied "I live in hotels."...we need to get this kid off vacation.

  
  

  

  
  

  Saturday May 8th - Drive through PA/NY to Niagara Falls (7 hours)

  
  

  We got up fairly early on Saturday as we knew that it'd be a long drive to Niagara Falls and I wanted to see as much country as I could in daylight.  Unlike the long drive through South and North Carolina I really wanted to be able to see the landscape and get to know Pennsylvania.  We got the girls all ready, packed up our stuff, enjoyed a quick breakfast with Pat and Elliot, said our thank you's and goodbyes and were on the road by 10:00. Serra begged us to leave her there and pick her up later but we convinced her that she'd be better off if she came with us.  She's since asked daily about going back...she sure loves her Aunt Pat and Uncle Elliot. 

  
  

  Here is Serra's second attempt at photography.  We title this one "Serra's View of the Vacation".

  
  

  

  
  

  Both Pam and I were floored with how beautiful Pennsylvania is.  We drove back through Lancaster county, through the center of PA (State College, PA) and then up through a National Forest in the North West part.  Each state seemed to be more beautiful than the next as we traveled North and PA was no different.  It has since remained Pam's favorite (I'm in love with Vermont/New Hampshire though).

  
  

  Lots of rolling hills, cleared farmland surrounded by large trees, and small all-American cities with great old houses and beautiful streets. 

  
  

  

  
  

  Pam had some more great shots of buildings but in the interest of time and space I picked the best one.  We have purposefully been taking back roads and traveling through small towns rather than doing the interstates. It's been very worthwhile and has really given us, in my opinion, a better view of the area.  I've enjoyed it immensely.  The girls are such great travelers and good sports. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  We initially hadn't planned on going in to Canada but after doing a little research on the area it was evident that the Canadian side of Niagara Falls had the best view. I was a little worried that we'd have problems at the border with our kids as we didn't have birth certificates (I found out later Pam had their immunization records), but they just asked us if we had any weapons, drugs, and who's car we were driving.  It was our second foray in to Canada as we went up to Vancouver, BC about three years ago on an Expedition Motor Homes trek.  Serra was just a baby then.

  
  

  

  
  

  As we were driving through Canada I was trying to talk down the hotel reservation that I'd made as I really wanted to surprise Pam.  I knew she was super looking forward to Niagara Falls.  I'd done a lot of research and made sure I'd arranged for a room with a spectacular view of both the American/Canadian falls.  I revealed to her that we were staying at the Marriot, but had convinced her that we had a city view rather than the falls view. 

  
  

  As we entered the hotel lobby we caught the first view of the falls and both of us just sat there staring at it for awhile.  The Marriot is only about 100 yards away from the falls and I must say that the falls are absolutely incredible...more on it later.  I left Pam to continue to stare and made the arrangements with the front desk.  The bellman helped us up to the room and as soon as the door opened Pam saw the same view she'd seen downstairs but just 10 stories up.  Her face was classic...big smile.  It was fun for me. 

  
  

  For dinner we ate at a restaurant in the Konika Minolta Tower.  It is kind of like the Stratosphere Tower in Vegas but much smaller.  It had a great view of the falls as we dined. We couldn't get enough of the view.  We kind of got suckered in as we looked at the menu and the prices all seemed great as well as they had a buy one entree get the second for half price deal.  Unfortunately we apparently were looking at the lunch menu downstairs and didn't realize it till after we were seated and ordering. Oh well...it was fun.

  
  

  Sunday May 9th - Niagara Falls

  
  

  Part of the perks of the deal I'd booked was we got a free buffet breakfast our two mornigns we stayed there.  It was actually really good food and worked out real well for us as we were able to eat a good breakfast and then get out the door fairly early.  On the list was the "Maid of the Mist" boat ride up to the base of the falls and also a "Trip Behind the Falls". 

  
  

  The first shot here is of the hotel.  Our room was right in the middle about 2/3 of the way up.  If you look closely, you can see both the Canadian Falls in the right window frame and the American Falls in the left.  Trust me, the pictures we take here don't do justice to how impressive the falls were. 

  
  

  

  
  

  Here's a better shot of the falls view from our hotel.  We both enjoyed time just sitting in our hotel room gazing at them.  At night they shine various lights to illuminate the falls..pretty cool.

  
  

  An interesting fact about the falls is that the water running over the falls is actually only about 40% of actual capacity that used to go over.  They are holding more water back in order to keep erosion to a minimum. Previously it was 4-6 feet every 10 years, now it's down to 1 foot every 10 years.   I can't imagine how impressive the falls would have been back in the day when the full amount of water was coming over. 

  
  

  

  
  

  More room details....the Marriot beds are the greatest.  Pam and I have a fantastic bed that I thought was the most comfortable bed in the world but the Marriot beds have trumped it.  I don't think they are put in to every Marriot but I do know the one in Houston and Niagara Falls have them....highly recommended if you ever get a chance.

  
  

  Oh...and the jacuzzi tub was wonderful. First tub I've fit in for 5 years.  Not pictured is the fireplace.

  
  

  

  
  

  Maid of the Mist link

  
  

  We made our way down to the Maid of the Mist first.  We were unaware how far away the launch area was so we decided to walk.  It turned out to be about a mile away but it was good exercise and we had plenty of time so no big deal.  It also afforded us an opportunity to take a picture of one of the boats in progress. 

  
  

  They handed us out blue ponchos and we were able to wrap up Sophia and Serra's fit perfectly from head to foot.  We decided not to take the stroller so I ended up packing Sophia which normally isn't a problem.  But if you've ever tried to hold a 20 pound turkey wearing a wet poncho while you're wearing a we poncho then you know what a challenge it can be.  It's tougher than you think. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Here's a shot of the American Falls as we passed them.  The mist just hits you in the face like a driving rain.  The rocks at the base of the American Falls were due to a rockslide back in the late 70's. 

  
  

  

  
  

  These pictures are when we were coming up to and then in the middle of the "Horseshoe" of the Canadian falls.  The entire boat ride lasted about 20 minutes and we were all soaked from head to toe.  Sophia's poncho protected her for the most part other than her face/hair and one arm that was out.  I was soaked as I didn't wear my hood and then water ran down my face and down my shirt while I was trying to keep Rosie covered.  Pam had her camera out and was flashing pictures as quick as possible.

  
  

  

  
  

  A soaked Dad and Rosie and another long distance shot of the falls and "Maid in the Mist".

  
  

  

  
  

  After the boat ride we started walking back towards the hotel and stopped to grab some pizza and take a few pictures of the girls.

  
  

  

  
  

  Our second stop was the "Journey behind the falls".  They have tunneled back behind the falls so that you can see the backside of the waterfall at two different locations.  They also built an observation deck at the side of the falls.  They handed us cool yellow ponchos this time and we again outfitted Sophia.  She was crying and so I picked her up and no sooner had I done that than she fell asleep.  I ended up carting her the entire way through the exhibit. The view behind wasn't all that impressive because it just looks like the front side minus all the mist but I really enjoyed the observation deck. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  And of course on the way out we couldn't resist the temptation to take the last tourist ride...a barrel trip down the falls.  I was surprised they let Sophia take the ride as it was a little more bumpy than the typical Disney ride that lets the infants go with.

  
  

  

  
  

  When we finished with all the activities we made our way back to the hotel and relaxed the rest of the evening.  We dined at the hotel restaurant and then went back to the room and stared at the falls.  We both commented that it's amazing that each time you look at the falls it's just as impressive as the first time. We had a fantastic time here and highly recommend it to everyone.

  
  

  On to Palmyra/Cooperstown/and Vermont/New Hampshire in the next post.

  
  

   

  • 9:48 pm
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