Thursday, June 28, 2012 - Beinecke Area Walking Tour

I got ready early for a full day of exploring the Beinecke Area and the Grove Street Cemetery.   The Beinecke Area Walking Tour started at Memorial Hall (1901-1902) which was wrapped in plastic and continued on to Woolsey Hall (Yale University's primary auditorium), the Scroll and Key Secret Society (founded in 1842 as an offshoot of the Skull and Bones secret society), Sprague Hall (built in 1917), Woodbridge Hall (donated to Yale in 1901), "Gallows and Lollipops"  (Alexander Calder sculpture, c. 1960), The Commons (Yale freshman dining hall - shades of "Harry Potter"), Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (Constructed with more than one hundred panels of translucent marble, the Beinecke is home to one of the world's preeminent collections of rare materials, including the Gutenberg Bible and Audubon's Birds of America), Sculpture Garden created by Isamu Noguchi (the pyramid represents the earth, the circle represents the sun, and the cube represents chance), Sterling Building (Yale Law School - built in 1931, and modeled after old English Inns of Court), Mory's (private Yale club), Toad's Place (premier nightclub and concert venue), Yale Dramat Message Board, Sterling Memorial Library (built in 1931 to emulate a gothic cathedral; largest library at Yale University),  Maya Lin's sculpture, "Woman's Table", which commemorates women at Yale, the Book and Snake Secret Society (the "tomb" was built in 1901 in a classic Greek style iron-cast snakes adorn the surrounding fence), and the Grove Street Cemetery. 

I had a turkey swiss sandwich for lunch at Au Bon Pain at 1 Broadway at 12:45pm.   The place was packed so I placed my "Reserved" sign on a table and then paid for my sandwich and bottled water.  I read "Litigators" by John Grisham as I ate my lunch.

I took the docent led tour of the Grove Street Cemetery at 2:00pm.  The Grove Street Cemetery (1796) is the first chartered burial ground in the United States and the first to be arranged in family plots.  The first burial took place in 1797.  Among the notable persons interred here are inventor Eli Whitney, dictionary pioneer Noah Webster, Roger Sherman, the only person to sign all four documents that established the United States of America; the first mayor of New Haven, and Yale professor Josiah Willard Gibbs, Sr. (30 April 1790 – 24 March 1861) who went to the New York Harbor seeking anyone who spoke the Mende language to assist him by interpreting for the African captives of the Amistad and found sailor James Covey (ne Covie or Kaweliis born in Africa c. 1819 - ?).  Covey was able to speak both English and Mende and possibly other African languages and became the interpreter used in the Amistad slave ship case in 1839 - 1840; two years after the trials, in November 1841, Covey, along with the surviving Africans of the Amistad, boarded the ship Gentleman and sailed back to Africa.  Gibbs was portrayed by Austin Pendleton in the 1997 film "Amistad".   

The heat was really getting to me!  I tried to find a bench in the shade in the cemetery so I could read Grisham's novel but the benches were in the sweltering sun.  I walked to the Sterling Memorial Library courtyard where I sat and read for awhile.  I bought a Fruit and Nut Box, Protein Bistro Box, Izze Clementina drink, and Shortbread cookies at Starbucks which I took back to the OMNI Hotel to eat in the air conditioned room while watching television. 

Christopher and I went across the street to temple grill about 10:15pm.  Christopher had a half order of dinner.  I had a glass of Riesling wine.   A perfect ending to a very long day.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - Walking Tour Around the New Haven Green (Common)

I got ready early for a full day of exploring the area around the 16-acre New Haven Green (1638) in the downtown district.

The self walking tour began at the marble Bennett Fountain (1907) which is located on the southeast corner of the green at the corner of Church and Chapel Streets.  The tour continued with stops at the New Haven City Sign with key milestones in the city's history, The Flagpole War Memorial/Fountain located in the center of the lower Green, the United States Post Office and Courthouse built using Tennessee marble, the three-sided Amistad Memorial (each side depicts a different phase of the Amistad incident; the memorial stands on the site of the jail that held the Amistad captives during their time in New Haven.), the sandstone and limestone New Haven City Hall (1861), the New Haven County Courthouse - The Old Courthouse (1914), the FREE Public Library (two hand painted murals above the east and west walls of the Main Hall illustrate scenes from New Haven's past), the Graduate Club (began in 1892 as a social club for Yale Alumni), United Church (built between 1812 and 1815), Center Church (1814) with a crypt beneath the church containing the remains of approximately 137 people), and ends at Trinity Church (1816).

The Green was used as the main burial grounds for the residents of New Haven during its first 150 years, but by 1821 the practice was abolished and many of the headstones were moved to the Grove Street Cemetery.   However, the remains of the dead were not moved, and thus still remain below the soil of the Green. It is estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 people remain buried there. A small portion of the burial ground is now preserved in the Center Church Crypt.

The edges of the Green were once covered with a canopy of elms, planted originally by James Hillhouse however most died of dutch elm disease.  In the 1980s, disease-resistant elms were planted in an attempt to memorialize the legacy of the trees that gave New Haven the nickname "Elm City".

I had lunch at Starbucks at noon of Protein Bistro Box, Izzy Clementina drink and shortbread cookies.  I took a tour of Yale at 2:00pm.  A Yale College student provided a glimpse into the history and architecture of the University. The walking tour started at the Yale Visitor Center where we watched a video about campus life.  During the walking tour we heard about Yale's rich 300-year history and aspects of student life at several of Yale's twelve residential colleges. The tour also included the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library, Yale's largest, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.  The walking tour covered the central campus area, and lasted about 1 hour 20 minutes.   


I went back to the Omni Hotel about 5:00pm.  Christopher and I ate dinner at Kelly's Restaurant and Bar.  He attended the AUSS Convention while I rested, watched some television and read "Litigation" by John Grisham.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - Trip to New Haven, CT for AUSS National Convention

My daughter, Catherine, and I left our house in Vancouver, Washington about 5:45am.  I stopped at Starbucks in downtown Vancouver to buy two meals, drink and shortbread cookies.  We arrived at my son, Christopher's apartment in Northwest Portland about 6:15am.    We left there about 20 minutes later as he was not ready.  After we arrived at Portland International Airport we bade farewell to Catherine who drove my car back home.  We checked two bags, went through security and headed for United Airlines Gate. 

United Airlines plane took off for Houston about 8:18am, arriving about 2:28pm.  The stewardess passed by Christopher's row without offering him any food!  We changed planes, riding a large electric cart from one gate to another.  Two cart drivers got in an argument over the cart when it stopped to let some people off.  Our plane was loading across the terminal.  I tried over and over to get their attention finally screaming at them to shut up.  We got to the gate as the last of the passengers were boarding.  We took off at 3:24pm and arriving at LaGuardia about 8:14pm.  We picked up our luggage and had to wait over an hour for the GO Airport Shuttle.

We had a wild ride to the OMNI New Haven Hotel.  Our room was supposed to be paid for and was not so we had to wait in the hotel lobby until someone from the Scandia Chorus paid for the room with a credit card.   We were in Room 708 with two double beds, a very large closet, desk, large cabinet with flat screen TV on top, arm chair, and night stand.  Great view of the city lights to the south.  Noisy every night until the restaurants and bars closed.  It was 1:30am before we finally got to sleep.

Saturday, June 9, 2012 - Vancouver BC to Vancouver WA

Christopher and I got up about 4:00am, dressed, packed our luggage, and checked out of the hotel.  We rode a Richmond Taxi from the hotel to the train station.  I paid the taxi driver $30.00 Canadian Money.  We were first in line for seat assignments in Business Class and to go through Customs.  We had seats on the water side.  The train was a bit late leaving the Vancouver Train Station.  Our tickets and passports were checked at the border.

I purchased a banana, coffee cake and apple juice for breakfast.  I read the Vancouver newspaper and Beryl Bainbridge's "Every Man for Himself" and took several naps.  I had a Margherita Sandwich and Diet Cola for lunch and Snickers bar for snack.  We were delayed in Tukwilla when a passenger had a medical emergency - a stroke or seizure.  We got into Portland about 3:30pm.  Paul met us at the train station.  We dropped Christopher off at his apartment and headed home.  Christopher gave me his long-stemmed rose that he was given at the performance.

Friday, June 8, 2012 - Vancouver BC

Christopher and I woke about 9:00am.  Christopher went down to the hotel dining room for breakfast.  I ate Crackling Bran in the room.  I had vanilla yogurt and fruit platter from Starbucks in the hotel lounge after Christopher left for rehearsal and 7:00pm performance at the 39th Sangerfest Concert held at the Broadway Church in Richmond south of the hotel.

I had planned to visit downtown Vancouver however I did not feel well and was exhausted so I watched televison, read Beryl Bainbridge's "Every Man for Himself" and took a nap.  I took the shuttle to the airport in the evening where I had a fish and chips dinner at Koho Restaurant.  Back at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel I watched the 1940 British film "Gaslight".  Christopher came back about 10:00pm.  We had a short night's sleep.

Thursday, June 7, 2012 - Seattle to Vancouver BC

I got up early in the morning, got ready and checked out of the hotel.  I walked about three blocks to the bus stop in the light rain showers where I caught #124 to Union Station.  I traveled on Amtrak, leaving Seattle about 7:40am and arriving Vancouver BC about 11:40am.  I walked a couple blocks to the Skytrain.  I traveled on two Skytrain lines to Vancouver International Airport.

I had Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.  The server brought in a selection of nine loose herbal and black teas for me to choose from.  The Earl Grey tea was just ok.  It was made in a tea press rather than a traditional ceramic tea pot.  The food was delicious but a bit parsimonious.  There was berry salad to cleanse the palate.  Next was a three tier server with sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam; and petit desserts.  The Afternoon Tea was very expensive:  $36.00 plus abt. $4.50 HST plus tip!  Pay with Canadian Money or Credit Card - not U.S. Currency. 

I rode the Delta Hotel Shuttle to the hotel,  checked into the hotel, left my suitcase in the room and caught the shuttle back to the airport.  I traveled via Skytrain to the Amtrak Train Station to meet my youngest son, Christopher.  Christopher's bus was about 20 minutes late as he was interrogated by Customs.  We rode the Skytrain and then the Shuttle to the hotel.

Christopher and I walked along the path caching until it just got too dark and cold to continue.  There was only a water puddle at the bridge underpass but later when we tried to return the area had been flooded by the rising tide.  We had to walk up the slope and scamper across a busy bridge onramp.  We had dinner at Pier 73.  Good night's sleep.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - Amtrak to Seattle

I caught the 8:45am Amtrak train traveling Business Class from Vancouver to Seattle, arriving at noon.  I caught the city bus to 3rd and Virginia.  I walked to my hotel, checked in, dropped my suitcase in my room and left quickly.  I walked a few blocks southeast to the Monorail.   I saw the documentary IMAX Film: "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" at the Pacific Science Center.  I got a cup of strawberry/cheesecake swirl ice cream at the cafe.

Afterwards I saw the Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibition at Pacific Science Center.  The exhibit features more than 100 objects from King Tut's tomb and ancient sites representing some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.  With more than twice the number of artifacts than the original Tut exhibit that I saw when it toured in the 1970s, many of these objects have never toured in the United States before this exhibit.  I enhanced my exhibit experience with an Audio Guide narrated by Harrison Ford.

I purchased food, drink and shortbread cookies at Starbucks and rode the monorail back.  I purchased batteries and a Hershey bar at the drug store.  When I returned to my hotel I noticed that "Shear Madness" was playing next door at The Moore Theater.  I was given a complimentary ticket so was able to see the show - third  row, center.  I had seen the play before - once at a theatre in Chicago and another time at the Kennedy Center in D.C.  I ate the Starbucks meal in my room while watching television.  I showered and was off to bed.  I had a good night's sleep.