Our Trip East - July 2025

 Just got back a few days ago from our trip east. Flew to Connecticut, rented a car and drove to Pennsylvania to visit Leon‘s family for a few days then drove back to Connecticut to visit friends and my family for a few days. Flying is no fun these days, (see recent news) but we grinned and bore it.

 

Connecticut Road Runners

Off to Pennsylvania for Leon's mom's birthday. Some Pennsylvania scenic views.

Connecticut River is scenic - it's not the Rio Grande which is barely a trickle at this time of year.

 

I can’t say that we slept all that well either. Being in different beds is not conducive to good sleep, especially for someone like me who is worse than the Princess and the Pea. 

BUT....Oh, the greenery, the trees, the humidity! The greenery and the tress: beautiful. The humidity, not so much. 

On the way to Pennsylvania we stopped in Massachusetts to visit a friend in Pittsfield. Had lunch at a nice place on Pontoosuc Lake.

 

Lake Pontoosuc

 

Back in Connecticut, we visited my family, mostly cousins. My brother and sister-in-law live in an old colonial house in Connecticut. It is pretty cool, if I do say so.

We did take one day for ourselves to go to the Connecticut shore and have lunch with a friend. The restaurant Kokomo used to be a biker bar under a different name, of course, many years ago. The small beach community of Sound View which was a community of mostly Italian-American cottage owners, went downhill when the bikers took over. The bikers are gone now and they seem to be turning the beach community around and cleaning things up. (You can see Long Island, New York from the beach here and from most of the Connecticut beaches).

You can see Long Island New York from here

The restaurant actually has quite a few palm trees for ambience. And no, palm trees do not grow in Connecticut due to climate change. The tables are on the beach, in the sand, and the experience is quite unique and relaxing. Of course I ordered fish and chips.

A vestige of the Italian American past

 

Speaking of restaurants, we enjoyed eating REAL New England and American food! No burritos, chile or huevos rancheros. Heaven.

Including an authentic GREEK DINER!

And Pizza and "Grinders"

Not the finest example of a "grinder"

Of course SEAFOOD!