Kennebunkport, Maine - Sept. 21, 2019

 The Welcome Dinner - great tasting - even if I didn't know how to attack it!

I just had to try the Steamers as the appetizer - and yes, I needed instructions!

In the morning, we had a trolley tour and saw many of the "summer cottages"  that only get used a few months of the year.  Most of them had several thousand square feet of living space, and gorgeous views of the ocean.

This beauty rents out for $20,000 per week!

George and Barbara Bush stayed here for the summers - 92 of his 94 years.

We took a Lobster Boat to learn how they catch our dinners.

The first one was too small, so they went on for bigger ones.

Out of the cage and onto the floor

They are probably 1 pound and 6 or 7 years old.

Since they banded the claws, everyone got to hold the lobsters.

(those who wanted to)

Minute Man National Historical Park - Lexington, Massachusetts - Sept 19, 2019

Good Morning!

 View from our campground in Salem Massachusetts

The Hartwell Tavern 

the site near Lexington that housed traders and trappers between Boston and Concord

The Minute Men authentic costume and gear

Loading the musket

"Ready- Aim"

FIRE

The Shot Heard Round the World!!

The battle that started the Revolutionary War started here in Lexington, proceeded along the road to Concord, and then back to Boston.  It started with 700 British, and 70 Patriots, and ended up with 1700 British being chased back to Boston by 4000 militia.

The British were trapped in Boston for 11 months, but it wasn't until 8 years later that the peace treaty to the Revolutionary War was signed.

The monument on the Lexington Green or Lexington Commons

The men who died in the Battle of Lexington were brought from the old cemetery and re-buried here at the monument.

and then----back to Todd's

The plane that our good friend Jim Bartz built!

Happy Birthday Evan!!

Granite and Grandbaby - Sept 18, 2019

We spent the day observing the granite countertops being delivered by crane to Todd's condo on the third floor, and - of course- baby play time while the workers worked.

 We were able to find our way to the Mapparium - a fun place that was built in 1935 at the Christian Science Library.  It is 3 stories high, viewed from a 30 foot long bridge through the interior.
When you stand in the middle (halfway between the North and South Pole) your voice can be heard in surround sound. When you whisper from one end of the bridge to a person on the other end, the whisper can be heard clearly.  A fun display from 'the center of the earth'

The other item on our sightseeing 'agenda' was seeing the Boston Tea Party Museum.
When we got there, it was closed!  SO, we enjoyed a cup of coffee, found our way to the public transportation  at 3:30 and arrived at our campground (17 miles away) at 6 :30!!!!!!!
(buses, trains, and subways!)

Salem-Witches and Artists-Sept 17, 2019

Today we decided to tour locally and not battle the traffic to Boston.

We met my cousin Mitzi and toured 2 local museums.

We visited the Peabody Essex Museum - 

not in the town of Peabody, not in the town of Essex, but in Salem

It is one of the 20 largest art museums in the US.

A huge collection of Asian art, and even a 200 year old house from China.

The collections of art are varied and unusual.

Art of India - Hindu beliefs

The bull in standing on a single leg  of Truth.

The legs of austerity, cleanliness and mercy have been cut off-

but the bull holds up the goddess.

Photography using large format cameras and the portable darkroom in the challenging terrain terrain of China

The emperor's wife has a private 'chariot' 

She is carried by the servants using poles to carry the vehicle

Such an interesting glass sculpture!

This guy is used throughout China and Japan to ward off evil spirits.

We toured a house built in early 1800's .

This "Mortgage post" has an ivory plug in the top of the column.

When the mortgage was paid off it was burnt and the ashes were put into the column and topped with the ivory plug.

The interest rates in the  1800's were 25%

Here is a mortgage calculator.

This house was in China for over 200 years and housed all the family and heirs.

In 2000 the house was donated to the museum, and moved to Salem.

The stories of the Witch Trials in Salem 

A tragic period of our history.

No pictures allowed inside.