The Hixson Holiday Headlines: September 2018

Bar Harbor, Maine Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Rain, rain go away! Torrential rains stopped us from taking the tender boat into Bar Harbor.

Having been there last year, we had planned to enjoy the quaint shops along the streets and have a lobster for lunch. There is always a chance that we will come again some other time.

We enjoyed watching the fog roll in and out all day.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts Monday, September 10, 2018

We walked off the ship and called an uber that wisked us into the center of Boston, about a 10-15 minute ride.

The driver dropped us off at the State House...near the beginning of the Freedom Trail.

Inside the State House the circular stairway was an incredible work of craftsmanship.

We started our walk along the Freedom Trail just outside of the State House.

The city has made the trail easy to follow by paving a brick line down the walkway.

Our next stop was at the South Meeting House. Plans of the Boston Tea Party took place within this building.

It too had a fabulous circular staircase.

This statue commemorates the large Irish Immigrant population that settled in Boston during the Irish Famine.

Old Capital Building....now a Ruth Chris Restaurant.

Statue of Benjamin Franklin...born in Boston, died in Philadephia.

A donkey commemorates the symbol of the Democratic Party devised by Andrew Jackson.

First grave yard of Boston, dating back to 1620.

We enjoyed a little break in the Boston Commons, the famous park in the city center that was written about in the children's book, Make Way for Ducklings.

We ended our walk of the Freedom Trail at the state capitol, a magnificent building with a gold dome.

This incredible artwork of the Civil War was displayed next to the capitol.

These massive trees in front of the capitol must have been planted over a hundred years ago.

We took the red line from Boston Commons out to the Massachusetts University stop to go to the Edward Kennedy Memorial Building.

We were disappointed to find it closed on Mondays.

We ended taking a bus back to the subway and then taking the silver line back to the ship. It was a fantastic day.

This book should be titled......Larry and Kay Love Boston....there is so much history here that we need a third visit to see more.

Norwegian Gem, Newport Beach, Rhode Island

Norwegian Gem Cruise New York City, New York September 8, 2019

On Friday, September 7, Larry surprised me with a birthday dinner near BWI with Kristy, Kathy and Chad at the G and W Restaurant ! We spent the night in Baltimore and caught the Amtrak into New York City to board the Norwegian Gem the next day! What a spectacular birthday surprise!

The lights of Time Square for the second time in a month! WOW!

We had the best port check in at 10:30am and found some nice loungers on deck to relax in till lunch.

It was spectacular to sail away down the Hudson river and see all the tall NY skyscrapers,

Passing Lady Liberty is always a thrill!

Newport, Rhode Island September 9, 2018

The next morning we arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, home to the gilded age multi-million dollar homes and birth place of the America's Cup sailboat Race.

We caught the tender boat into the town...

passing some massive yachts and sailboats.

We caught the local bus and taking it down to the Breakers, seaside home (cottage) of the Vanderbilts, shipping magnet of the 1800's. What a grand entrance!