A Connecticut Ferry Trip

In August, my dear friend Courtney drove out for a visit.  We decided to take a ferry across the Long Island Sound to Connecticut.  Yet another state I have visited!  Yay me!

I've never been on a ferry before - it was all very exciting.  I know, I know... I'm a simple person.

We got to the ferry and had to wait in a big line of cars to enter the ferry.  We got out and walked around a bit.

Here's the surrounding area...

We're almost ready to enter....

We are next in line...

Parking...

Hey look!  It's COURTNEY!

We rode up top of the ferry.  The view were amazing!  

Sailboats to the right...

Beautiful coast line to the left...

A very cool tugboat...

More sailboats with the shadows of the clouds on the water...

And my favorite view...
My Dearest Don!

We drove around a little - I took this picture while on the freeway.  No, no... unlike some people, I do NOT drive and take pictures at the same time. (eehhmm Courtney eehhmm) :D  

We stopped at a little outdoor tourist shopping site on the water.

Then we visited the beach. 

We saw some birds.  The animals out here are very photogenic.  It must the proximity to NY.  This one is working on an English roll called the Queens Guard...

This one was going for an action roll.  He calls this "strong bird in the wind storm...."

Another view of the Connecticut beach.  

Cooks Island... Supposedly haunted.... 

oooooo... 

We left Connecticut late afternoon.  This is the Connecticut shore line.

Another view...

A mini-light house... for mini-boats... to stop mini-wrecks from happening...

On the way back, Don took a picture of me and Courtney.

Courtney took a picture of me and Don.

I took a picture of my dearest Don...  He too is quite photogenic.  I call it his rugged pose... 

I absolutely love this picture!  He looks so very huggable.

                 Hands of ladies, he's all mine...

To end a great day, I got a great view of the captain.  Got to love a ferry captain smoking a cigar. It's what every good blog needs...

A quick trip to the city

Don's son Paul came out for a few weeks in the summer.  One of the things Don wanted to do with Paul is take him to the city.  Don also wanted to introduce me to the city as well.  But this is me we are talking about.  I don't even like going into Salt Lake City! 

There is something about my sweet Don.  He makes me feel safe and confident. So, when I heard he wanted to take me to The Big City, I eventually said okay.  Well, I said a very nervous okay... 

We went early in the morning - early enough for the nervousness to be overtaken by the tiredness...


Still haven't quite learned how to aim the camera when taking self portraits... but this is us just starting out.

We took a train to the city.  It was about an hour trip.  This is Paul, by the way. 

I had a window seat so I could see the views - which was great until we were passed by a train going the other way.  MAN! that's close!  Scared the snot right out of me! Don tried to distract me by kissing me right before a train would come by but it only worked the first 4 times... okay... it worked all the times ... (sigh... :D)

Once we got out of the Penn Station, we walked up to daylight and LOTS of people.  To get me out of the crowd, Don decided we could walk by the river.

 My first view of the statue...

By the way, this is NOT the city....

This was a beautiful area.  I had to hold back and get a picture of Father and Son.

We eventually did get back to the city.  The buildings were amazing! People come out west and take pictures of the mountains, I come out east and take pictures of the buildings...

We stopped by the twin tower site...

The firehouse next door...

Then we turned a corner and I saw this church!  It was awesome...

It looked very old and historical.

Then I saw a sign:

I love history! 

By this time, the guys were getting a little tired.  So... we took the subway.

Yes, that's right... and here's proof:  

That guy in the bottom right hand corner...? he's thinking, "crazy tourist..." 

I know it's going to sound insane but I kind of had fun.  You know, that once in a life time - this is totally CRAZY - never gonna do this again - kind of fun...

When we left the subway we came out into Grand Central Station.  I remember as a kid, mother use to compare the run of our house to Grand Central Station. I hate to break it to you mom, but this was WAY more busy then our house ever was.


The architecture was amazing!

Outside, the city awaits.

Don took us to Rockerfeller Center.

Then we stopped for a little New York kiss...

We went to Time Square.  It was crazy crowded!  But, having my priorities straight, I stopped to take a picture for Michael:

It was getting time to head home.  We went back underground in Penn Station to catch the train home.  We had some extra time so we stopped for New York Pizza.

On the train home I practiced my self portrait skills.

But Don looked very sad, so I had to try again... 

...and again...

Until finally:

A great end to a great day.