Who Says you can't go home...at least for a vist! Trip to New England 2009 About This Page:

[iamgrumpy]

When I was trying to think of a title for this report all I could think about was the Bon Jovi Song "You can't go home" and of course I was singing it the whole time and well I just knew this had to be the title for this report.

I would love for this report to be one of those long detailed humorous fun filled reports that some people write on the boards but with limited time between getting home and starting my new job, I can't make any promises but I can at least give you some insight on what its like to move from a place you lived for over 20 years, and then return to visit as Tourists instead of locals!

So lets get on with the Who, What, When and the more detailed stuff on why there is a 83 year old Red head wearing a Twisted Sister Leather Jacket, and other fun things like that

Who: That is the easy part... It was myself Iamgrumpy aka Amy your trip report writer. Born and raised in Southeastern CT and moved to Orlando, a year ago. The things I was most looking forward to was The Big E "Eat" (The Big E) and the Durham Fair (Durham Fair - Home) and spending time with my family.

Then there is my mother "qvcnut55" aka Angela and she is even more tied to CT and New England as she is a bit older but she just loves all things New England but wouldn't trade anything to not live in Orlando, I know she was really looking forward to the Durham Fair and seeing her friends and family.

Also Making an appearance is Floor Foot Frannie (my grandmother) who some might remember from our trip to WDW in 2008 and she was just excited we were coming up for a visit because she definitely misses us.

Here is a photo of the 3 of us from the Big E


Well those are the major players, others you might hear about are my Aunt Kathy, her BF Paul, and my Cousin Kevin. But since family time is more of a private thing I am going to focus on the Touristing things

Now with visiting as a tourist its hard to impose on family when we come up so we decided that we would fly into Providence since it was cheaper, rent a car from alamo, and then stay in a hotel. Originally we were thinking of staying at Foxwoods since I found a $89 a night rate but then when we found a Hilton Garden Inn near Hartford for $54 a night we jumped ship and booked the HGI. Plus, it was closer to our family who live in Western Mass and we only need to drive back to Providence to fly home so staying close to that airport wasn't necessary.

Our flight was smooth, but longer then the flight to Hartford so I was dying to stretch my legs by the time we landed. I love to travel but flying is boring and drags on if it is a flight longer then 2 and 1/2 hours and this was about 30 minutes longer then my attention span when flying My mom I think was glad to get off the plane after I started a rousing rendition of "are we there yet" just to keep myself occupied

We landed then headed to baggage claim and Alamo, the luggage was right off the plane quick our bags were out in the first wave and the line at Alamo was non existant. This is where we saw our first difference in being in Orlando vs Providence. The guy finished checking us out at Alamo for our car, a group walked up and as we were walking away we heard them ask if the agent spoke spanish. In Florida being bilingual in spanish is pretty common but the gentleman working the counter didn't speak english and the Agent didn't speak Spanish. I definitely regret not learning spanish in school as even having a small amount of a 2nd language is a helpful thing when traveling. Just an observation.

We made our way to the parking area and took the shuttle to alamo's lot and picked out our car. It was a quick ride to walmart for some packing tape, seltzer, and popcorn balls and then it was on to Have dinner with a Passporter Friend Hi Dyan at Gregg's in Warwick RI.

It was a fantastic meal with great friends (Dyan and her DH joined us) and the food was delicious! We had their Monday Special which was drink, entree, and dessert for around $12. Mom and I both had the Roasted Chicken Meal. It had Cranberry sauce, stuffing, a side of Pasta, a Side Salad and Chocolate Cake for me. Mom's had Cranberry, Stuffing, salad, and baked potato with Apple Pie. I ate the cake there but we brought mom's pie back to the hotel for later.


I have no idea where Dyan's DH was looking but he was thrilled to be surrounded by 3 ladies who were gabbing and chatting about everything and anything Maybe thats his "get me out of here eyes" From what I have heard he enjoyed "chatting" with us from Dyan so he wasn't suffering I guess.

Here is the Death By Chocolate Cake I had:


After dinner was done and we said our goodbyes my mother and I then drove to our hotel, it took about 2.5 hours as we made a few stops for some junk food for the hotel, a drive by our old house, and finally getting checked in at the hotel.

Our hotel is very nice, in a Business Park so very quiet, the pool is ice cold, the Hot tub was nice but small but for the location, the price, and the clientele I can see why its not bigger. The rooms are spectacularly clean, the beds are sooooo Comfy! they are a mix of Temperpedic and Sleep Number beds If I could fit it in my luggage I'd have thought about bringing it home Alas its to big so here in CT it stays!

It has been a nice stay here for the most part but I have a humorous story for later in our stay to tell you

But for now since its early, and Floor Foot Frannie will be here in a little while to take me to get my hair done, I will save the rest for next time.

Up Next... Pie, Lobsters and Pasta Oh MY!

Update for Day 2 and Day 3 Click Here

[chezp]

Great start Amy!

[lauriep]

Glad you're getting to visit the northeast and family before the cold weather and before getting swamped with school. Can't wait to hear the humorous story you're making us wait for! I swear your grandma looks younger each time you post a photo. She's so cute!

[DrDolphin]

Great start Amy!!!

[DyanKJ130]

Great start! Can't wait til you get to the Twisted Sister part! THAT was AWESOME!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Amy!

[MaryEL8775]

I am so sorry that I missed you while you were at the Big E., esp. where I am only 5 minutes away.

[duck addict]

Great start
I gained 5 pounds just looking at that cake

[OhToodles!]

That cake looked scrumptious!! So glad you got to go home for a visit!

[Grammy Grumpy]

Great start Amy! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures, they are always great reading!

[iamgrumpy]

So on Tuesday the 22nd, my mom had all her doctor appointments so my grandma the wonderful lady that she is became Floor Foot Frannie once more and came to pick me up driving I'm sure like the 83 year old that she is But she found the hotel easily and we headed out for the day. We decided we would go back to her house, I would wait while she worked (she is a lunch monitor at the local elementary school "miss fran" puts ketchup on the kids food, and basically just keeps them from having food fights although she might instigate one if they ask her nicely ) after work we headed out to have lunch at Rein's Deli a local to Vernon CT, and Sprinfield Mass restaurant they have the best pickles but the hot dog was disappointing. I did like the clam chowder but I should have stuck with my usual of French Toast made with Challah Bread but I tried to be "exotic" and try something different next time its back to my usual!

We did stop at the Grocery Mart and then headed back to her house. Mom would meet up with us to have dinner that night, a Pork Roast, with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans. It was delicious! The funniest part was my Cousin asking me who was cooking the roast and me saying "My Mom" and Kevin going "WHOOHOO my mom isn't cooking" My aunt Kathy isn't the best cook but for him to dance and say that made me fall over laughing.

The only photos I have from the day are of my Aunt's Dog Tiki (named for some football player but since I'm a Patriots fan I can't or I should say WON'T mention the team ) She is a Shepard, Lab, Coon hound Mix whichever she is she is absolutely adorable and her latest "kick" is hunting for moles. My aunt's yard looks like 1 giant field of craters but the dog as of the day we left was 9 for 9 moles. My aunt might rent her out!




She was aiming for the toy my cousin kevin had in his hand the purple blob on the right side but this photo just makes me giggle


She was worn out so we tucked her in She is such a loveable and easy going dog now that she has settled into the home..



We went back late that night and had to return early Wednesday as that was The Big E "Eat" Day I had been waiting months for this day to get here and it would pass all too quickly!

We got to the Big E after 10am though so that the buildings would be open. Crowds weren't nearly as busy as past years the economy definitely is affecting things. CT day was the theme of the day a tradition for us to go on CT Day and it usually is jammed pack though it was very light this time.

We walked over to the state buildings, each state (NH, ME,MA,CT,RI, VT) have buildings themed after their state capital building and in each building is vendors from that state selling things built, made, etc from that state.

New Hampshire is First, my plan was to eat my way through the fair but nothing in NH tickled my fancy but it was nice to see what they had to offer none the less.


That long line (crowd) was the line for Foxwood's Spin Wheel longest line at the fair.

After New Hampshire was Connecticut, I had nothing there either they had oysters but so not my thing so skipped that but we did buy some PEZ dispensers themed in Red Sox.


After Connecticut, was Vermont, there I had an apple pie with Vanilla Ice Cream it was delicious and soooo New England. It was soo good I forgot to take a photo (that is a theme here) but definitely worth the price.

I also forgot to take a photo of the building that pie must have just distracted me too much sorry

We headed into Maine Next, where I followed that Pie with Ice Cream with a Lobstah (lobster for non new englanders) Roll. It had HUGE pieces of Lobstah and it was sooooo GOOOD! I could have had a 2nd but was pacing myself. No photo of the food, my hand and face devoured it far to fast to last long enough for that!

I was going to get a Potato but the line was longer then I cared to wait so I skipped it.

My Aunt Kathy is in the photo she has the red glasses on her head


After Maine was Massachusetts where I had a few samples of food from the booths but nothing major, by now I was starting to have my fill of walking but we still had Rhode Island, and a few other places we wanted to hit before leaving.



After Massachusetts was Rhode Island, they had tons of seafood, and lemonade and coffee but we spent more time just checking out the products then eating anything. I was saving up for the Pasta that I like at the Big E.



After Rhode Island, we stopped so my mom, aunt and grandma could get the chicken dinner at the lions club booth, then we headed to Storrowtown Village for the crafts. We did do some shopping but nothing major was bought other then some of those Chami Wow's that wipe up messes without pressing blah blah blah, yeah one of those Seen on TV Ads.

My Grandma was a good sport and took a photo for me


After Storrowtown Village my aunt had to go take my cousin to a golf tournament so we stopped got 1 Cream Puff and 1 Eclair to go and she brought them back to her house for us to have later.

We stopped got my pasta, then hit the Loreal Booth where I got a makeover before the parade. It was air conditioned in there and we could sit so it worked for us!

Then we found spots for the parade ... A few good shots...

Biggie The Mascot of the fair


Jodi Rell She is The Governor of CT




The little horses


The BIG Horses


After we watched the parade we headed out and headed back to my Aunt's house where we just visited and after a few hours ordered a pizza to share as we had the munchies and felt like a pizza.

We headed back to our hotel, and I took a dip in the pool and hot tub, they were ok but the water was far too cold (even indoors didn't help) as I think they had just refilled it but the hot tub was nice and warm.

Up Next...Another Makeover, a few good burgers, and some Slot Machines.

[bsblady01]

more please

[LouigiAnne]

Sound's like a Great Day at the Fair!!

[chezp]

What a wonderful day at the fair!

[Colexis Mom]

Great updates Amy!