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Sunday, January 07, 2007I have just returned from a highly sucessful and stunning trip to Connecticut, New York and New Jersey with my older brother. I did the coach bus journey again from Toronto via New York into Hartford, Connecticut. To see this quaint and quieter state of mind than I'm used to again brought back many memories over the past few years. Connecticut has developedinto more than a travel destination, it's a second home now.As soon as I step foot on Connecticut soil I feel like I have entered a third home (we have a farm) and not just a new destination.Connecticut praticularly Central Connecticutfeels just like a comfy third region to me. I have southern Ontario, northern Alberta in Canada and also Connecticut, USA. The trip was very sucessful which was meaningful to me since my still sucessful but not as smooth summer sojurn down there this past July. Drove along the familiar road of Farmington Avenue in West Hartford/ Hartford where I have spent many weeks of my life now, seeing the old Victorian and Colonial style mansions back, the old restaurants I used to frequent and so much more. To be in the arms of my good friends, the editors of my newspaper. To be able to catch up in person on what has happened over the past few months and at our traditional Christmas party even past years with certain people. Their house holds so much and to be sitting there with so many great people just meant so much. The party had a large attendance this time around. Many old faces appeared for which I had not laid eyes on in seemingly eons. All the familiar faces that I yearn to see were there too. My charades choice this time was absolutely insane with the one I had to act out with hands only being "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court". I looked at the slip of paper and thought to myself "holy lord the Yankees have done me in this time". I tried my very best to act out it sylable by sylable, people started guessing. People continued guessing. Frustration started to fly, people started getting antsy. I started getting even more antsy. People started really wondering what was going on, some casually questioning my lack of skill in the charades game. I will admit it's not my stronghold of talent you currently are reading one of those my writing. However these people know that as this is a newspaper that I contributed 22 articles too, several of them award winning. After a painful half hour those on my team in the living room that night got it. I felt a sudden sigh of relief. My lucky older brother on the other hand new to the Connecticut scene had Brokeback Mountain. Put two fingers up meaning two words. Pointed to his back and hunched over. His team called out the anwser, now only if it could be as easy as that! Had a gourmet Italian dinner with one of my very good writer friends in Hartford. Enjoyed or at least tried to enjoy the food, they certainly had the Americana sized portions there! Yet tasty and a beautiful time to spend with him and have my brother meet him. My brother one on of the Connecticut days posed the question "Can we go to Yale". I responded "Why not". We went down to the station and bought tickets to New Haven, the home of the world famous university. The next day we went to New Haven down in southern Connecticut. I had previously been for a visit this past summer, however such a magical place doesn't lose its appeal. We took an hour or so coach bus drive to New Haven. Upon reaching saw the glitzy buildings that make up the British style downtown as you get towards Yale. Saw the New Haven Green, greens being a large expansive park in the middle of town. This is traditional with many New England towns, the majority of them all once having a green. A common gathering point for the town. Unfortunately Yale University was on its official "recess period" that has the Visitor Center closed, clearly closed with a week's worth of newspapers piled up on their porch. However not to be saddened we continued onto the world famous campus. Having taken the official tour from a student who came from California I recalled many of her words, jokes and more. We made our way through the campus seeing the heart of Yale, the Old Campus. The Oxford like ivy covered stone and brick walls looming over us. The centre court park area in the middle, seeing the statue of the founder and simply gazing at the beauty of the buildings. My brother was especially interested to see that the oldest building in Connecticut-Connecticut Hall was the home of their physchcology department, snapping many shots in front of it. We saw Harkness Tower the massive sprialling tower. The covered courtyards with their heavy iron gates closing them in. We then continued down High Street, a street with all the atmosphere of a high class old university. Checked into the Yale University Art Gallery and took the full tour with a gallery guide. His knowledge of the art brought it all to life. Many works of art Yale almunus have amassed over the years. Manet, Matisse, Degas and many others. A highly creative gallery we really enjoyed was the student sculptures. They created many different pieces of sculpture using almost everything. My favourite was one sitting on a refrigerator rack. Completely made of Vaseleine, this sculpture of a dumbell weight astounded me. We enjoyed New Haven pizza, a deep dish style with many toppings. A truly enjoyable time in my comfy Connecticut. We then boarded a coach bus to take us to New York City for New Years Eve! -A post will soon follow about New Years in New York, check back- Teague Neal blogged on 10:30 AM
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Teague Neal |