Weekend Getaway: New Hope, PA

Posted on May 18, 2011August 8, 2013 by Marcia Mayne

If you visit Lambertville, NJ, you owe it to yourself to make the five minute walk across the bridge to New Hope, PA.

New Hope is a vibrant arts community of about 2,500 residents. A number of restaurants, antique shops and art galleries line its main street. And on weekends, according to one local, businessmen turned bikers, ride their expensive machines over to drink mojitos.

Bohemian New Hope has been a gay friendly community since the 1950s. When we arrived last week, we walked right into the middle of a boisterous Pride celebration, complete with outdoor concert, costumes and Ms. Gay New Jersey.

The Bucks County Playhouse which opened in 1939, became famous as the venue where plays destined for Broadway were fine tuned. The playhouse closed last year but is expected to be reopened under new ownership.

New Hope is less than an hour from Philadelphia and about 90 minutes from New York City. It’s my kind of town.

Delaware River near New Hope and Lambertville — The Delaware River forms a natural border between Lambertville and New Hope

Where to Shop:

Celt-Iberian Traders – art, sweaters, soaps, perfumes, pottery, Celtic crosses and more can be found in this historic building.
A Little Taste of Cuba – everything for the cigar lover but not a Cuban cigar in sight.
Against the Grain Medieval Gallery – the place to find swords, jewelry, clothing
Four Seasons Mall – art, Indian clothes/food, hookah lounge

Where to Eat:

Havana Restaurant and Bar – Nightclub, restaurant and bar. Great place for jazz, blues, etc.
Marsha Brown – a creole restaurant in a converted church
The Landing Restaurant – American food

Where to Sleep:

Getting There:

From the Philadelphia area, follow Interstate 95 N, Exit 51 New Hope/Yardley. Follow signs to New Hope.

Enjoy!

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Weekend Getaway (kezarlife.wordpress.com)
Weekend Getaway: Lambertville, Antiques Capital of NJ (insidejourneys.com)

Weekend Getaway: Lambertville, Antiques Capital of NJ

Posted on May 17, 2011August 8, 2013 by Marcia Mayne

“We discovered this new place that I know you’ll love,” Zoraya said to me. “It’s just as quaint as Cape May, with beautiful historic houses and lots of antique stores — and a lot closer. Let’s pick a weekend and drive down to Lambertville.”

I had never heard of Lambertville before but she had my attention when she said quaint, historic houses and antique stores.

Lambertville, NJ train station — Train station, Lambertville

Lambertville is situated on the Delaware River in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and is an easy hour or so drive from Manhattan. The small community, less than 2 square miles, it is home to about 4,000 residents. Its many 18^th and 19^th century houses give it an old-world appeal.

We were bubbling with excitement like under-aged schoolgirls who had just gotten the keys to the family car as we planned our daylong jaunt. We had hoped for a sunny day but the clouds couldn’t dampen our spirits.

Arriving in Lambertville, we browsed several stores and were tempted by antique silverware, vintage Gucci and Coach bags, an old world lace dress (that I could see myself wearing as I sipped lemonade and nibbled on finger sandwiches), jewelry, vintage perfume bottles.

I could have bought much more than the notebook, lavender sachets, soaps and clothes I came away with but just looking at the chandeliers, lamps, garden furniture, furniture, books, postcards, etc., I began to feel my brain shutting down from visual overloaded. When that happens, I can’t see anything else no matter how beautiful. We decided to pause for lunch. But I plan to return later in the spring and fall – I’m sure the foliage here will be spectacular.

Here’s a taste of what Lambertville has to offer –

Coryell Antiques – www.coryellstantiques.com – Folk Art and Americana, weaponry from the revolutionary war, clocks, etc.
David Rago Auctions – www.ragoarts.com – buyer, seller, auctioneer of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, coins, etc.
Golden Nugget Antique Market – www.gnmarket.com – from furniture to silverware
River Road Antiques and Lighting – www.riverroadantiquesandlighting.com – lighting, furniture and accessories
The People’s Store – www.peoplesstore.net – More than 40 dealers on four floors

Where to Stay

Bridge Street House – www.bridgestreethouse.com
Inn at Lambertville Station – www.lambertvillestation.com
The Chimney Hill Estate – www.chimneyhillinn.com
Woolverton Inn – www.woolvertoninn.com
York Street House – www.yorkstreethouse.com

Getting There

From Manhattan: NJ Turnpike South to 78 W, then 287 South to 202 S to Flemington, then Route 202 to Lambertville.

So if you’re in the Northeast and feel the need to get away for a day, think of Lambertville. It’s worth the drive.

Next post: New Hope, PA

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Unicorn Antiques (thisissean.com)
Antiques Furniture-A Great Place in the Antiques road Show (myjournal4all.wordpress.com)

Quieting My Restless Mind

Posted on May 16, 2011July 16, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

I spend a lot of time in my head so when I’m having one of those days, one where my brain is so stimulated, I can’t write what I want, its paralyzing.

I had this week all laid out. Starting today, I’d write about Paris. I was excited by the ideas that were coming, made notes, selected the photos but now that I’m to start, I haven’t been able to quiet my thoughts. I feel lukewarm, no, detached about it and frankly, it’d be a struggle to write even the first sentence.

Yesterday, on the subway, I ‘wrote’ an entire post on another topic — in my head. I didn’t want to pull out my notebook and begin writing because I feared the thoughts would float away — they were flowing so effortlessly, I decided to bask in the glow of their energy instead. And I did. (I must have filed them away because I can’t recall them today. But believe me, they were beautiful and oh, so poetic!)

So since my brain’s not cooperating, here’s what I’ll do in the meantime:

Write what wants to come out. Writing about something else, takes the pressure off and frees up my brain so it can continue to bake the idea/s that want to come out or clear the clutter.
Do something physical. Like cleaning (which I need to do), walking, gardening, exercising, etc., that engages the other side of my brain and frees me up so the ideas can flow again.
Review the events of the past 2 days. By reliving the weekend’s events, I can connect with and process the emotions and the sparks I got. I had a weekend full of activities and each was a potential blog post. I can also plan the coming weekend’s activities.
Talk to someone. I do have a few calls to make that are totally unrelated to my writing. Those will also take my mind off of the matter at hand.
Breathe deeply. Breathing deeply forces me to concentrate on my breath, not on the confusion in my head. It’s also quite relaxing.
Listen to music. When I listen to music, I’ll sing along or dance and that takes my mind off the noise in my head.
Watch a funny movie or cartoon. It’s no understatement – laughter is good medicine. It’s the perfect antidote to stress and relaxes not just the facial muscles but the entire body.

What technique do you use to quiet your mind when it refuses to do so on its own?

Writing without words… (dragonflyscrolls.wordpress.com)
Pilates to Relax Me! (energypilates.org)

Soulful Sundays: Susana Baca

Posted on May 15, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

I discovered Susana Baca through the series, Blacks in Latin America, produced by Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. that aired recently on PBS.

Susana, of Afro-Peruvian descent, was born in Chorillos. According to Wikipedia, she has been a prominent figure in the revival of Afro-Peruvian music within Peru.

Once I heard her music, I knew I had to get a CD. Here’s De los Amores from her CD, Eco de Sombras.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXo4AfC8HFY]

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AMG New Release Newsletter – 05.10.11. (aalokashi.wordpress.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Red

Posted on May 14, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Everyone who knows me knows (or should know) that I love red. It’s my favorite color. But when I saw this week’s Photo Challenge, I panicked. Do I have anything red, I wondered?

I looked at my phone — the case is red — and thought that if I didn’t find anything, I’d take a photo of it. But a quick search on my computer turned these up. Saved!

Cola man — Coca Cola Man on Cape Town's V& A Waterfront

From our window, this giant man looked like it was made of legos. It wasn’t until we got closer that I realized that it was made from Coca Cola crates – 4,200 of them!

If you’re interested in classic American cars, Cuba‘s the place to go.

It was an unexpected pleasure to come upon this sculpture park near Havana‘s Plaza de la Revolución. I wanted to take this one home and put it in my backyard.

Another of Havana’s classic cars.

Enjoy!

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Red (dailypost.wordpress.com)

Re/discovering Myself Through Travel

Posted on May 13, 2011October 2, 2013 by Marcia Mayne

One of the unintended benefits of traveling, for me, is discovering something new about myself or rediscovering some personal quality that time and life had made me forget.

On my last trip to London, I stayed with my sister and her family. While it was a holiday for me, it wasn’t for them so I knew I’d be navigating the city on my own.

It wasn’t like that on my first trip. I stayed with my favorite female cousin who worked, but I didn’t venture out much. Fresh from completing school in Barcelona, I can still remember the energetic and confident 20-something I was then but I can’t remember why I stayed in so much. I missed out on a lot and it wasn’t because it rained everyday except the day before I left.

In the 20+ years between these two trips — the third doesn’t count as the 4 days were consumed by preparations for my sister’s wedding — I’ve logged several thousand miles of both solo and group travels.

This time, rather than letting myself feel alone or worry that I’d get lost — my friends say I’m directionally challenged, I call it exploring alternate paths — I felt the free and confident person that I am return. And I got even more confident as each day went by and I found my way even when I returned late at night or wandered far afield.

Like the day I did the London Eye. I wandered the Southbank aimlessly, stopped for something to eat then rejoined the sea of people who seemed to be out for a Sunday stroll and enjoying the unusually warm day. I had no idea where I was but I wasn’t bothered. I knew I’d find the underground and my way back — and I did.

After a week of finding my way around in London, I was excited to tackle Paris, where except for a friend from New York, whom I saw once, I was totally alone. My aloneness emboldened me. Could it have been because I speak some French? Probably. But the first night in the hotel, I put a chair behind the door, just in case.

Everyday, I picked the places that I had to see then spent the rest of the time wandering around, discovering quaint streets, flower stalls, boutiques and ‘real’ pharmacies along the way. By the time I made my way back to the metro, it would be way past midnight.

The trip was a big boost to my confidence, especially at a time when I was feeling more than a little unsure of my footing.

I’m eager to start the next trip to see what else I discover about myself.

What do your travels reveal to you?

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6 common solo travel questions – answered (cbsnetpreprod.wordpress.com)
How to save on solo travel (cnn.com)
On travelling solo. (packabackpack.wordpress.com)
A New Incentive to Travel Solo (intransit.blogs.nytimes.com)
5-11-11: The travel shrink (robinandrich.wordpress.com)

Tasty Thursdays: Fresh Strawberry Pie

Posted on May 12, 2011August 2, 2013 by Marcia Mayne

tasty homemade strawberry pie — Image by soozums via Flickr

My almost mother-in-law and second mom was a fabulous cook who hosted elaborate parties. She was a stickler for attractive food presentation. She’d always say that food should please the eyes first before it pleased the stomach.

I spent a lot of time at her home the summer following our meeting, getting to know the family. I ate a lot and discovered several dishes that have become favorites. She always prepared them for me whenever she’d visit.

There’s one dessert she used to make that I love for its simplicity, its elegance and the combination of textures and flavors. It’s Fresh Strawberry Pie. I make every summer and look forward to making it again this year.

Hope you like it.

Ingredients

9″ pie crust

2 pints fresh strawberries (hulled and halved)

Whipped cream

Directions

Remove pie crust from packaging and bake following baking directions.
Select about 20 strawberries as close to the same size as possible. Wash, hull and cut in half. Leave one whole, including the stem, for garnishing.
Once the pie crust cools, arrange the strawberries back to back, stem side down around the edge of the pie.
Spoon whipped cream into the center of the pie crust. Chill until whipped cream is set, about 3 or 4 hours.
Garnish with a whole strawberry before serving.

What’s your favorite dessert?

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Bob Marley, 30 Years Later – Larger in Death

Posted on May 11, 2011July 16, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Today marks 30 years since the death of reggae icon, Bob Marley. I remember how shocked I was when I heard the news. I had no idea he had even been sick.

I saw Bob perform once, in Montreal. My boyfriend at the time and I drove from Ottawa for the mid-week concert.

I don’t remember who the opening act was but when Bob finally came onstage, the crowd went wild. Around midnight, we decided to leave. My boyfriend had to work the next morning and we had a two hour drive ahead. (I would never had done that now!) I never got another chance to see Bob perform and always wondered how the show ended. Within a year or so after that show, Bob was dead.

As with some celebrities, Bob has become bigger and more popular in death than in life. More than anything else however, he was instrumental in putting reggae music and Jamaica on the map internationally.

In 1977, when I lived in Barcelona, I went to the student office on some matter that I now can’t recall. I handed over my passport to the gentleman at the office. He looked at it, looked at me and said, Bob Marley. But his English accent was so Spanglified, I didn’t understand. He must have seen the confusion on my face and said it again. Finally, I got it: Bob Marley! We had a good laugh and talked for a good while, in Spanish, about Bob. He even hummed some of his favorite songs.

It was then that I realized that Bob was not just ours, he was also the world’s.

I have many favorite songs but this one, Could You Be loved, has been playing in my head since I woke up this morning so I thought it would be the one to share.

Enjoy!

[youtube]_i-gcWdBUb8[/youtube]

What’s your favorite Bob Marley song?

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Bob Marley (amairgin.wordpress.com)
Remembering Bob Marley, 30 Years Later (theroot.com)

A Sunday Drive Through the English Countryside

Posted on May 11, 2011August 24, 2013 by Marcia Mayne

When I was growing up, we’d go for long drives on Sunday afternoons. Each Sunday was a new adventure that most times involved ice cream. I still have fond memories of those times.

Though the scenery was different, our Sunday drive through the English countryside it took me back to that time.

Rapeseed field seen on a drive thru the countryside — Rapeseed

Instead of the fields of sugar cane that I would have seen in the part of Jamaica I lived, I saw fields of rapeseed. At first, I thought rapeseed were flowers. They’re not, though.

Rapeseed field seen on a Sunday drive — Rapeseed field

Rapeseed is used to make vegetable oil and in 2000, according to Wikipedia, it was the third largest source of vegetable oil in the world.

It’s hard to ignore field after field of yellow rapeseed. They capture the imagination even from a distance.

Rapeseed field on a Sunday drive — Rapeseed field

I felt in love with thatched houses when I saw them in Southern Africa and was surprised to see them in England. Apparently, there are more thatched cottages in the UK than the rest of of Europe. I wished I could have taken a photo of each one. I tried.

Thatched cottage seen on a Sunday drive — Thatched cottage

You know you’re in the country when you see pig sties.

Pig sties seen on a Sunday drive — Pig sties like none I’d ever seen

It was difficult, at first, to imagine what these semi-circles that seemed as if they were planted in the ground were for. But as we got closer, I noticed a few pigs. These aren’t any pig sties I’m used to seeing.

It’s anyone’s guess what’s planted in that field in the back.

All too soon, the drive came to an end. But it left me quite refreshed and energized and gave me new Sunday afternoon drive memories.

How do you like to spend your Sunday afternoons?

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Stonehenge – Sacred Stone Circle

Posted on May 10, 2011September 7, 2015 by Marcia Mayne

I don’t remember when I first learned about Stonehenge but from the beginning, I’ve wanted to see it. As soon as I knew I would be going to London, I started searching for a tour. I opted for a private tour that would take me inside the stone circle at sunset. (There are also sunrise tours and other tours that don’t go inside the circle.)

Once I booked, it was hard to contain my excitement.

After a scenic drive through some of England’s most picturesque villages and towns, we arrived at Stonehenge around 6 p.m., just as the sun began its descent over the horizon.

I was struck by the size of the monuments. They looked smaller than what I had imagined they would have been after seeing them so many times on television. But they were no less impressive.

Since our group of 52 was too large, we separated into two – the first group entering the circle shortly after we arrived, the second about 45 minutes later.

Stonehenge is believed to have been built as a burial site around 2500 BC. Since there’s no written record of how it was constructed, speculation and theories abound.

However it was built and whatever the reason, it is still an incredibly impressive site, despite several missing and / or damaged stones.

The site feels peaceful, the surrounding area lush and green with fields of canola (rapeseed) in the distance.

When I see places like Stonehenge, I can’t help wondering what will be left of the structures we’ve built and what future generations will think of us.

What do you think?