July 22 - 24

July 22
DC day. Less imposing than NYC, but certainly no less to do and see. As with NYC, we knew we would have to be selective in our one day whirlwind through on of America's most iconic locations. We drove into town right along Pennsylvania avenue and it doesn't take long for the Washington Monument to pierce the horizon and, before you know it, poof, there's the White House on the left. It all seemed so strangely accessible.

We parked in a parking garage about 5 blocks from the mall and began our walk toward the heart of our nation's political history. Here again a summary list will have to suffice, as our day was rather prolific in terms of sites covered:

• National Gallery of Art: Packed with just as many powerhouse works as MoMA. A very nice impressionism wing and some spectacular Rembrandts!
• U.S. Capitol Building: Lots of "stuff"goes on in there--not all as graceful as it's external architecture.
• U.S. Botanic Gardens: Some fun carnivorous plant displays.
• American Indian Museum: Intriguing exhibition on the Native American's long history and relationship with the horse.
• Air & Space Museum: Wow, those early Apollo spacecrafts look like they were whipped up in some one's garage with cellophane, duct tape and aluminum foil.
• National Museum of Natural History: Special exhibit on the "Titaniboa," a newly discovered ancient and massive snake.
• Washington Monument: Wonder when they installed those red, flashing lights?
• WWII Memorial and Lincoln Memorial: The highlight was standing in the exact spot where MLK gave his infamous speech and taking in the view of perfect architectural symmetry along the sight line toward the Washington Monument and Capitol.
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The most somber of the mall's sites.
• The White House: Just a trot across the lawn. It's mostly hidden by trees. All those iconic photos must have been taken in fall/winter.

Maya poses with a large and famous Degas painting at the National Gallery.

Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap! Sorry, had that song in my head for some reason.

At the U.S. Botanic Gardens...

A meticulous horse mask from the American Indian Museum

OK, who wants to get in that thing and get hurled into the starry abyss?

Elephants became a theme for the trip. This one was at the Museum of Natural History

Funny--it wasn't as tall as it seems in the pictures.

Honest Abe.

"MLK" (Maya Lorraine Koch) at the spot of MLK's famous speech

July 23 - 24

Marathon drive home! We decided to drive straight through and pulled into the driveway in The Colony, Texas at about 8:45 am on July 24.

July 20 - 21

NYC day was finally here. Stuffed with a hearty continental breakfast? Check. Public transportation into Manhattan all planned out? Check. Dressed for a day of excessive walking and urban trekking? Check. Raining cats and dogs? Check. Since this was our one shot at hard-core touring of NYC on this trip, we had no choice but to grin and bear the very wet weather, so we raced out to the bus stop outside the hotel and rode it right into the Port Authority Bus Terminal just a couple blocks from Times Square.

Until you've been there, that old phrase, "...in a New York minute," seems like a metaphorical reference to the high tempo life of the world's most famous metropolis. But here's the thing--time really does seem to slow in that electric, frenetic wonderland so that it actually feels as though you can squeeze more into a single minute. And squeeze we did. Here's a summary list of everything we hit in a single day:

• Empire State Building: Due to the weather, lack of visibility and fishy nature of the horde of dudes trying to sell us tickets outside the entrance, we declined the very pricey privelage of going up a few dozen floors.
• New York Public Library: Wow! The famous guardian lions greeted us on the way into the architectural marvel. Seeing A.A. Milne's original Pooh bear (and friends) in the children's section was also a cool highlight.
• Grand Central Terminal: Once again, breathtaking architecture, especially the winter constellations painted onto the ceiling of the main terminal. We grabbed some lunch in the popular food court too.
• St. Patrick's Cathedral: Grandiose and mesmerizing.
• Museum of Modern Art: Standing face-to-face with those famous works you've been seeing in books and movies your whole life is hard to describe. Van Gogh's Starry Night had to be the highlight, and it was cool to get a photo of Vince next to an original painting by his namesake.
• Fifth Avenue: Just window shopping.
• Central Park: Is there a movie that DOESN'T have a scene in Central Park?
• Trump Tower: OK, all we did here was get a snack from Starbucks.
• Times Square: It really does feel like the center of the universe in a way.
• The Subway: I know it's a mode of transportation but it's also an event in itself.
• Staten Island Ferry: It was night time when we got off the subway, but cruising by the Statue of Liberty at night held it's own special charms, and the ride was a nice day to begin to wind down from all the sights and sounds.

All in all, we were extremely pleased with everything we'd gotten in. Falling asleep that night was not difficult.

Outside the NYC public library. Made entirely of white marble.

The original Pooh was a long-distance runner and not as chubby as today's.

Grand Central Station was immense.

Vince caught some cool orbs in this photo of the famous ceiling of the main terminal.

At MoMA, Paula posed with a self-portrait from Frida Kahlo, one of her favorite artists.

Vince and his namesake's most famous piece

Central Park

This "Times Square" place seemed kind of popular.

That one lady. 

July 21

Just a travel day to DC. We got to our hotel in Fairfax, VA by late afternoon and just kind of settled in, anticipating another huge tourist day the next day.

July 19

On our first full day in NYC we had a little business to take care of before we could be complete tourists. Our first stop was Fordham University in the Bronx, where Vince had a meeting scheduled with the soccer coach followed by an official campus tour with the admissions office. Besides being a very classy Division 1 school in the center of the cultural universe (NYC), here are a few other tidbits about it:

• U2 played a concert there in front of the main green a few years ago. A very intimate setting and it would have been a spectacular show.
• The bedroom scenes from The Exorcist were filmed in one of the dorms. Wouldn't it be the luck of the draw to get that room your freshmen year.
• It sits just about 2 blocks from Little Italy.

While Vince and Ben took care of business at Fordham, Paula and the girls checked out the fabled Bronx Zoo. When the boys finished up at Fordham the girls still had some zoo to cover, so they headed to Little Italy for something to eat. What a rich and eclectic blend of cultures--Italians, Greeks and Puerto Ricans (to just name a few) creating a universe where food, language and style are all evolving into something unique, that only exists there in Little Italy.

By the time we all met up again it was late afternoon and since we were in the city with our own car and getting back across the bridge to our hotel in New Jersey was a bit of an unknown, we decided to hang it up for the day and get back to home base.

I think this was Gryffindor House

Vince in front of Fordham's main building. That's where U2 played.

Paula and Maya in front of the ornate gate of the Bronx Zoo

If it weren't for the glass, Maya could have smelled this guy's breath.

They had some really big caterpillars...

...and butterflies.

July 17 and 18

July 17
Ben and the girls haven't had enough uphill intensity, so right after breakfast we take a short drive to Treman State Park for a trek up and along the Gorge Trail and Rim Trail. Fortunately, the Rim Trail ended very near the entrance to the swimming hole, and Morena and Maya were more than happy to cool off with a dive off the diving board and some splashing around the 70 degree natural pool.

In the afternoon we went to watch Vince's final scrimmage of the Cornell camp, then met him back at the dorms for checkout. Before departing camp, he had a very positive and fruitful conference with the coaches, and he left his last camp of the tour very pleased with performance.

To celebrate, we made some veggie fajitas back at camp then rode back into Ithaca to cap off the night at Purity Ice Cream. According to their own claims, they are inventors of the ice cream sundae. Have to admit it was some tasty decadence.

On the trail at Treman State Park

Paula dips a foot in the falls during a break in the hike 

Morena in mid air!

Careful on those slick rocks!

Big view of  Treman State Park swimming area 

Vince's dorm at Cornell camp

Cornell campus as the sun begins to set

July 18
Time to pack up camp yet again. The rolling drive east from Ithaca then south into Pennsylvania felt like a self-guided tour of colonial quaintness. It was a light and easy ride through villages anchored by colonial churches and old houses adorned with vibrant gardens of veggies and wildflowers. Our destination was Easton, Pennsylvania, home of Lafayette University. If I didn't know better, I could have sworn I'd driven into Philly. I swear I had the sudden urge to put on some Franklin bifocals, play a  snare drum, and sign something important. But actually it was just a funky college town on the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Vince and Ben took an official tour of Lafayette and met with the soccer coach while the girls relaxed at the student center. Originally, we had planned on camping at Spruce Run State Park in New Jersey, but since the weather had taken a stormy and threatening turn, we decided to treat ourselves to an extra night in our hotel near NYC (where we already had reservations for July 18 and 19).

It was neat to see the NYC skyline as we neared the hotel, which sits in the virtual shadow of MetLife stadium, where the New York Giants and Jets of the NFL play (Note: Technically we were still in New Jersey, just across the bridge from NYC).

Easton, PA

Lafayette University

Vince's first slice of New York pizza (OK, it was New Jersey)

July 16

July 16

A morning run/hike up the Gorge Trail at Buttermilk Falls revealed some beautiful little pockets of waterfalls and pools. And made for an intense workout. After a light lunch of sandwiches we explored downtown Ithaca, including the public library and the plethora of bohemian-edged thrift shops, clothing and book stores. For snack we nestled into a little cafe called "The Mate Factor" that specializes in homemade waffles and Argentine yerba mate (green tea). With its quirky, dark wood interior and corners and alcoves I bet it's a super cozy spot for a cup of coffee deep in the Ithaca winter.

In the evening, we went out to watch Vince play a scrimmage with his Cornell camp team. Sorry, no pictures were allowed!

Maya and Paula charge up the steps at the BEGINNING of the trail.

It sounded very peaceful too.

Some art work in downtown Ithaca.

Not a real hole in the wall.

July 12 - 15

July 12

Vince in action at Notre Dame camp

Ben and the girls took a rigorous hike up two of the tallest dunes in the park. What a workout! In the afternoon it was off to South Bend for a blog update and over to the fields to watch Vince scrimmage. Some Chipotle for dinner and then back to camp.

The girls have conquered Mt. Jackson!

July 13
We wrapped up our time in Indiana Dunes by packing up camp early and heading to South Bend to watch Vince's final game and check him out of camp. He finished off a great camp by helping his team to a 4-0 victory in their final match. He received a glowing evaluation from the Notre Dame coaching staff and the experience was very positive.

We couldn't leave Notre Dame without at least one more visit to the Hammes book store to get Vince some Notre Dame attire and pick up a book on New York City to start planning our brief visit there. There was one more destination, however--we made a short pilgrimage to the famed basilica and much more subtle but powerful grotto of "Our Lady of Lourdes," where Paula entered to make a candle offering in honor of all our relatives and loved ones. There was a very peaceful and inclusive energy around the grotto and it reminded me of some of the Buddhist holy sites I've visited in India and Tibet.

Then it was on the road to a hotel in Cleveland. Nothing too glamorous--just a stop on the way to our next destination--Ithaca, NY.

Vince in action at final Notre Dame game

Paula and Morena at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Basilica

July 14
Two things made the drive from Cleveland to Ithaca interesting. First, once you hit Western Pennsylvania and cut north the landscape becomes a gorgeous procession of green hills and valleys. We stopped for lunch in Jamestown, NY--birthplace of Lucille Ball!

The second item of interest from that drive was an absurdity. Apparently it is illegal to drive with headphones on in New York. Seriously. I actually got a ticket for wearing headphones. Wonder if my Texas plates had anything to do with it? Here's an excerpt of the exchange:

Officer: Hey, you know it's against the law to drive with headphones on?
Ben: You're kidding.
Officer: Do I look like I'm kidding?
Ben: No you don't.
Officer: I'm not the kidding kinda guy.
Ben: Oh, ok. Didn't know that...

Although the officer did have a Dinero-like flair, he was actually quite pleasant and sincere about the whole thing. Just doing his job. But really, you're kidding right?

Mid-afternoon we arrived at Buttermilk Falls State Park and pulled into our spot in a very packed camp site. Another thing we are noticing about the Northeast is the different sense of privacy. People seem comfortable with closer physical proximity with strangers.

Buttermilk Falls camp site

The so-called "falls" were a mere tinkle when we arrived

July 15
You round the bend out of Buttermilk Falls and head north on Highway 13 into Ithaca and a majestic, palatial edifice emerges on the horizon. That's Cornell, and it's presence at the top of the valley where Ithaca sits gives whole new meaning to the "ivory tower" of academia. We made our way through Ithaca and got to the base of the well, mountain, we would have to climb to reach Cornell. Let's just say there are some hills there that put San Francisco to shame and a few times the Corolla was whining quite a bit. When you finally wind your way up through old neighborhoods of colonial and Victorian style houses (architecture buffs can correct me on those designations), you reach the awesome (used here as an adjective in it's true sense--"awe-inspiring") collection of buildings that make up Cornell. We gave our selves the self driving tour, then turned back to campus town for lunch at a patio cafe.

After lunch we got Vince checked in at the Cornell soccer camp, then ventured out in search of a laundry mat and took care of some laundry. Then down to "Buffalo Street Book Store" where the girls picked up some new reading (they've been devouring books the whole trip).

Back at camp we tried out the Dutch Oven for the first time. One of Paula's Ikea co-workers loaned it to us so we wanted to give it a shot with a corn-potato casserole. Let's not call it "delish" but it was a worthy one pot meal.

Umm, did we enter a wormhole to Europe?

Sidewalk Cafe

The dorm at Cornell

Stand back -- I'm kind of a pro at this Dutch Oven thing.

Huh?