Our visit to the United States of America-3: Cannon Mountain and Portland Lighthouse

Our visit to the United States of America-3

(1) Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire

Last weekend, we went on a day-long trip to Cannon Mountain, a 4080-ft peak in the White Mountain ranges of New Hampshire, located north of Boston, Massachusetts.  It is 145 miles, about 2½ h drive from home.

Our daughter-in-law had packed enough food, water and beverages, as we hit the road by 7:30 am.  The 6-lane freeway from Boston to New Hampshire is remarkable and vehicles run at an average speed of 60-65 miles per hour. It is admirable to see disciplined road traffic culture in this country.  No doubt, roads are excellent with clearly visible, adequate signboards, well-laid service roads and  no potholes all along the route. Everyone strictly follows traffic rules and drives with utmost care. 

  

Autumn is readying to set in New Hampshire and it was evident by the steady changing colours of tree-foliage from green to yellow to orange-red along the roadsides, as we drove from Boston towards Cannon Mountain. Autumn or fall marks the transition from summer to winter season in this temperate part of the world.  The scenic beauty all along the roadside is simply breathtaking...

We reached the base of Cannon Mountain, our first destination, at 10:00 am and quickly ate the sandwiches and fruits brought by our daughter-in-law. Base station contained an illustrative information desk, ticket counter, cafeteria and clean restrooms. We bought entry tickets and got into a 70 plus passenger capacity cable-car which slowly and smoothly ferried us from the base to the summit of the mountain, about 1 km vertical climb, in 10 minutes. This is said to be the first aerial tramway set up in the USA. It was a bright, sunny day and as we were going up in the cable-car, the stunning mountainous terrains and extensive pine forests around us were clearly visible.

The scenic view from the summit is remarkable. Glancing around 360°, the whole White Mountain range opened up before us.  It was a breathtaking view all around. We walked in a few of those short, trekking trails. There were beautiful stone benches at intervals. The extensive carpet of pine plants all around, which withstood harsh wind, bright sun and thick snow in different times of the year, is a beauty on its own. Being week-end, visitors were plenty. Yet, the place was noiseless, orderly and none littered the place. It was absolutely clean all around. I was deeply delighted to see this nature’s divine creativity called Cannon Mountain.  We spent an hour at the summit and then descended to the base by a return tramway.  

 (ii) Portland Lighthouse

Our next place of visit for the day was Portland Headlight, a historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, in the province of Maine. It is 110 miles south-east of Cannon Mountain and about 2½ h drive. The mountainous road took us across the country side of Maine province and was undoubtedly beautiful all along in view of autumn season and trees laden with changing coloured leaf canopy. We took lunch on the way in a Mexican restaurant.

The Lighthouse is situated at the entrance of Portland harbour in the gulf of Maine. It is said to be the oldest lighthouse in the province of Maine. It was a bright, sunny afternoon and, being weekend, numerous visitors thronged around the lighthouse. Again, the place was stunningly beautiful and absolutely clean. In my earlier overseas sojourns, although mostly academic, I used to spend little time on sightseeing. What appealed me the most are that the places are stunningly clean, orderly and visitor-friendly. Tourists love such places. We spent a couple of hours enjoying the breezy evening of Portland city. As the shades fell in, we returned to home, another 2 h return drive.

   

D. Jayarama Bhat

Interesting two eating places in Massachusetts, USA

Interesting two eating places in Massachusetts, USA

Boston and surrounding suburbs have several interesting, diverse and unique eating places and our children, being a sort of gastronomy specialists, say they have tasted several of those trans-continental foods around. Not only sometimes they eat outside but also frequently experiment some of these exotic food items, from Mexican to Thai, at home. I and my wife are firstly strict vegetarians and secondly not big foodies but children desired that we taste as many of these interesting foods around as possible. They introduced us to a few of the food courts and two eateries in Massachusetts we found stand apart....

(i) Mediterranean Turkish Food

Children ferried us to an interesting food-house entitled ‘Mediterranean Turkish Food’ in Framingham. The owners of this eatery are specialised in Mediterranean style wraps and kebabs. I and my wife carefully looked at the vegetarian menu in this food stall which boasts several delicious, ethnic preparations.  Covered by homemade hummus and sauces, their falafel, chickpea salad, green lentil, dry bean and lettuce guvec were the ones we enjoyed the most.  Besides, they had several wraps which all are said to be their specialities. Hard work and dedicated service for years have brought name and fame to this restaurant. I admire the food ‘brand’ created by them.

(ii) Trombetta’s Farm

Last week, our daughter-in-law’s mother joined us. Early this week, we visited a nearby ingenious farm called Trombetta’s Farm, a creative mix of plant nursery, miniature golf course and variety of homemade ice creams at one place. The Trombetta’s Farm, located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is about 20 min drive away from home.  The Farm has good parking space in front and people come on causal drive and enjoy the tasty homemade ice creams. I noticed that it’s a good place for ice cream hopping, purchase of varied flowering or vegetable potted plants and hosting children birthday parties....

We were indeed delighted to visit Trombetta’s Farm. Displayed were a large number and a variety of potted flowering and vegetable plants, both annuals and perennials of all seasons, for sale. It is a collection of an array of hangers, shrubs and vegetables. Being fall, pretty pumpkins of all types and sizes were on display. Besides, variety of needful nursery farm-tools and plant seeds were kept for sale. It is a standing example that where aesthetic mixes with creativity purpose gets accomplished.

We ate ice creams mocha chip, vanilla and maple-walnut. Trombetta’s Farm is known for its own homemade ice creams. I believe the Farm takes pride in their speciality ice creams which are made of fresh local ingredients in every unique recipe, from peach or pumpkins to low-fat yogurt. Here too, I notice they have created a ‘brand’ of their own. 

In trade, this is important. One has to create a product which is profoundly appreciated and preferentially sells. I remember several of beverage and eatery specialty houses back in India, even in remotest parts. Amongst these, I specially make a reference of Lakshmi Nivas Ktea and Coffee hotel, located in Kalladka along Mangaluru-Mysore road in Dakshina Kannada, which serves a unique type of ‘layered’ tea and coffee for years. Commuters passing through this place invariably visit this hotel and it is the Ktea 'brand’ of  the hotel that sells.... 

We fondly wish these food courts all well.....

D. Jayarama Bhat

Our trip to United States of America - 1

Preparation and Visa procurement

Our son and daughter-in-law, living in the USA, have been asking us to visit them since sometime. I and my wife dodged for a while primarily because I felt that it would rather be little difficult to travel long distances at this age and secondly it will unnecessarily be a pressure on children’s’ routine life. However, they prevailed upon us. Accordingly, beginning of this year and suitably assisted by them, we filed Visa applications online, paid appropriate fees, attended interviews in the US consulate, Mumbai, and soon received our stamped travel visa at our hometown.  Travel visa procurement process to the USA is a systematic and well-organised exercise and everything went on easy for us.

Timing and travel

Since winter commences in November in the USA, we decided our visit to Sept-October. Gathering needful clothing, medicines and a few home-made eateries, we flew to Boston, via Mumbai and Doha, by Qatar Airways. It was nearly a 19 h long flight from Mumbai to Boston with 2½ h layover in Doha international airport. We were served with nice, Asian vegetarian meals on-board and both of us are quite pleased with the courteous in-flight services of Qatar Airways. Such pleasant was our flight that I and my wife would readily recommend Qatar Airways to anyone wanting to travel to any European or trans-Atlantic countries...

Arrival in Boston

Boston in Massachusetts is located in the east coast of USA and this time of the year it is 9½ h behind India. As our flight landed on time at Logan International airport Boston after a continuous 13½ h journey from Doha, with quick immigration check and customs clearance, we were fondly received by our son and daughter-in-law. Meeting dear ones after a long gap of time is simply a joyous moment. Children drove us to their home about 45 km west of Boston.  Slightly exhausted of the long travel, within two days we got relieved of jet-lag and quickly fine-tuned ourselves to the American time-regime.

We planned little over a month stay in the USA and time is steadily passing. It is nearly 2 weeks since we arrived here. Weather in Boston is very pleasant with chilly morning and evenings and beautiful, bright, sunny days. It is certainly a welcome change for us from that continuous, heavy monsoon rain of west-coast of India.

The city and surroundings of Boston is undoubtedly beautiful with clean, broad, well-built roads accompanied by well-laid foot-paths on both sides; orderly traffic, expansive greenery around and disciplined way of life. None litters on the roads or side-walks. I and my wife are very delighted and regularly undertake morning long walks and evening casual strolls in this eye-catching suburban.

Visit to Niagara Falls

End of first week, we were taken on a sight-seeing trip to the world famous Niagara Falls, located 750 km west of Boston, in the New York State. It was a long 8 h drive from Boston. Bordered by province of Ontario, Canada, on the other end, Niagara Falls is a group of 3 waterfalls, namely Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil, and together it makes a spectacular view this time of the year. With more than 150,000 gallons/sec water gushing down and having a long history, the Niagara Falls, is undoubtedly valued for its sheer beauty and vast hydroelectric power generative capacity. Maid of the Mist boat cruise, walkways through the Prospect Point Observation Tower and Cave of the Winds, we enjoyed the place to the best. Guided boat cruise underneath the mighty waterfalls and steady walking through observation tower and along the cave of the winds are truly amazing.

This enjoyable visit of ours to Niagara Falls pushed my memory 28 years back to an earlier visit to the same sight but from the Canadian side when I had been to and spent 4 months in Waterloo University, Ontario in Feb-March 1993 as a Visiting Scientist. So, essentially this is my second visit to the same sight.  Niagara Falls is definitely picturesque and spectacular from both sides. Appended are a few pictures which speak in volumes of this natures’ great wonder of the world......

Corning Museum of Glass

On the way to Niagara Falls, 350 km from Boston, we made a brief stopover at Corning Museum of Glass which contains the art, history and science of glass at one place. Founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Factory, the museum currently has a collection of more than 50000 world famous, most comprehensive and celebrated glass collections at one place, some over 3500 years old. We went around the museum, saw a demo of actual glass-making and had a glimpse of varied glass products, viz. tumblers and crockery, historic glass artifacts, science glass wares, weird mirrors, variety of glass exhibits and numerous other glass items. Hitherto, I never knew glass has such an ancient and amazing history. The vast gift shop in Corning Museum contains varied glass products, which one is tempted to buy and carry back home as a treasure memento.

I was quite exited having visited the Corning Museum of Glass, for another pleasant reason. In my forty-years of service as a mycologist, I and my research team vastly used Corning-make glass-wares, viz. test-tubes, Petri-plates, conical flasks, pipettes and many more for fungal researches, especially for cultivation and maintenance of fungi in the laboratory. Obviously, I was thrilled seeing this amazing museum of glass art.

Live demo of glass-making

As we returned to Boston, silently, I thanked my son and daughter-in-law for having taken us to these wonderful sight-seeing places, in the first leg of our tour, which made our trip truly exiting and memorable.

D. Jayarama Bhat