Blogs from Hudson Valley, New York, United States, North America

The Hudson River School Artist and one of America's most important painters, Frederick Church, fashioned Olana in the style of a Moorish castle. Church's family home (and studio) is situated high atop a mountain along the Hudson River between Germantown and the City of Hudson, NY. Our visit to Olana was in the late fall of 2011, but things don't change at Olana. In fact, the housewares, art, books, and souveniers from Frederick Church and family's significant voyages abroad are virtually intact - just as they were when they lived there. The property is part of the New York State Park's system. The paintings, sculpture and furnishings Frederic and Isabel Church acquired over the course of their lives was described by a 19th century guest as, "a museum of fine arts rich in bronzes, paintings, sculptures ... read more

So, it's a little more then a month till I leave. I'm starting to take stock of what I have to do to prepare... Visa? It's on it's way. The Turkish Embassy has my passport as I type, I'm sure diligently looking over my records and (hopefully) seeing that I'm not a threat to their country. Packed yet? Absolutely not. I have no idea where to begin with packing. I'm still not sure if I'm studying in Prague for the Spring semester. I assume I'll figure it out when I get there.... one of the problems with this plan though is that I have no idea what type of stuff to pack. Istanbul is hot. Prague is cold. If I wind up staying in Istanbul then I'll just have lugged a bunch of heavy winter clothes ... read more

So, I guess this is my first official blog post. It's now 60 days before I leave for England. Right now I'm not thinking much about it, I only really think about when people talk about going back to school and I think oh right, I'm not going back this year... This will be the longest time I've been home in two years, which is... alright? Kingston is ok so long as you have friends, are easily amused, have a car, and a job (or serious hobby if you're into that.) I have 3/4 of them. Well I have friends, but considering I haven't really been around in 2 years I'm not too sure who to call, or if they would even have the same numbers. So right now I'm crocheting a blanket... which might actually ... read more

August 21 - August 31st As mentioned in the last entry, we had a great time visiting with family at lock 8 on the Erie Canal. We then pushed off from there on August 21st and headed toward Waterford. Made it through the flight of 5 locks which ended the locking through of the Erie Canal. We have only great things to say about all of the lockmasters - they all are very friendly and go out of the way to be helpful and provided very useful information. Got to the Waterford visitor center wall and found a space which was great. Waterford is very “boater friendly” - they have free showers, free wi-fi, grocery store within walking distance and volunteers to let you know what is available in town - really great people. We had ... read more

Just two months after we attended the wedding at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY, and just two days after exiting our cruise ship from Canada, we find ourselves once again in the area for another wedding and back onto a boat. About twenty miles north of New Paltz, on the western side of the Hudson River, is the town of Kingston, New York State’s first capital. The drive along the river gave nice scenic views, spotted surprisingly frequently with religious retreats and monasteries, whose impressive stone structures add a historic feel to the area, though perhaps their many gift shops did not. The GPS takes us along an old, infrequently used bridge, which stretches its skinny two lane body across a tributary river. Kingston’s waterfront, called the Rondout, is a nice area to walk ... read more

My last few weeks before heading off will be spent working at West Point. Essentially I am a hotel manager/baby-sitter/butler/and foreman for any cadet wanting to stay at West Point for a few nights before heading off to their next place of duty. It is interesting work. Not sleeping much, but I'm meeting great individuals and my hope in West Point is a little more in tact. I'm working on all my travel arrangements/forms/packing/etc. for the next few months of my life concurrently. Nothing real solid to update other than the fact I'm here, and waiting. ... read more