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Published: October 5th 2015
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I was on my way to a stunning countryside getaway in upstate New York - somewhere I may not have had the chance to experience had I not been invited to a gorgeous wedding in the Catskills!
After a whirlwind 24 hours in New York City, I was on a bus heading to Hunter in the Catskills - the bus station was full of people heading out of town in multiple directions; clearly a very popular thing to do on the weekend. After about forty five minutes I was already gazing out at evergreens and rolling hills. Upon arrival at Hunter, it was time to slow down to country living pace! Feeling small in a big city is very different to feeling small in the wilderness! I think I prefer the latter.
We took a short hike to the nearby waterfall which turned out to be the highest waterfall in New York State. Again, more green, more nature - all good things. On the way back, we stopped for coffee at the tiny but endearing town of Tannersville. It consisted of 50% cafes, and then a country store, a post office and a taxidermy shop!
It turns out Tannersville will be a name I shall remember for rather a long time, as the next day we went out for lunch and got stuck in a lay-by waiting for the Memorial Day parade to go by! Nice thing to witness, but not when you are panicking about being late for a wedding!
And so began the most wonderful weekend of reunions and celebrations. We were staying in a huge 9 bedroom wooden country house by a reservoir with huge windows looking out to the hills, and a balcony that hosted the evening barbecue as everyone had arrived for the wedding the next day. There was a fire pit with classic marshmallow toasting - of course us Brits had to be educated in the fine art of smores-making.
If the Catskills alone weren't beautiful enough, add to the mix two of your good friends getting married and you have a recipe for all things wonderful. The wedding ceremony took place among the trees looking out over the hills and it just couldn't have been more picturesque. The balcony adjoining the function room had a spectacular view, I had to tear myself
away from the dance floor just to appreciate it a couple of times. Oh, and the stars...the stars. They hide from the cities, but they shine on the hills. It was a most wonderful weekend celebrating a marriage and all the happiness of people from around the world who had come to celebrate. Of course, it would have been wonderful wherever it had been located, but the Catskills were something special.
It seems odd how in the city we all feel the need to be busy, to be doing something, to know what is next on the agenda. Sometimes all we need is some space, some quiet, some time - and maybe a good book.
I feel the need to go back to the Catskills one day to hike and adventure and appreciate! Every city needs its getaway and New York nailed it.
JHG
Here is more info on the house: http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p3698261
Tannersville: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannersville,_New_York
Hunter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter,_New_York
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