Concord, NH & Montpelier, VT – 4/7/2017 – http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog

April 7, 2017 (Friday)

Didn’t sleep well, probably due to being a moving day and I usually have a hard time getting to sleep. Also, thunder and lightening! This weather here on the east coast is just bizarre.

Woke up to grey skies but not raining. We left early, around 8:30 AM. We decided to leave our beautiful home in Newport, RI a day early because the State Houses (aka Capitols) in New England are not open on the weekends.

So long Church where the Kennedy’s got married.

The main doors are the same from the wedding pictures on the internet.

Headed north out of Newport for the last time.

The most wave action we have seen in two weeks.

The first part of the drive today was to Concord, New Hampshire – about 150 miles. The roads were good and not too much traffic, except on the road going around Boston. As we were driving the snow was getting deeper and deeper along side the road and the temperature was dipping. We were worried we were going to have snow but it was just rain off and on. We got into Concord, New Hampshire at around 11:30 AM. We found parking at a meter on the street.

The area around the Capitol was interesting in that it had some really old and unusual buildings, but also had a lot of homeless looking people just hanging out. We walked into the Capitol and were quite surprised that there really wasn’t any security so to speak. There was a security guard at the door but he was just sitting there and answered questions for us. He said the “motto” for New Hampshire was “live free or die” and they mean it, so New Hampshire doesn’t like to interfere too much in people’s lives. He told us areas we might be interested in seeing.

Many many Capitols build additional building to accommodate growth. This one is across the street. I predict that one day there will be a tunnel.

The arch is a gift from the city of Concord in memory of the soldiers and sailors that have lost their lives in defense of the US.

Had to hike around and see who this was.

Earlier the states were very proud of their citizens that became President of the United States. Franklin Pierce, 14th President.

Can’t believe how much snow is still around.

Main entrance security. We loved it. Most of the others are clogged and made ugly with metal detectors and ill thought out traffic patterns. Notable exception being Virginia.

The first place we went to (besides Michael going into the bathroom) was the gift shop. Inside the gift shop are some fun displays to learn from. The most fun, however, is a large area of political memorabilia (such as banners, pins, stickers, etc.). Some of the items have signatures on them like Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, etc. Near this is the most beautiful quilt that has so much detail on it. Stunning. The person that did it is a real artist. There was also a cardboard statue of “The Donald.” The Capitol was nice, nothing over the top but a nice, comfortable almost 200 year old working Capitol.

The New England states and the Feds give the Eagle an unnatural neck.

New Hampshire’s first in the nation policy drives me a little nuts. 600,000 people have more say than 33,000,000.

The House was different in that it has 400 members. Very unusual but I guess it works for this little state of less than a million people. What I found interesting was that there were more pictures of women going back many, many years.

Narrative at bottom of painting in Senate.

I believe this is the only Capitol that does not have brass front on their elevator. The shaft is finished in a nice oiled brass finish though.

Elevator shaft finished outside all the way up.

I had to catch it before it hit the ground.

The second stop for the day (after gas somewhere along the way) was Montpelier, Vermont – about 120 miles away. The road was almost all highway and very nice. It looked like a winter wonderland or a Currier and Ives Christmas card at some places along the way. Beautiful. The temperature went down to the low 40’s but then went back up to about 48.

Got pretty thick before we finished today’s travels.

Many fields in Vermont with solar panels.

The city of Montpelier is so cute, very old fashioned and mostly brick. Loved it.

Our first sight of the Montpelier Capitol.

Interesting across the street from the Capitol.

She seems over-sized for the dome upon which she stands.

The Capitol had these monster stairs leading up to the massive front doors, reminded me of climbing the great wall. The doors were open. As we were approaching the front doors a man came out and said the mascot, cheerleader and Lombardi trophy from the Superbowl 2017 winning New England Patriot’s was inside. He showed us the room and told us there was no line and we were able to get our pictures taken. Too fun.

It is a relatively small Capitol building, but very symmetrical and lovely.

Refreshingly only one statue and four cannons.

Lombardi trophy, we were not allowed to touch.

Pretty woman with the mascot, cheerleader and trophy.

Poor mascot, full in costume, put a hand out and I gave it a manly squeeze. I soon realized that it was a petite hand, maybe not even a man’s hand. I backed off immediately and I am sure not fast enough.

We went to the tour area and were given some audio “sticks” so we could hear interesting points along the way in the Capitol that were marked with numbers on the walls. Nice Capitol but very disappointed in that the beautiful dome from the outside is not visible from the inside. Was told on the audio stick that leaving it open was considered a waste of space. It’s a very modest Capitol. They brag that the doors are solid pine, painted to look like much more expensive mahogany.

Audio stick. I was getting a charlie horse from holding it to my ear.

Laminated floor map with a string to wear around your neck.

Solid pine doors painted to look like mahogany.

I thought, “a milkman?” Oops, Admiral Dewey.

Huge mural painting portraying some Vermont men in action.

The most interesting was the “Hall of Inscriptions” and some of the statues. Also, the chandelier in the chamber of the House was original and made specifically for Vermont.

We left and were quite hungry and saw a sign for the New England Culinary Institute. Thinking it would be like the CIA in New York and California, we headed that way. Boy were we wrong. The first restaurant we went into was open but not until 4:00 PM, even though we were told it was open for quick bites.

Open, but no one around. We yelled, wandered. Finally I got deep into the kitchen and found an instructor who walked me out.

The second one was sold out of the good stuff and the customer service was lacking. (We did buy some small pieces of cake for dessert later that were great.)

We tried here and they only had one sandwich left. We passed.

We ended up eating at a small place called “The Skinny Pancake.” Interesting place. They make sandwiches and stuff in crepes. I opted for a panini sandwich, which was quite good. Didn’t appreciate their prices but…when in Rome. It was different and good so…

We tried here. They were open and they had food. They won.

My crepe burrito. The salad was the better as it had a delicious sweet raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

We split a beet salad that was pretty tasty.

Our hotel for the night was just a few miles down the road. Large and clean.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!