Thursday, July 23, 2009

Diane and Hugh visit Ithaca, Cooperstown, Niagara Falls, and Allegan, Michigan















It was a rainy day in Ithaca. Here is a photo from 55 years ago, which I attempted to recreate! But this time I sat on the other wall in front of Balch.


















Visited all the dorms, as well as the Alpha Phi house, but could not enter any of them, since they now require key cards to open the doors. Then we walked around "the Quad" to revisit old haunts, and drove around Cornell Plantations. It was not a perfect day for visiting a campus, and lots of places were closed, such as the Willard Straight cafeteria. But at least now Hugh has a better understanding of what I am talking about when I describe my college days. He didn't like the suspension bridge at all, even though it has been re-built with a wider walkway and much higher barriers on the sides! (here's another old photo from 55 years ago!)














We even took a look at the Beta Theta Pi house, just for old times sake.





Had to have my photo taken with Ezra Cornell, of course.












The next morning we wandered around Ithaca, trying to find the house on North Aurora Street that Mike and I lived in for a while, but I was not sure of the house number, although I think we may have found it. Did not take a photo.
Then we drove to Taughannock Falls and hiked up to the falls (1.5 miles). Hugh seemed to think that I had forced him to walk at least 100 miles, between our campus tour the day before, and this hike. But the falls are spectacularly high and beautiful, and walking is good for you!

On our way out of Ithaca, we stopped at the Dairy Bar at the Agriculture College, and had some of the best ice cream you will ever taste.





Then it was off to Cooperstown to visit my roommate and sorority sister, Nancy Stone Nelson. John, her husband, was a fraternity brother of Mike's, and Mike and I can be credited with setting them up on a blind date. They have been married for 50 years now! They have a huge dairy farm, milking over 100 cows every day. We took them out to supper, and they put us up for the night. Here are John and Nancy, posing with me as we were getting ready to leave.
















From there we drove to Niagara Falls to spend the night. We stayed on the Canadian side, which is supposed to be less tacky, but we found it ALL very tacky, and very crowded with folks of all ilks. But the falls themselves are as unbelievable as ever!






























We drove through Canada from Niagara Falls, crossing back into the US at Sarnia, then across Michigan to Allegan. Here's Hugh's mom, at almost 93. She still lives alone and pretty much takes care of herself, with a little help. Hugh's brother Jim and his wife Marilyn drove over and spent the day with us on Tuesday. We stayed at the Delano Inn B & B while we were there, and if you ever have the opportunity to be anywhere near Allegan, you will love to stay in this Inn! We left early in the morning to drive the long drive home on Wednesday.



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