Gloucester, Massachusetts

Day 4 of the itinerary included a stop in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  The excursion I took was through Gloucester (you may have seen "The Perfect Storm" about the sailors from the city) and on to the towns of Salem (Witch Museum) and Manchester by the Sea (an Amazon movie of the same name).

The leaves are beginning to change here, and I'm hopeful more color will be seen as the ship continues north.  The air was a little cooler, but very comfortable for late September.

I took these shots of the harbor.  Gloucester is a tender port.

Gloucester is up the coast from Boston.  You can see the Boston skyline in the background.

A  little of the fall colors are starting to appear.

This statue is outside of the Witch Museum.  It's to the Puritan founder of Salem, Massachusetts.

Here's the Salem Witch Museum.  It looks like it may have once been a local church before its conversion to a new use.

Here's the Statue of the Man at the Wheel.  It's dedicated to those sailors lost to the sea.  The names are listed on plaques including the lives of those lost during "The Perfect Storm."  The Gorton Fish Company uses the image for its packages.

Here's a shot of the ms Zuiderdam sitting in the harbor.

This fisherman was alongside the Zuiderdam.  I wasn't sure if he was pulling in lobster or crab.

A tender returns.  The ship will soon be departing for Portland, Maine.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous during the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island

The rich and powerful of the “gilded age” had summer homes and cottages in Newport, Rhode Island.  Many of these mansions have been restored as museums of the past or used for new purposes (e.g., Salve Regina University).

The island was not developed commercially so there are no large cruise ports or high rises; it's famous for yachts and yacht racing.  So, this port of call required the use of a tender boat to go ashore.


I took a walk along the Cliff Walk and toured The Breakers (the RI home of the Vanderbilt family).  The Breakers was named for the distinct breaking sound of the waves on the cliffs and rocks outside the home.  It was a beautiful home, but not of the same grand size as one of Cornelius Vanderbilt’s other home:  Biltmore House.  They are, however, mimicking the French chateau style.

A view of Newport as the ship anchors.

Boating is extremely important in this part of Rhode Island.

That's on really large yacht compared to the other ships around it.

Want to go for a swim.  These steps were originally constructed in wood for his kids to swim on the rocky coast.

The tour included about one mile of walking along the Cliff Walk.

Several movies have been shot in the city, and JFK married Jackie at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

The Cliff Walk is part of public access along the coast.  The rich and famous constructed berms and walls to keep folks off the lawns of the mansions.  Some even had tunnels running under the public access area.

The tour guide, a retired Brown University art educator, gives us some of the history of the famous homes.

The Breakers takes its name from the breaking water along the cliffs.

New purposes have been the lifeblood of these old mansions... this is part of the college system on the island.

A view of the Vanderbilt residence from the Cliff Walk.

Mark Twain coined the termed "the gilded age" for the rich industrialists who demonstrated wealthy by ostentatious expenditures/consumptions.  Grand homes and European titles were greatly desired by the wealthy of this period.

The dining room.

The acorn was used as a symbol for the Vanderbilts.  These are the elaborate floor tiles in the billiards room.

This is an elaborate ceiling murals.

Mr. Vanderbilt's tub was cared from a block of marble.  Note the four faucets:  two for hot and cold tap water and the other for hot and cold salt water.  Salt water had medicinal properties according the those of this age.

Wow!  Look at that kitchen.

This the side of the Breakers.  

The wealthy folks of this era looked to Europe for inspiration.

I had lunch at a local restaurant in the harbor area.  I'm ready to head back to the ship via the tender boat.  I'm tired, and I'm glad tomorrow is a " sea day."

Bon Voyage New York City...

It was a beautiful and sunny day at the NY Cruise Terminal.  It was warm, but a little windy when we departed around 8 pm.  

Here are a few of my shots as we left the terminal on the Hudson (this is where Sully captained that USAir flight for a water landing), and the sun had set.  Everything was beautiful to the eye, but not so clear for the camera.

My videos were a little better than most of the photos.

Because of my Mariner status, I was on the ship and unpacked by noon for the 8pm departure.  Here are a few shots from the ship of the surrounding area.

I wonder what the rent or mortgage would be on some of these homes overlooking the Hudson River.

It was dark by the time we exited the port.  I was hopeful my photos would be clear.  

You

The Empire State Building was partially blocked by other high rise buildings from the ship's terminal.

Soon you could see the Empire State Building with it's twinkling lights as the ship reached the channel.

The art deco style of the Chrysler Building can be seen with its distinctive top.

I moved to the other side of the ship to take shots of Lady Liberty on the New Jersey side of the Hudson.

I wasn't able to see the Freedom Tower since I was on the NJ side.  However, the view of Lady Liberty was worth it!

The view of Lower Manhattan as the ship entered the Atlantic.  You can see the Freedom Tower which is 1776 feet tall.  Those streaks in the sky aren't UFOs; planes coming into the three local airports were everywhere and visible at night.