What Was New: December 01, 2001Vancouver, Auburn, Seneca Falls, Chicago, Finger Lakes, Corning(Gregory Melle's Web Diary / Blog)
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I have long-time friends in Auburn, New York state. It is in the Finger Lakes area about 300 miles from New York city. Tom and Nancy are long-time friends but visit rarely. So every few years I must find time to visit them. This November I visited there over the American Thanksgiving Week.
On the trip out I saw a lovely sunrise view over Chicago from my airplane window.
I find upstate New York to be quite fascinating. The West Coast of North America has great natural views. The East Coast has so many more scenic and historically interesting towns. The Finger Lakes area combines both natural and man-made scenic beauty.
Auburn itself is a small city -- a little more working class than some of its neighbours. It includes a few pleasant museums; the homes of both Harriet Tubman and William Seward; and a maximum security prison. (This is the same prison where Edison supervised the first execution by electrocution).
Close by is the town of Seneca Falls; the hometown of Elizabeth Stanton, Amelia Bloomer and the first Women's Rights Convention. This whole area has bred many political and religious free thinkers. Seneca Falls is said to be the inspiration for Bedford Falls in the It's a Wonderful Life movie. But other than the name there are a number of other New York towns that have scenery closer to that in the film.
I spent a pleasant day driving along the old Erie canal towards Rochester. I made a few wrong turn and ended up in the villages of Rose and Phelps.
I also drove down to Ithaca and Corning. The Corning Museum of Glass is definitely worth a visit. It exhibits and illustrates all aspects of glass making. The highlight for me was the world's most complete collection of antique and art glass.
I was especially impressed with the carved cameo masterpieces of W.D. Woodall. The collection also includes masterpieces ranging from ancient Roman to modern experiments.
| Earlier Page - October 2001 | Later Page - December 2001 |
