Since it is Halloween is imminent and Salem is so well known for its Halloween attractions, I will be posting a series of blogs from the Salem, Massachusetts, area from my recent visits. If I took a photo of you or your dog and I haven’t posted it yet, I promise I will post it very soon. Also, I want to thank everyone (4 legged and 2 legged) and their folks who agreed to have their or their children’s photos taken. If you’re reading this, I greatly appreciate it.
Today’s blog features some of the sites, people and dogs of historic Salem.
There is something about Salem, or really any busy town or city, in the early morning hours. There’s a certain serenity in the early morning hours, especially when you contrast it with the throngs that will soon descend upon the town. While the city is still sleeping and the roar of vehicles seems a distant memory, street vendors prepare for a busy day and other early risers take to the empty streets. In a scant few hours, these city streets will be jammed.
There were some other early risers on the streets of Salem as well. I ran into Quincy while I was roaming the empty streets.
One of the things about Salem that attracts a lot of visitors, apart from the Halloween attractions, are the memorials and structures in the area. This particular structure in the heart of downtown Salem is the East India Square Fountain. In the warmer weather seasons, they often have water flowing in it. Designed as an abstract map of Salem, the two levels represent the pre-Colonial and contemporary shorelines of Salem.
A little farther down the road is the Revere Bell, a tribute to the citizens of Essex County which encompasses the most northeast section of Massachusetts, who have served in the armed services.
There is also a pretty arch near the Revere Bell that with overgrown foliage.
There were lots of people dressed up for the season
I also saw Chica
and Stanley during my visit
More photos from Salem and the Salem area to come…
The costumes ranged from the scary, like this dog bone skeleton
and this shark
to the funny like this pooch dressed as Beetlejuice.
In fact, a lot of animals dressed up as other animals and insects. Like these bees
and these bat dogs
or this elephant
There were also an octopus, lobsters, a spider and even a squirrel riding a dog.
Some dogs decided to dress more like humans like Sherlock Bones.
and this working class dog
Some dogs wore more creative costumes, like this Chia-pet
and this wolf in sheep clothes
and Goldilocks
And for those of you who thought dinosaurs were extinct, think again
There were also a number of pets dressed as fictional characters such as Chewbacca and Superman/woman (with a tutu no less) and a super hero.
Sleeping beauty was also at the parade.
And of course, what would a Howl-O-Ween parade be without a witch?
There were also some sports themed costumes
And some food themed costumes like these hot dogs and taco
Dogs were not the only participants. There were these two brave cats. One was dressed as a sailor and the other cat, Briggs, was just a spectator
Although all the participants were winners winners, the prize for best overall costume went to “Max” from the his “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” outfit.
When most people think of the witch hysteria that gripped the New England colonies in 1692 and 1693, they are likely to think it began and took place exclusively in Salem. However, although they are known as the Salem Witch Trials and Salem largely takes the infamy of the witch hunt, Salem does not hold that infamous title.
Salem Village, now known as Danvers, has the infamous distinction of being the beginning of the Salem witch hysteria. It is here in Danvers, Massachusetts, where a somber memorial stands as a constant reminder to remember this past and to never let something like this happen again.
Erected in May, 1992, the monuments lists the 20 people who were executed during the witch trials.
Each slab lists a quote of innocence from each victim.
The rays spilling in from the top of the memorial was a nice touch.
Some of the more poignant quotes listed on the wall are:
“Well! burn me or hang me. I will stand in the truth of Christ…” – George Jacobs, Sr
“Amen. Amen. A false tongue will never make a guilty person.” – Susannah Martin
The memorial also has a sculpture of “The Book Of Life” on top of a table that has a tribute etched in the base.
Attached to each side of the book are chains. Stark reminders of the pain they endured.
Someone left a flower at the memorial, a common occurrence at this memorial, particularly during this time of the year.
The memorial site has many pretty views to photograph from a variety of angles and the foliage added a nice touch. The foliage gave a serene feeling in contrast to the moving memorial.
In front of the memorial, there is monument that lists the generous donors who made the memorial possible. You may notice the red door on the house in the background. This is not unusual for the area. The houses in Danvers and the surrounding area were beautiful in their understated uniqueness and pretty yet rustic nature.
A sign, inconspicuously posted by the side of the road explains the origins and history of the site and surrounding area as well as the meaning behind the memorial.
We in New England are no strangers to stormy weather. But, the first stormy weather of the season always seems to catch us off guard. After all, it was only the first weekend of October. Much too early for stormy weather. But, it is hurricane season, after all. During this first storm of the season, I decided to go to my second stormy destination of the day.
By the time I arrived at Wollaston Beach, the storm had died down quite a bit. But, it was still pretty windy and wavy.
The water was rocky earlier in the day. This boat, the Cenzina, was one of three boats that were washed ashore Saturday.
Just like in life, a silver began to appear after the rocky weather.
Unfortunately, the wet weather made it hard to keep the lens dry which made some photos come out blurry. This was the best photo I could get of Maya.
To get the full effect of just how bad the weather was (and this wasn’t even during the peak time of the bad conditions) watch the video below. You may notice the light from the lighthouse in the distance at the tail end of the video.
It’s the time of the year again when hearty New Englanders hunker down and storm the stores for candles, batteries and, of course, bread and water. Yes, hurricane season is upon us. However, this recent stormy weather from Saturday, as bad as it may have been, was not a hurricane.
Waves as high as 7 feet crashed down in some parts. Although it was not a hurricane or a Nor’Easter, the wind was strong enough to push you and your car around and the waves spilled over the sea wall in some parts.
Weather like this really puts you in your place. We are no match for Mother Nature.
It was almost impossible to keep my lens dry and clear which spoiled some of my shots. I decided to post them anyways.
The waves crashing along the rocks gave a hypnotic effect.
If not for my ocean soaked clothes, being pelted by sand and the whipping wind, I could have stayed all day. It reminded me of how some things that are so beautiful can be so dangerous.
Of course, Brant Rock wasn’t the only place hit by this storm. Stay tuned for my next stormy destination.
When one reminisces of a simpler time they rarely think of muskets,militias and mills. But, that is what they have at the Wayside Inn Colonial Faire.
You don’t have to be a history nerd, I mean buff, to enjoy the faire. But, it helps. The main attraction, all year round has to be the Grist Mill.
The inside of the mill is just as cool as the outside. Inside the mill, a reenactor shows how bread was made.
One of my favorite attractions is the schoolhouse. Ironic, because in the past I would avoid schools like they were the plague.
The teacher told an interesting story about how Mary Sawyer was the inspiration behind “Mary had a little lamb”. A stone outside the building bears the rhyme.
Another big attraction at the Wayside Inn is the Mary Martha Chapel with its gilded banner weather vane.
Every year, hundreds of reenactors come dressed in their best colonial era attire.
Despite being armed to the teeth, the only surprise attacks were the occasional Colonial era photo bombs.
The highlight for the reenactors came when they all lined up on the main road and marched in their groups.
On the fairgrounds, there were tables where you can buy kettle corn, furs of unknown origin and other merchandise. There were also colonial soldiers, tents, tepees and entertainment.
The tepee was about as cozy as your average 2 bedroom apartment in the city.
Even when the faire is not taking place, the grounds of the Wayside Inn are worthy of a photography shoot.
The Wayside Inn is a rustic building that hasn’t changed much.
The wayside Inn also has an impressive garden. In the garden there is a bust of Longfellow.
And, of course, there were plenty of canine friends at the faire.
After spending the morning at the Cape Cod Canal, it was time for the next stop on my day trip. The next leg of my Cape weekend tour was spent at the hidden jewel of Bourne; Amrita Island.
To view the blog about the first leg of my Cape Cod trip check out my blog about the Cape Cod Canal.
An island in the town of Bourne, Amrita Island is one of the lesser known islands of Cape Cod. The reason many people may not know about this island is because it looks like any other side street in the area. The only indication there may be an island there is an inconspicuous sign you could easily miss unless you were looking for it.
Amrita Island is connected to Cataumet (the village within Bourne where Amrita Island is located) by an ornate, albeit short, stone bridge.
There are spectacular views from the bridge.
But, to get the best views, you have to get off the bridge and walk around the surrounding area
There is also an abundance of plant life and pretty trees.
There is also a variety of wildlife on Amrita Island. Fish, ducks and birds are abundant onthe island. The fish were swarming in a circle for some reason.
I also met Hadley, a resident of the island.
I will be posting the next installment of my Cape Cod trip later this weekend. Stay tuned!
One last summer weekend. One last chance to soak up the dwindling magic of summer. What better way to laze away the remaining summer bliss than at the iconic Cape Cod Canal?
The canal stretches for 7 miles for Sandwich, MA, to Buzzards Bay. There are several entrances to the canal. We chose the entrance near the end of the canal at Buzzards Bay.
The views at the canal are one of the main attractions.
Fishermen and fisher women dot the rocky edges of the canal and it is a popular starting point for bikers, runners and walkers. The canal also is a bustling point for ships carrying a variety of cargo, particularly since it is so close to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. I caught one as it passed under the railroad bridge.
Ducks and seagulls also find the canal too be a fun place to enjoy the summer.
This lady thought I was spying on her.
Well, until next summer…I’ll meet you at the canal.
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Tucked away in the quaint village of Mystic, Connecticut, stands the hidden gem known as The Olde Mystic Village.
At first glance, Mistick Village may seem like a nondescript shopping center. But, Mistick Village is much more.
There are many cramped stores for specialty merchandise such as custom made clothing and hand made jewelry, pet shops and eateries that dot the village. It would be easy to dismiss it as just another shopping center. But Mistik Village has many unexpected charms. One of the biggest surprises at Olde Mistik Village is something very unique.
Right there, smack dab in the middle of the village is a pond.
Forget about the cinema and the fudge shop. The ducks are the most popular attractions at the village. People feed them their dietary recommended food. Signs prominently remind people crackers and bread are not safe for the ducks to eat.
They are not restricted to the pond area either. You can regularly see the ducks roaming the walkways of the Mistik Village.
And, since so many people feed them, they are not shy.
The flowers and trees at Mistik Village are another unique feature of the shoopping center.
Yes, that is a birdhouse on the flag pole.
Keeping with the aquatic theme, a waterfall leads to a stream with koi fish.
Some of the most charming elements of the village are the decor. Walkways are furnished with wooden gateways.
Wooden chairs rest in front of this fashion shop.
Various structures are scattered throughout the village.
Of course, the Mistik Village is a dog friendly area.
I met Theo and Rebel. Theo was happy to see me. Rebel, on the left, not so much.
I also made a friend at Old Mistik Village. Charley is a rescue dog from Hurricane Katrina. His dad told us how, after noticing Charley, he arrived at the dog shelter at 5 a.m. to make sure he could adopt him. Charley is a very special dog.
If you want to feel on top of the world, or at least on top of Massachusetts, there’s no place like Mount Greylock.
Clocking in at 3,491 feet and about an hour and a half west of Springfield, MA, Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. With its miles of hiking trails and scenic views, Mount Greylock is the perfect destination for hikers and nature lovers. There is also a paved road to the summit with places to pull over to view the scenic beauty.
There are also some cute and pretty attractions off the main trails.
Even the views and flowers at the Visitor Center were captivating.
Along the trails
But, the pinnacle of Mount Greylock is the tower that sits atop the summit. First built as a tribute to the veterans of the first World War, the tower now serves as a memorial to all service members who have served the country. When it is lit each night, the tower is said to be able to be seen from 70 miles. The granite from which the tower was came from my hown city, Quincy (pronounced kwin-zee), Massachusetts.
Mount Greylock State Reservation is a dog friendly park. During my visit there were many dogs out enjoying the views.
Izzy was patiently waiting for his mom outside the visitor’s center.
Peanut was getting ready for his big hike.
Max was tired from hiking the trails at Greylock.
This fella was enjoying some rays.
Most of the wildlife at Mount Greylock was hidden during the day. But, I did see this grasshopper.
Mount Greylock is also a popular spot for paragliders. In fact, several paragliders took off from Mount Greylock during the day.
Mount Greylock is also a stop on the Appalachian Trail. It’s a long way to Georgia. Maybe I’ll try it sometime.
New England Nomad 