State House, Hartford, CT – 4/3/2017 – http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog

April 3, 2017 (Monday)

The weather here is so weird. Never know when, or if, it will be okay to go out and drive in for any distance. We’re from California and not used to snow and ice. We will not drive in it unless we absolutely have no other option. We will leave early, stay inside, or stop somewhere and stay at a hotel rather than drive in it.

Anyway, woke up to somewhat nice looking weather that looked like it would burn off quickly and become a lovely day. We got up early and left by 8:30 AM – headed to Hartford, Connecticut. The drive was a little under 100 miles and we went on two lane country type roads, highways, freeways, toll roads – you name it. It was a nice, leisurely drive. Our intention today was way too ambitious and I am still not feeling 100%. We intended to go into Hartford, Connecticut to see the State Capitol. If we felt there was time, we also wanted to go see the Mark Twain Museum and Home. After that we were going to drive to Providence, Rhode Island and see their State Capitol. On top of all that we were going to hit up a Cheesecake Factory in either Rhode Island or Connecticut. (Only doing one Cheesecake Factory per state instead of every one.) We pooped out after Mark Twain, the Connecticut Capitol and Cheesecake Factory.

We got into Hartford at around 10:30 AM. Lovely city with so many church steeples and gold domes. I think I told Michael three different times that a dome I spotted must be the one, until we actually saw the massive gold Capitol dome. Michael wanted me to go around the State Capitol so he could take pictures from the outside. One of the roads he asked me to turn down took us onto the freeway so we decided to just go to the Mark Twain House before doing the Capitol, since the sign was there and we felt it must have been meant to be.

We got there (pretty close to the Capitol) within just a few minutes and went inside. The next tour was starting very soon so we bought the tickets ($18.00 per person, old person discount) and looked around the exhibits in the lobby.

The home used to overlook a river. They moved the river to stop flooding problems.

National Geographic called this one of the 10 homes in the world you must see.

We only had a 10 minute wait for the next tour.

Love these half steps – they take all the pain out of climbing stairs.

Our tour guide, Erin, was very young but oh so very knowledgeable and wise beyond her years. She rattled off so much information, so quickly, could not keep up with her. What a wonderful and yet tragic life Mark Twain, aka Samuel L. Clemens, lived. His first born, and only son died at 18 months. a tragically very young age. His oldest daughter died young, around 24, and his wife shortly thereafter. They lost their fortune and got it back. They traveled. They had a wonderful family life and loved each other. Very nice home. Not quite a Vanderbilt home, but nice, smaller and comfortable.

He played with his daughters in this room, pretending to be animals or pirates.

No pictures allowed inside. The third floor was where he wrote his best sellers and most popular works.

Bricks are painted to achieve designs. Others are laid at angles.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, was a next door neighbor to Sam Clemens. He moved there to be in her company as she was much better known and liked at that time.

Cameo of Clemens on the apartment building next door.

We left and went directly to the State Capitol. Once we got through security and went to the tour desk, we were told to join the tour that was leaving in the lobby. Absolutely no waiting. Nice. We ran to catch up with the fun group and the tour guide was hysterical. She told us her tour name was MiscElainEos. At first I thought she had control issues, then I realized she was just having fun. In turn, we had fun. It was probably the best tour we have been on due to her personality and the interactions.

Really like the bas-relief on the doors.

The parking is so close and anyone who parks on a line really makes it hard for the next person to come along. We passed on several open spots because someone parked so poorly there was just no way.

Visitors enter the Capitol through the Legislative Office Building.

Edie catching the tail end of the tour group.

This Capitol is HUGE! It looks like a French Chateau. Beautiful. The rotunda and dome are really nice. There are statues to many Connecticut heroes. Also, in the hallway leading into the Capitol is an area for the heroes of the Iraq/Afghanistan war – 63 men and 2 women. So sad.

Excellent detailed explanation in a loud and clear voice.

1878 When the statue was still on the top.

The Capitol was lovely, not over the top but warm and understated in a grand way. MiscElainEos told us about the Capitol Angel who used to be on the top of the Capitol. She stated that during a severe storm many years ago, she became loose and started wobbling around so they took her down and put her into the basement. She lived there for awhile until World War II and she was given up for scrap metal for the war effort. How sad. Anyway, they made another one and are waiting on funding to put her back up on the top of the Capitol.

She is called: “Genius of Connecticut” but known as the Angel.

I think someone was showing off their carpentry skills with the triangle with crown molding on the interior.

Harvard at 14, brilliant, volunteered to spy for Washington. Completed the mission and stopped at a Tavern on the way back. Came face to face with his first cousin who was a British supporter and turned him in. He was executed without trial or evidence and his last words reverberate today.

She gave a dramatic summary of his life, actions and death.

MiscElainEOS even knew about the Truman era bond drive and the liberty bells going to all the state capitols.

Such a modest memorial compared to the ones we encountered in the former confederate capitol grounds.

Nice detail on the dome. Really looks like wall paper.

We got to go into the House, the Senate, the Rotunda area looking up to the dome. We got to sit in the special chair in the House where we were told to make a wish and it would come true (but don’t tell anyone the wish). The chair was made from the original oak tree where the British Charter for Connecticut was hidden when King James demanded it back, thus the name; “Charter Oak Tree”. When we were leaving, MiscElainEos told us about another area we should see – the hall of flags. We walked to it (a short distance) and was glad we were told about it. Fun, fun, fun tour.

Charles was a fun member of the tour. In the House chambers.

Pretty woman on the Charter Oak Tree chair.

Beautiful custom hinges with state seal.

Security at many of the capitols has really ruined many an entrance. Metal detectors and tables set up at the door around historic designs, it is a shame.

The great seal. “He who is transplanted sustains” referring to being transplanted from England to Rhode Island.

We drove a few miles to a nearby Cheesecake Factory and had linner. Michael had been wanting a hamburger since he saw Tony eat one at the Shanghai Cheesecake Factory. He was trying to decide between the hamburger and his BBQ ranch chicken salad. At the last minute he opted for the hamburger and really enjoyed it. (Later that night he had a gout attack and he won’t do that again for a long time.) I’m trying to choose different things each time we go to Cheesecake Factory. This time I chose a chicken salad sandwich. Very yummy. Got enough to take home for a late night snack or lunch tomorrow.

Cheesecake motif is very nice except for their tables. They do not wear well and they feel dirty and sticky but it is just the finish wearing off.

My hamburger was great, I paid for it though with a visit from Mr Gout.

Edie had a killer chicken salad sandwich with fries. She got a sandwich and a half! She ate a third, gave me a third at dinner and had the other third as her dinner.

Free. They almost always cost a fair bit that make them impractical for us.

It is very rare that we find a free charging station. Got a few free miles out of it.

We drove home (I slept while Michael drove as I’m still not well). That was our day. Hope yours was great!