Mystic, CT - Day One

So, back from vacation, with over 200 photos from our trip, you can probably understand how overwhelmed I feel trying to blog about it. But then I thought of just writing about one day at a time, and only using the best photos... pictures that people who didn't take the trip with us might possibly appreciate. That means no shots of the interesting crack in the sidewalk. Try to hide your disappointment.



The ferry ride itself was a bit of an adventure, starting with the lovely prelude of driving all the way out to the North Fork on the east end of Long Island, past all the wineries and lavender farms, past the farm stands resplendent with mums and punkins, finally ending up at Orient Point. Then we drove up into the belly of the ferry beast, climbed the big metal stairs, and spent a sunlit, breezy hour on the outside deck, enjoying the ocean views until we reached New London, CT.



This is always one of the most delicious parts of a vacation... the beginning. When you have all your time off in front of you, everything to look forward to, and that wonderful feeling of letting go and really relaxing. We were FREE!!!! Well, maybe not free, but reasonable. (If you're too young you won't get that joke. Serves you right.)




Driving into Mystic, I immediately fell in love with the wee drawbridge just at the mouth of town. We must have driven across it five times at least while we were there, and each time I had the urge to pick it up and put it in my pocket and take it home with me.

If you click that picture to see the larger view, you'll see an ice cream shop just past the bridge there. The fact that I did not eat ice cream at that shop is not due to my iron will and moral strength, nor my intestinal fortitude. It's because on the sunny days, there was sidewalk construction blocking it, and on the rainy days, it was too cold for ice cream. I have definite designs on that little shop for next time we visit!



Our first stop (of course) was Mystic Pizza. I was in movie geek heaven, with posters and photos from the movie everywhere, and flat screen TVs on every wall playing the movie (sound muted, sadly). The pizza itself was (of course) not as good as Long Island pizza... however, it was tasty and cheesy and just the ticket after a breezy hour spent in the October ocean air.



Julia Roberts grinned at us from every wall, and I grinned right back. Mystic Pizza is one of my favorite movies of all time, and it was a genuine thrill to be at "the real deal". Bear bought me one of the tee shirts (same as they wore in the movie), and of course I chose the red one... the color Julia wore! It was as close as I ever get to saying "Squeee!" I'm not really a "squee" kind of gal, you know.

The rest of the afternoon was spent driving around, seeing the neighborhood, and so I had Bear stopping the car every five seconds so I could jump out and take pictures. If you don't love old houses the way I do, you might as well stop reading here and go get yourself stuffed a cup of tea.

Those of you who do love old houses... I urge you to click on these to see the bigger version, because the trim, the trappings, the details, are all exquisite... and nearly invisible in the smaller version.

The Samuel Donnelly house, 1881


You may notice...


... that I especially...


... loved this house!


Oh, the stone walls!!!


This little cottage called to me
in a BIG way...


John Cheath house, 1862
He was a carpenter/builder.


William Wheeler house, 1853


A little "haunted house on the hill" thrill
for October!


A privately owned ship in Mystic harbor
(do click this one, it's FAB)


Daniel Edgcomb house,1835
He was a cutter shipwright.


Another click-to-appreciate view
of the harbor.


Waterfront property, anyone?
Yes, please!


I can't say I had no egrets...


Last but not least, a wonderful retro-turquoise
house sprawled out with a view to the lake.

And so, dear blogfriends, here end my ramblings about our first day. Of course... we did go to our lovely B&B and get "settled inn" (I slay me)... but that place deserves a post of its own. So, next time - to Stonecroft!