WESTERN NEW YOUK AND ON OUR WAY WEST

We moved to near Buffalo, New York so we could fly out of the airport there to California to attend Zoe’s grandson, Jamie’s, wedding. It was a straight shot to the airport but from there everything was circuitous, flying to Philadelphia then Phoenix and finally San Luis Obispo.

The wedding was beautiful in an outdoor setting with components of Christian and Jewish traditions as well as poetry and music. The wedding couple will continue to make their residence in Boston where Jamie is doing graduate work at the New England Conservatory of Music and Danae will be attending college for an engineering degree,

There was no time to sightsee around Buffalo before we went to our last stop in New York, Chautauqua. We have really explored all parts of the state and have enjoyed it immensely. Chautauqua is a fascinating place. It mostly consists of Chautauqua Institution that was established in 1874 on 783 acres of land. The first Sunday school in America was started here. The Institution went on to address four areas: religion, arts, education, and recreation. It has been called a ‘summer camp for grown-ups’ with opera, dance, drama, orchestral concerts, academic seminars, lectures, interviews, author readings and book signings. It also consists of a colony of late-Victorian homes with front porches, rocking chairs, canvas awnings, American flags and patriotic bunting. It is like stepping back in time. When Bill Cosby visited he asked. “How many Chautauqauns does it take to change a light bulb?” the answer, “Change?” Unfortunately, we had come at the end of the summer program and so were unable to attend any functions.

It rained most of the week we were there but we managed a few side trips between drops. There was a visit to the Westfield Produce and Craft Market and a stop at the Sugar Shack farm. The farm produces 27 different kinds of fruit syrups. We ended up with a bottle of blackberry syrup and one of dewberry. Delicious! We got more fresh fruits and vegetables at roadside stands. We also found a restaurant rated a three by Zagat for a wonderful French dinner.

I was puzzled to see vineyards along the way full of very lush leaves. For wine you need the energy to go into the grapes, not the leaves. Then I discovered that this is the home of the Welch grape factory and these were Concord grapes for their jellies and juices.

The leaves are starting to turn so it’s time for us to head west. We’ll miss the huge 100+ year old trees and the greenery everywhere. We will always have fond memories of our touring of New York State. It is outstanding.