Today I flew home. Since I was leaving from Raleigh I had to rely on signs to get to the airport. Although I had taken the correct route to get to Durham, I made a mistake somewhere and ended up off my route. However, since my flight wasn't until 3 PM, I had plenty of time. I dropped off the car and then bought a magazine to read. I had planned the trip to arrive in Charlotte and leave from Raleigh. As it turned out, I had enough time to drive back to Charlotte to pick up a plane back to Dallas, but I didn't realize that when I planned the trip. Live and learn.
So that was the trip. I made it back home and had dinner.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Durham and Chapel Hill; Saturday July 31
This day was planned to visit the other two cities of in the Raleigh area - Durham and Chapel Hill. As it turned out, as I was planning to leave some friends in the area let me know they were in town (they had planned a trip for the weekend I was in the area). That sort of changed my plans. I really only made it to Duke University, and then only to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The gardens were extensive and very peaceful (except to the construction going on in one area. It started raining before I was able to get to all of the sections, but I was supposed to meet my friends by then anyway.My friends lived in a suburban area north of Raleigh. We talked and traded stories about work and life. We only had a couple of hours before they had to go off for various activities planned for their kids.
After that I drove to Chapel Hill. This was very much a college town like Brockport. It seemed that the new students were arriving while I was there. It was raining most of the time I was there. I walked along the main street and then had dinner. There was a planetarium down the block so I waited and saw the evening show. I found a poster of various rockets from the 1960s on and bought that for framing at home, since that's an area I'm interested in.I drove back to the hotel and called it a night.
Raleigh; Friday July 30
This day was completely devoted to seeing the various sites in Raleigh. Everything I planned to see was within a few blocks of the hotel so I walked to were I wanted to go.
First was the State Capital - currently only housing the Governor's office. There were lots of statues outside and the building was actually relativley small. It only took an hour or so to go through it. The building was actually the second capital building built on the site. In a major irony the first burned down when the roof was being sealed with zinc plates for fire proofing and something caught fire.
The two house chambers were on display as well as the original library and geologists office. There weren't that many commemorative displays in the building.
Next I went to the North Carolina Museum of History. This was an amalgum of several displays primarily showing North Carolina's participation in overall American History. In the front lobby was a replica of the Wright brothers airplane flown at Kitty Hawk, NC. Also there was a replica of a drug store circa 1920. However there were two displays at which I spent most of my time. The first was about a mixed race woodworker in pre-Civil War Raleigh and the second was about North Carolina's contribution to all of America's major wars through it's history. The section about the craftsman was very interesting. He was so skilled and his work (starting with coffins but going up to furniture and custom interior design) so highly regarded that he had much more freedom than most people of his background. He was successful enough to buy land and even own slaves (I was surprised he would do this). One of his sons took over the business but the Civil War basically destroyed it.
The section on North Carolina's contribution to various wars (up to the Gulf War) was what you would expect. Various displays of weapons and uniforms and occasional nicknacks. No pictures from this. I was again kind of moody after the display.
The last major stop was the North Carolina Museum of Natural History which had displays of various eras of geologic history on display as well as representations of many natural environments in the North Carolina area. There was a special display of live butterflys on the top floor. It must by kind of tricky to maintain given that the butterfly stage doesn't usually last that long. I got lots of pictures of dinosaurs and also several large whale skeletons that were hung between different levels of the museum. There was a large section dealing with modern natural habitats starting with forest area and going up to mountainous areas, which included an indoor waterfall.
I went over to the Executive Mansion, but it didn't appear to be open. The new library didn't really have anything for tourists. I went past the current legislature building but didn't go in.
After all the touring around I went back to the hotel. I went to a pub called the Oxford for dinner. As I was finishing up I noticed three women that were looking for a table. While I was waiting for the waitress I motioned them over and we talked. It turns out they were in town for the Chelsea Handler performance, which I was going to also. As I went to my hotel I noticed many other groups of women that I suspect were also in town for the show.
I enjoyed the show a lot. The material was rather coarse but still very funny. For whatever reason I like that she often starts laughing in the middle of her routine. It may not seem professional but it seems like she enjoys telling the stories. Again, I forgot my camera, so no pictures. My seat was too far away to really see the performance directly. I ended up mostly watching the video screens which showed camera views of the show.
First was the State Capital - currently only housing the Governor's office. There were lots of statues outside and the building was actually relativley small. It only took an hour or so to go through it. The building was actually the second capital building built on the site. In a major irony the first burned down when the roof was being sealed with zinc plates for fire proofing and something caught fire.The two house chambers were on display as well as the original library and geologists office. There weren't that many commemorative displays in the building.
Next I went to the North Carolina Museum of History. This was an amalgum of several displays primarily showing North Carolina's participation in overall American History. In the front lobby was a replica of the Wright brothers airplane flown at Kitty Hawk, NC. Also there was a replica of a drug store circa 1920. However there were two displays at which I spent most of my time. The first was about a mixed race woodworker in pre-Civil War Raleigh and the second was about North Carolina's contribution to all of America's major wars through it's history. The section about the craftsman was very interesting. He was so skilled and his work (starting with coffins but going up to furniture and custom interior design) so highly regarded that he had much more freedom than most people of his background. He was successful enough to buy land and even own slaves (I was surprised he would do this). One of his sons took over the business but the Civil War basically destroyed it.The section on North Carolina's contribution to various wars (up to the Gulf War) was what you would expect. Various displays of weapons and uniforms and occasional nicknacks. No pictures from this. I was again kind of moody after the display.
The last major stop was the North Carolina Museum of Natural History which had displays of various eras of geologic history on display as well as representations of many natural environments in the North Carolina area. There was a special display of live butterflys on the top floor. It must by kind of tricky to maintain given that the butterfly stage doesn't usually last that long. I got lots of pictures of dinosaurs and also several large whale skeletons that were hung between different levels of the museum. There was a large section dealing with modern natural habitats starting with forest area and going up to mountainous areas, which included an indoor waterfall.I went over to the Executive Mansion, but it didn't appear to be open. The new library didn't really have anything for tourists. I went past the current legislature building but didn't go in.
After all the touring around I went back to the hotel. I went to a pub called the Oxford for dinner. As I was finishing up I noticed three women that were looking for a table. While I was waiting for the waitress I motioned them over and we talked. It turns out they were in town for the Chelsea Handler performance, which I was going to also. As I went to my hotel I noticed many other groups of women that I suspect were also in town for the show.
I enjoyed the show a lot. The material was rather coarse but still very funny. For whatever reason I like that she often starts laughing in the middle of her routine. It may not seem professional but it seems like she enjoys telling the stories. Again, I forgot my camera, so no pictures. My seat was too far away to really see the performance directly. I ended up mostly watching the video screens which showed camera views of the show.
Greensboro; Thursday July 29
Today I traveled to Raleigh by way of Greensboro. I was only stopping at Greensboro for the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The park was created around the turn of the century to commemorate a Revolutionary War battle that took place in the area. There was a visitors center where you could see a film explaining the battle. Then there was a tour around the area (which was, at least in part, the actual battlefield) to several sites explaining different aspects of the battle. The original intent of the group was to create monuments of commemoration to the battle, including a big one of General Green who commanded the US army at the battle.
I drove to all of the stop points and walked to some of the monuments that weren't directly at the stop points. I missed one of the stops and had to walk back to it. I think it took about 2 hours to see everything. There were a few other cars, bikers and walkers but it was relatively empty. It was fun to "explore" to find all of the monuments. Additionally, at all of the stops and several other places, there were signs to explain what happened in the various locations. I was in a reflective mood at the end of the visit.
From there I went to Raleigh. Although I had a map and path planned, I took a wrong turn and ended up in the city before I expected. I was still able to make it to the hotel.
Charlotte; Wednesday July 28
In the afternoon I went to the Mint Art Museum in Charlotte. It was in the southeast outskirts which had very nice neighborhoods. The museum was primarily concerned with Central and South American pottery with some paintings from post-Western contact eras. However, there were also some displays on cothing and wardrobe and a section on boots from various cultures and eras.
The museum is called the Mint because the building was originally the US Mint in North Carolina (pre-Civil War). The building had various uses during and after the Civil War and was bought for its current use early in the twentieth century. There are now two museums (one is downtown) and plans to open a completely new space downtown. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of any of this:)
The museum is called the Mint because the building was originally the US Mint in North Carolina (pre-Civil War). The building had various uses during and after the Civil War and was bought for its current use early in the twentieth century. There are now two museums (one is downtown) and plans to open a completely new space downtown. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of any of this:)
Marion and North Cove; Tuesday July 27
Today I am visiting a golf course near Linville Falls (also near an area called North Cove) and the county seat in Marion. I had fun looking through county records.
The golf course was in pretty good shape in a very scenic area out in the country. The mountains were a great backdrop.Summer Vacation 2010; North Carolina
These are notes from my trip to North Carolina in July 2010.
Monday July 26
A travel day. I had trouble at the airport because the far parking was full. I ended up in the south near parking area, but still had plenty of time before my flight.
The flight ended up starting and finishing about an hour late. Since I had nothing else planned for the day there wasn't any issue. I checked into my hotel and made plans for the next day.
I had dinner at a nice little restaurant but was caught in a rain storm and had a rather wet walk back to my hotel.
Sorry, no pictures on this post, but plenty for the rest of the trip.
Monday July 26
A travel day. I had trouble at the airport because the far parking was full. I ended up in the south near parking area, but still had plenty of time before my flight.
The flight ended up starting and finishing about an hour late. Since I had nothing else planned for the day there wasn't any issue. I checked into my hotel and made plans for the next day.
I had dinner at a nice little restaurant but was caught in a rain storm and had a rather wet walk back to my hotel.
Sorry, no pictures on this post, but plenty for the rest of the trip.
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