Travels in the 2nd half

  Looking to the MNAA This summer I took an extended trip to Portugal, but I only had one afternoon and evening in Lisbon. I booked a room at the Emerald House Hotel, part of the Hilton Hotel chain. The hotel is on the edge of the Tagus River in the Santos neighborhood.     In the 18th century, Santos was the home to many aristocratic families, who built large houses on the hillside leading from the river to the Estrella neighborhood. These old buildings have been preserved, serving as hotels and apartments today. There are many restaurants and clubs in the area. I enjoyed a post-flight lunch at Geographia , a restaurant the serves dishes from across the Portuguese speaking countries of the world.     The Emerald House is across the street from one of the gems of Santos’ tourist attractions - The National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA) . Portugal’s national collection of art was initially created after the 1833 abolition of religious orders. The government closed...

West Branch Delaware River, Hobart NY     The Catskill Mountains occupy the southeastern corner of New York State. While they don’t reach the heights of the Rockies, The Catskill’s rolling forests are beautiful. Every year, the Amazing Ms. D and I head up to the town of Hobart, NY, on the western side of the Catskills, for a weekend of writers and books.     Modeled after the Welsh town of Hye on Way, Hobart NY has seven bookstores in a town of 350 people. Each store has its own theme. There is an antiquarian store; one specializes in mysteries and science fiction; one that offers cookbooks and home decor; and of course, one is a popular fiction store. The stores work together, buying used books in bulk, and divvying them up. They work to bring visitors to this part of Delaware County. In that effort, the stores and Hobart host a Festival of Woman’s Literature in early June, inviting thirty or so writers to lead workshops and read from their work.   The Catskill...

  Old Forge Pond The Adirondack Natural Historic Landmark has many towns that act as gateways to the park. They provide motels, souvenir shops, and places to outfit a longer visit. Old Forge, New York, is just such a gateway, and visiting it offered exactly what you would expect.   Old Forge was settled in the early 1800’s along the Big Moose River as a farming and iron mining town. Farming was not viable, and when the mine failed, the river was used to provide power to a lumber mill, which also did not survive. In 1874, a dam was built across the river, helping to create a chain of lakes in this section of the park. But the town really came into its own when the railroad was built from Utica, allowing for people from Utica and Syracuse to visit.   Today, Old Forge is a town set up for tourists. It sits on the shore of Old Forge Pond, where there is a public beach. There are a wide range of shops selling everything from inexpensive souvenirs to high end crafts and art. Th...