July 4th - Independence Day

>>> PLANING A SHORT TRIP

This picture was taken to show the wild flowers along the road in the Summer time. The day was cloudy and rainy.

The celebrations of the Independence Day of the USA, well-known as 4th of July which is a remembrance of the declaring of independence from the Kingdom of the Great Britain The morning started with several events like, community breakfasts and lunch in parks, churches; barbeques, parades, picnics. In the green, close where we are living we saw horse back rides, people eating the popular French fries, popcorn, hotdog, drinking coke and American refreshment always with ice cubes.

In the afternoon we went to pick some strawberries but the farm was closed I made a mistake reading the newspaper. Anyway, instead the strawberries Michael swam for a while in the Connecticut river the weather was cold and the day was pleasant! In the night lots of fireworks illuminated the dark sky and we watched them with some neighbors. Everything was calm. We cooked some special plate to celebrate with the American such a symbolic day.


FORT TICONDEROGA, NY

Our initial celebrations stared some days ago when we visited one of the famous forts located in New York, opposite to Vermont. The Ticonderoga Fort is an essential meaning for the country. According with the history it began some thousands of years ago with the Native Americans. It took notorious importance in the 1800’s when the American Revolution stared. Some years later, the ruins of the fort was purchased by William Ferrys for summer home. By 1840 he designed it as a hotel for tourists. Later, at the begining of 1900 Fort, being other the owners began the restoration of Fort then was opened to the public.

Traveling by Ferry to New York

Fort Ticonderoga, originally Fort Carillon, was built by the French military in the 1700’s. It served as an important staging area for the American Army while invading Canada and holding the territory against the British forces.
Names like Le Marquis of Montcalm, a French commander, who defended the place from the British people, Benedict Arnold, specially this one who impressed me when I read the story which reminded me in a different version to the Indio Felipillo in Peru. (see below the text) Benedict Arnold V originally fought for American independence from the Brithis Empire as a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War until he obtained command of the American fort at West Poit New York and, switching sides, plotted unsuccessfully to surrender it to the Brithish.

Arnold was considered by many to be the best general and most accomplished leader in the Continental Army. In fact, without Arnold's earlier contributions to the American cause, the American Revolution might well have been lost; but after he switched sides, his name, like those of several other prominent traitors throughout history, has become a byword for treason in the United States.
>> Text taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold

This main entrance of the Pavilion was passed on for George Washington, Roosvelt, Montcalm and other notables.
The young guide prepared to explain about the army and soldiers of that time.
Custom way to dress.
A brief visit to the King's Garden located next to the Pavilion (Fort Ticonderoga), the former hotel and the family who made the restoration worked with a landscape designer in 1921. The generations of this family have enjoyed gardens where military troops once cultivated plants for food.

HIKING THE ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN, VT

Next day, we run to Vermont to hike the Ascutney mountain (high 3140 ft, 955 m), the day was cool.

Uf, uf... ahhhh...finally on the hill. The tower is the sign that you are done with the hiking at least up to the mountain.

Then, we ended up for lunch in a popular restaurant in Woodstock, the place were has lived the rich, rich and richer Rockefeller. Afterwards, for 'kuchen' (dessert) we got some homemade icecream. We rest for a while near to a nice stream under a bridge. Woodstock has many interesting things to do, to visit, it is very touristic.

Under a bridge we noticed this sign as a reminder if we have some pet with us, we know what should we do in case the doggy wants to... to... you know that!