Adventures for Anyone

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Liguria...The Sea, The Shore, The Beach, The Cinque Terre

We should all know by now how much I adore Europe, and it's time to start looking into vacations for the year if you intend to go to any of the best spots. So, I'm starting my information early this year. And I'm starting with Italy and the Liguria Sea. What is this you ask? Have you ever heard of the Italian Riviera? Well, there you go. Along these dramatic seas you will find villages and cities that tumble down gargantuan cliffs into the sea. There are many wonderful stops along this piece of coast that they call Amalfi, but one of the most popular, most beautiful, most traditional, and most colorful areas is the National Park and World Heritage Site called Cinque Terre. Is Cinque Terre a village? Is it a park? Is it a province? Well, as the name would suggest, it is five villages. Each one has it's own flair, but they are all staggeringly beautiful with cliff buildings, beaches, and some of the best views in the world.

Riomaggiore is the first village that you will reach if you start in the south of the chain. Cinque Terre is known for it's colorful houses and cliffs all the way along, but each village has it's own speciality or flair. Riomaggiore is famous for it's wine and it's harbor. There are vineyards in the hills and dolphins along the shore. The night life is good there and there is no escaping the fabulous scenery anywhere in the area. This is not the village that is big on resorts, but there are trails that lead to fabulous botanical gardens and Nazi bunkers as well as on to the next village up the coast. Cinque Terre is one of the best summer hiking spots in Italy with hundreds of hiking trails throughout the area around and between the villages.

Manarola is the smallest village of the five and will be the next one you find going north from Riomaggiore. It still has the pastel houses on the cliff and great views of the sea from it's cliffs and harbors. The best view here is from the bar if you climb up Punta Bonfiglio. There is also an old cemetery up there to look at. Remember though that this is a cemetery and the people of the area have friends and relatives buried there. Be respectful. Manarola is one of the oldest villages in the region dating from the 14th century.

Still heading north you will find the village of Corneglia. This is the only cliff town that doesn't sit directly on the water. It is also a wine producing area and this village is the highest elevation of all the villages in Cinque Terre. You can take the train to the villages if you like, but the best way to see the area is to walk. The cliff trails provide unmatched views of the Amalfi Coast. The town was supposedly named by a Roman farmer after his mother Cornelia. If you do decide to take the train to this town, you will have to climb 400 stairs to get from the train station to the village on the top of the cliff.

Next up the coast heading north is Vernazza and this is one of my favorite spots. It's like a step back in time. There are no cars. It's the land of the pedestrian with shops and bars and restaurants and amazing views. There are ruins of an old castle there, world famous olive oil and the Santa Margherita d’Antichia church. If you are looking for that old world charm and truly feeling like you've traveled in a time machine; this is the spot for you. It has an amazing harbor as well and as the rest of the area, a great view from above. You won't find much in the way of beaches here, however, so if you have to have them; this is not your stop.

As you reach the north end of the national park, you will come to Monterroso. This is the touristy town in the park. This is the resort town with the bars and nightlife. This is the place with the most beaches and the best shopping. This is the place where you can show off your fancy Italian sports car. This is where you will find the who's who of people traveling along the Amalfi Coast. It's the largest of the five towns and the most modern. Not to say that it lacks old world charm, because of course it has old world charm. The whole area is old world and gorgeous. If you're looking to stay along this coast park, however, this may be the spot for you to look for a hotel. Once again the hiking is spectacular and the views are amazing. The beaches are to die for around there too.

So, Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe or the world for that matter. The Amalfi Coast is a cliff area of the Riviera that leaves you breathless from it's cliffs and beauty. There is no place else on Earth like it and this is the time to start looking into it if you would like to see it in the summer. The area is a National Park. The villages are not large, so finding a place to stay even in Monterroso takes some planning ahead. So, start looking into it. Get a better camera, because there are no cameras good enough to do this place justice anyway. Check Air BnB, check Home Away, check Booking.com. Find the best place. Plan a train or rent a car to get there. Go out and get a little in shape so that you can do some walking, because it's the best way to see this amazing World Heritage Site. Take a step back in time and take time to smell the roses. Cinque Terre awaits with memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss this. Enjoy!

http://www.liguriaguide.com/liguria-italy.html
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/liguria
http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/liguria.html
https://www.travelocity.com/Cheap-Flights-To-Cinque-Terre-La-Spezia.d6055039.Travel-Guide-Flights
https://www.onetravel.com/booknow/flights/v5/generics/flights-v3?fpaffiliate=MSN&fpsub=MS82-v3
https://www.expedia.com/Flights?utm_term=+flights&utm_campaign=USA%3AENG%3A%40%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AM%3AX%3A%3A&utm_medium=cpc&semcid=US.MULTILOB.BING.SEARCH.FLIGHT&kword=+flights%21p.ZzZz.4850000022915.0.14356333576.cinque+terre+flights.+flights&utm_source=bing&utm_content=USA%3AENG%3A%40%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AXX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AM%3AX%3Aflights%3A
https://www.oyster.com/q/cinque-terre-italian-riviera-hotels-1551/
http://www.cinqueterrehotels.com/en/index.php
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Cinque-Terre--Italy?af=2404406&c=A_TC%3Dpshmet5294%26G_MT%3De%26G_CR%3D13807444671%26G_N%3Do%26G_K%3Dcinque%20terre%20hotels&dclid=CPvHi73YktICFc-9swodNt8IRw&page=1&s_tag=uLRsZQ2A&allow_override%5B%5D=
https://www.audleytravel.com/us/italy/amalfi-coast-region?audcmp=286018280&audadg=1251244237519384&audkey=amalfi%20coast&auddev=c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=31-505%20Italy&utm_term=amalfi%20coast&utm_content=Italy%20-%20Place%20-%20Amalfi%20Coast%20-%20Exact
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/amalfi-coast-italy-road-trip/
http://www.travel2italy.com/Travel/Italy/Vacation/index.html
https://www.vbt.com/tours/the-amalfi-coast-capri/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Walking%20-%20Italy%20%5BUS%5D%20(S)%20%5EKW%20*AD%20%5ERLSA&utm_term=walking%20vacation%20packages%20amalfi%20coast&utm_content=Amalfi%20Coast
https://www.luxuryretreats.com/vacation-rentals/italy/amalfi-coast/?src=paid_msnt_italy-amalfi_beachbmm&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ITALY%20-%20AMALFI%20-%20GINT&utm_term=%2Bamalfi%20%2Bcoastal&utm_content=Amalfi%20Beach%20-%20BMM
http://famouswonders.com/cinque-terre/
http://www.vernazza.fr/en/history/
http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/content/history
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/01/travel/what-to-do-36-hours-in-the-cinque-terre-italy.html?_r=0
http://www.lecinqueterre.org/eng/
https://www.rentbyowner.com/listing/?q=cinque+terre&sqs=hotels&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Italy%20%20Vacation%20Rentals%20(hotel)&utm_term=Hotels%20in%20Cinque%20Terre&utm_content=Cinque%20Terre%20(hotel)
https://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/europe/cinque-terre-hiking.html
https://cinqueterre.a-turist.com/index
http://www.italylogue.com/cinque-terre
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/the-enchanting-cinque-terre-fiatfree-italy
http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-02-17/italys-cinque-terre-to-begin-limiting-tourists
https://www.city-discovery.com/florence/attraction-2584-cinque-terre-from-florence?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BOld%20Campaigns%5DItaly%20%2F%20Florence%20TMDT%20%3A%20Cinque%20Terre%20%5BIn%20the%20City%5DXHPauseJanuary2017&utm_term=Cinque%20Terre%20Tours&utm_content=Florence%20TMDT%20%3A%20Cinque%20Terre%20%5BTours%20%26%20Excursions%5D
http://www.booking.com/region/it/lecinqueterre.en.html?aid=804982;label=yahoog-lecinqueterre-FZ6sab83ZXY2_QgXrF9rGg&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=region-italy-1754-lecinqueterre&utm_term=cinque%20terre-e
http://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
http://www.cinqueterrevillages.com/
http://cinqueterre.it/en
https://www.incinqueterre.com/en/
https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour?p=D450&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=europe%20walking%20hiking
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Thursday, January 19, 2017

2017 Celebrates Lutheranism in Europe!

Travel guides and television hosts everywhere are gearing up to follow the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and the men who were at the head of it. Martin Luther mostly, but also John Calvin. There will be celebrations for several years, beginning this year throughout Germany and Switzerland.

If you ever wondered what the Reformation was, it was quite simply reforming Catholicism to make the scriptures and practices more available and comfortable to the masses. Until this time, all scriptures were in Latin and the clergy of the church were quite often the only ones who could read them. The clergy were also the ones who received communion during the services most of the time.

Martin Luther had a calling and joined the clergy, but what he did was unprecedented at the time. He translated the Holy Scriptures into his vernacular, German so that everyone could read them for themselves. It started a spiritual revolution across central Europe and changed the landscape forever. It was only the start, but it was Earth shattering and by the time that Martin Luther passed, a whole new sect of religion had come to be.

This will be a great year to plan a trip and follow the Lutheran Trail and the lives of Martin Luther and his like minded revolutionary, John Calvin. There are tons of tour companies that will take you on the whole trail or part of it. You can also check out several television shows, like Rick Steve's. There are many ways to learn and enjoy a trip through Germany and Switzerland, but this is the one that will stand out this year and probably for some years to come.

Wurtemburg, Germany is where it started and where Luther Ended his life. It's a great little German town that has all of the wonders of Germany to offer, and it has a top spot on the Luther and Reformation Trails. It's one of the spots that you will have to check out and they have festivals planned for the celebration as well.

Hamburg was another hotspot during the Reformation. It was ground zero for a lot of conflicts between the Catholic Church and those who were challenging their ways. Hamburg is still noted today for being a modern town with new thinking and cutting edge technologies. They will be having celebrations during the Reformation Anniversary and are part of the tours along the Reformation Trail.

Zurich, Switzerland was home to more of the Calvinist Movement, but nevertheless are an important stop on the Reformation Trail. While the city is noted for it's banking and high standards of living, they are part of the Protestant Reformation and will be celebrating the anniversary this year with festivals.

So, I have a lot going on. I won't say a whole lot about this years long event. I will be out for a while with a surgery. I will be back, but in the meantime, check out the plethora of links that I have shared for you to learn about the Reformation and possibly plan an amazing trip to experience it and celebrate it's 500th anniversary. There are many towns along the trail. I've only mentioned some of the more prominent ones. Check out the city and area schedules for festival dates and times. Get a hold of a tour operator that is offering a guided tour. I don't take them often, but this is one of those times. Make your arrangements now, because the anniversary actually starts later this year, but it will be hard to make arrangements if you wait too late. So, come and see Germany and Switzerland through the eyes of the reformers that made them who they are today. Come and celebrate this year's 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and the works of Martin Luther and John Calvin. Come and be a part of history and enjoy!

http://www.hamburg.com/
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/?utm_id=sem:Upper-Funnel-Europe-Search-USA-BMM&gclid=CLrjos6Lz9ECFRdYDQodyYwP0Q&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLCh3s6Lz9ECFam5swodj7YHAA
https://www.luther2017.de/en/experience/travel-routes/travel-routes/
http://www.uncommon-travel-germany.com/wittenberg.html
http://selecttravel.com/tour_reformation_trail.asp
http://www.mygermancity.com/luther-trail
http://www.gocollette.com/en/tours/europe/germany/on-the-trail-of-martin-luther
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther
http://www.eurorailways.com/index.html
http://www.mygermancity.com/luther-trail
http://www.slideshare.net/LWFWeb/evangelical-lutheran-church-in-wrttemberg
http://www.booking.com/city/de/hamburg.html?aid=801942;label=yahoogemini-city-hamburg-QFQcwwLOUVBPkFiVjdiP0w&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Germany-Hamburg---UFI--1785434&utm_term=hamburg-germany-e
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/germany-hamburg
https://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm
https://www.raileurope.com/index.html
http://www.lutherantravel.com/index.html
http://lutheranreformation.org/
http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283
http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses
http://tourism-bw.com/
http://www.germany.travel/en/index.html
https://www.swiss.com/us/EN/Book/Flight?WT.mc_id=SEA_US&WT.srch=1&tmad=c&tmcampid=94
https://www.zuerich.com/en
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/zurich.html
https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/en
http://reformationtours.com/package/reformation-heritage-trail/
http://religioustravelplanningguide.com/relive-the-reformation-on-collettes-martin-luther-tour/
https://www.luther2017.de/en
https://www.lutheranworld.org/program/reformation-anniversary-2017
http://www.visit-luther.com/explore-luthercountry/events/2017-500th-anniversary-of-the-reformation/
http://reformationtours.com/reformation-jubilee-2017/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

I will be back soon and will have more to tell you about out there in the world and more reasons why you should go out and see it. See you soon, Enjoy!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Value of Travel

What do you picture as the meaning of life? As I face some serious health problems, I find myself asking this question. I've spent most of my life trying to get by. My hard work and perseverance sometimes seems to be for nought. I'm surrounded by people who put a lot of value on material things, and I worry that we've all lost sight of what's really important in life. I won't argue the value of love and family, but I have to argue the value of fancy cars and big houses; Iphones and designer clothes. I feel that the most important things that we can accumulate are memories and for the first time in my life, I can argue why.

I've been many things in my life. I've been both rich and poor. I chose to live my life as a middle class person. I walked away from rich. My friends, acquaintances, family and others around me are always talking about things. Everyone talks about buying a big house, a fancy car, a great phone, a big TV, and so on. All I ever wanted to do was see the world. I've had a chance to see a bit of it, and the more I see, the more I want to see. I always wanted to know if I was crazy because going places and doing things and having experiences was more important to me than who made my purse. I wanted to be like people I know that spend their lives content with never leaving their country, their state, or even their city. I thought I was wrong. I don't feel that way anymore.

There's an old saying that you can't take it with you. I've always liked that. Most of us believe in some kind of spiritual life. Whether you think that you're going to heaven, hell, purgatory, limbo or whatever; whether you believe in karma, reincarnation, or whatever; you cannot take material things with you. In ancient times, they buried people with what they would need for the afterlife or for when they returned. We're digging up the items that were buried with these people today. You can't take it with you folks. What do you get to keep? Your memories.

My travels are some of the best memories of my life. I never questioned that. I love to share my stories of sitting on the Berlin Wall, going to church in Russia with the Pope, hiking in Iceland, walking in the Alps and many more. I also love my house, my car, my new oven and many other things. But, today I learned the value of memories.

I was talking to my mom. That's right, just talking to my mom. This is the time of year that makes her a little sad. Two years ago today, my dad died suddenly. My mom is still recovering. My parents lived comfortably. My parents also liked to travel. I talked to my mom today, as I always do on days that I'm afraid may upset her about my dad's death. She told me three stories that were adorable anecdotes from trips that she took with my dad. She told me about a time that she got drunk in Cancun with him and how much trouble he had getting her back to the hotel room and putting her in bed. She told me about the time that they were part of the crew on a schooner in the Caribbean. She told me about the time that they went to Flagstaff and it snowed in the summer on top of the mountains there. Her voice sounded happy when she was telling me the stories.

I realized that every time my mom talked about the house or the car it was a story of something that stressed her out. She had something that broke and she had to get it fixed. She had something that was just there that she didn't seem to want to think about. Since my dad died, the house has given her no comfort. The car has given her no comfort. His gigantic clock collection has given her no comfort. The only time that she sounds comforted when she talks about my dad is when she talks about their memories. Most of their memories involve travel. I thought about that today as I prepare to take care of some serious problems myself. I wondered if I was losing my mind, or was it really more important to have great memories than to have a lot of money and stuff.

Life is a journey and travel is journeying. It's pretty simple. Explorers never seemed to talk of regret. I have never regretted a single journey that I've taken. I've been told that travel is a waste of money, but I argue that you cannot put a monetary value on irreplaceable experiences and the memories that they create. Do I want to look back on my life and judge it on my possessions? No. I would rather look back on my life as a story of amazing experiences. I would call that money well spent. You can't get time back, so spend it well. Don't tie yourself to a house and make that your life. Go out and experience life. A house can be a prison. An experience can set you free. Think about it.

Money spent on travel is money spent on making memories. That's not a waste. My mom has great memories. That's what comforts her. Those are the things that she remembers most. This is a woman who once placed a great deal of importance on material things. Now that she's missing my dad, her point of view has changed. Facing my own problems and looking back at my regrets and my accomplishments I can say that I most fondly remember my travels. I don't have a fancy house or a fancy car. I don't have an Iphone or a designer purse. I do have memories of traveling 17 countries and 37 states. I have memories of romantic getaways with my husband. I have memories of road trips with my son. I have memories of European adventures with my family. I have memories of hiking Iceland with my mom. I'll take my memories. After all, it's the only thing that I have a shot at taking with me.

So, take some time and do some traveling. Spend some quality time on the road with your family and loved ones. Make the memories that will comfort you when your loved ones have gone. Remembering is what we really have after our loved ones leave us, so make the memories that will comfort you later now. See the world and enjoy!

http://greatsafaris.com/
http://www.trans-siberia.com/
http://www.silversea.com/landing-why-silversea-4/?campaign=USA_Bing_Search_Generic_PPC&s_kwcid=AL!843!10!73942175496573!118213009012&ef_id=WHsNwgAAAK6BiTrN:20170115055318:s&website=337dc751&77tadunit=69de49e2&77tadvert=73942175496573&77tkeyword=%5bluxury+cruises%5d&77tentrytype=s&77tentry=USA_22A
http://www.trans-siberian-travel.com/
http://safaris.com/
https://www.virtuoso.com/
http://www.besttravel.com/luxury-travel/
http://www.europeanrivercruises.com/?source=gemini&cn=rivercruises&ag=europe
http://www.trivago.com/?sLanguageLocale=US&iSemThemeId=10626&sem_keyword=luxury%20travel&sem_creativeid=75591433851438&sem_matchtype=be&sem_network=s&sem_device=c&sem_campaignid=180709571&sem_adgroupid=2549572898&sem_targetid=116345476997&cip=1221070201
https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/get-brochure/?CMP=KNC-FY17_ABD_ACT_DOM_General-Family_|NB|B|4176700.AD.AM.01.01|&d_psid=kwd-16671642320|dc|best%20places%20to%20+travel|4784937485|b|5046:10|&s_kwcid=AL!5046!10!4784937485!16671642320&ef_id=WHsNwgAAAK6BiTrN:20170115055058:s
http://www.crystalcruises.com/
https://www.exclusiveresorts.com/travel?cid=70139000001LTtA&rp=/discover39
http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/
https://luxuryescapes.com/subscription
https://www.expedia.com/Vacation-Packages?kword=trip!b.ZzZz.4840000736169.0.10595012132.luxury%20travel.trip&semcid=US.UB.BING.SEARCH.PACKAGE&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA:ENG:%:GT:GLOB:ALL:E:X::&utm_term=trip&utm_content=USA:ENG:%:GT:GLOB:ALL:XX:X:X:X:X:E:X:trip:
http://www.aroundtheworldtours.com/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/how-to-plan-a-trip-around-the-world/2016/04/25/190c8f80-f5d4-11e5-a3ce-f06b5ba21f33_story.html?utm_term=.881971cbc99a
http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/around-the-world-jet-tour/detail
https://www.seabourn.com/
http://www.atwt.net/
http://www.abercrombiekent.com/?did=8568&utm_content=MQXIzpc9-d_pcrid__pkw__pmt_e_&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=A%26K+Brand_General&utm_term=abercrombie%26kent
http://www.statravel.com/top-multi-stop-routes.htm
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/antarctica?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=03.%20Antarctica%20%7C%20USA%20%7C%20ENG&utm_term=Antarctic%20cruise&utm_content=Antarctica%20%2B%20cruises%20%2F1
http://www.polarcruises.com/antarctica?mm_campaign=485D87F841FB2962CDAE4DA47CAA0F31&keyword=antarctic%20cruise&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Antarctica%20Cruises%20-%20Exact%20Bing&utm_term=antarctic%20cruise&utm_content=Antarctica%20Cruises
https://www.yampu.com/destinations/antarctica/antarctica/
http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/en/antarctic
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays!

I've stayed closer to home this year and have spent a lot of time learning to appreciate the area that nearly 25 years ago I chose to call home. It's funny how after a couple of decades somewhere you start to whine and complain about things and all but forget what drew you to the place in the beginning. So, it is with great sincerity that I talk about the one place that is special in my heart, and especially at Christmas. Torrington, Connecticut; my home.

I love Christmas and so does this crazy city. Torrington is this amazing combination of a bunch of Italian folks, their relatives and friends, a few thousand wards of the state, a bunch of people who moved here from the Caribbean and southern Asian countries, and some of us that just like the view most of the time. We have too many bars, too many liquor stores, and too much pizza; but this town has some amazing things.

For one thing, we are home to a thriving art community. Yarn Bomb was the project last summer that took over the entire city. Everywhere you went there were yarn creations. They were even at the local synagogue and the park. There are several art galleries in town and we even have a place where you can go and spend the evening painting with friends. We also have a musical venue called Performance Hub that has all kinds of interesting music performances and projects. We have a kids museum as well which is a great place to hang out with your kids.

We are the home of The Warner Theater too. This place has all kinds of entertainment throughout the year and does four musicals each year that are civic theater and frankly some great productions. It's partner is the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. This is a performing arts school that does focus on dance, but there are other topics studied there too. This conglomerate is the Northwest Corner's artistic center. If you do happen to come to town for a visit, however, there are also many other locales around us. There's the Infinity Theater in Norfolk, and the Thomaston Opera House in Thomaston to name a couple. There are a lot of arts in Connecticut's Northwest Hills.

This town has some quirky businesses, some beautiful churches, and a spectacular Victorian Park. It's scenic around here. Now, I know, I'm the first person to say that New Englanders don't always put out the welcome mat or want to make new friends; but this time of year really brings out the best in people here. People give constantly here during the holidays. There are food drives, toy drives, the Salvation Army and a whole bunch of other stuff going on. Coats for kids, warm the children, and so much more. Torrington is a city with some problems, and we all like to help with them when we can. We have had entire tent cities among us here. We do have a housing and unemployment issue. We have drug problems and all kinds of stuff. The amazing thing is that despite all that, it's not a dangerous place to live. It's not an ugly place to live. I can still walk right down main street in the middle of the night and it doesn't make me the least bit uncomfortable. It's an odd little city, but it's comfortable, and the pros outweigh the cons.

Torrington has a lot of restaurants, and the majority of them sell pizza. The second best seller is Chinese food, and then you have some others like Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Irish. There are any number of bars to keep you drinking, and liquor stores on almost every corner if you need more. We are a shopping hub with all the discount stores you'd hope to see. We also have trains everywhere. It's a thing for now. We were home to a college baseball team that played at our beautiful baseball stadium, Fuessenich Park; but I guess they won't be here anymore. It's a shame. We used to go to games whenever we got a chance. They do still have music concerts in the beautiful Coe Park in the summertime.

Torrington is home to three state parks; Burr Pond, John A. Minetto, and Sunnybrook. They are beautiful parks and great places to visit. We have Mohawk Ski Resort just up the road for you winter people; and Ski Sundown is not far away either.

But I bring up my lovely quirky home at Christmas for one reason and that is that we do Christmas better than most here. One of the reasons for that is Christmas Village. This is not something that a local mall puts up at Christmas. This is an entire village that is only open during Christmas time yet is completely built for Christmas and so that the kids can have an amazing place to go and see Santa Clause. There are several buildings in Christmas Village. There's a toy workshop with elves. There are live reindeer in the stables. There are sleighs and toys, and hot chocolate for everyone. I took my son here every year when he was young, and it was one of the best places I ever saw for visiting Santa. Locally, the place is famous and it's lovely, beautiful and warm on the inside. New England's cold will get you between the buildings, but we're hearty people and we don't care about a little cold. It's a great place to visit, even if you don't have small children; but it's spectacular if you do have small children.

Our other Christmas hot spot is celebrating 35 years this year. It's the Christmas House. This is a private home, and I've heard that the owner isn't necessarily a jolly old soul, but inside and out this place is Christmas on display. Every evening during the holiday season these folks open their home for tours and the price of admission is only a food donation. That's right, it's for charity. Don't discount this. It takes these people nearly three months to set up for this event each year. That's dedication, and it's a great activity during the holidays.