Tanglewood...and on to New York

Mo had the foresight to call ahead to see if we could park the Airstream

at Tanglewood.  We got primo parking in the West lot up again the trees.

(That way Finn could hear the concert from the RV.)

We got out our chairs...

...and enjoyed a glass of wine while we waited for the Meyers to arrive.

They showed up smiling as always.

We got in line, tickets in hand, to get a good spot on the grass...

...where we were joined by 16,000 "friends..."

...to hear John Williams conduct The Boston Symphony on the stage inside the

structure behind us.

It was movie music night.  Star Wars,  Indiana Jones, Armistad, Saving Private 

Ryan, Lawrence of Arabia, A Passage to India, Memoirs of a Geisha, Scent of

A Woman, An American in Paris, and a few more.

It was a magical night.  Sharing with people around us, lots of laughter, 

being with Mo, Rich, Lanie, and Jeff, the Boston Pops Orchestra,

and NO RAIN!

We all hugged goodbye again as we departed for the grocery store

parking lot just 4 miles away where we would spend the night.

I couldn't have been happier if it had been the Ritz...

We left early in the morning to stop and see the New York state capitol

in Albany.  It was Sunday and there was little traffic and plenty of parking.

On the left:  The New York State Education Building

On the right:  The Capitol Building

One of the most unusual capitols we've seen.  I read that there are only

eleven without domed roofs.  New Mexico is one!

This building took 32 years to construct.  It was completed in 1899.  It is

the most expensive government building of its time costing $25 million.

That's a half billion in today's money.

Three teams of architects worked on it, and it's described as

Romanesque style.  It is reputed that it also houses a couple of ghosts.

It is a National Historic Landmark.

No interior photos.  We visited on a Sunday.

This is where Andy entered our lives.  

Ed was chatting with Andy about our travels when we were

offered a quick look upstairs with Andy as our guide.

(Andy, I hope you are reading this!!)

A few facts:  The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

It's built in the Beaux Arts style.

36 Corinthian columns make up one of the longest colonnades in the world.

You can see the top of the columns from the 3rd floor.

Construction lasted from 1908-1911,

It housed the State Museum and Library from 1912-1976

when it became the New York State Education Building.

Another view of the colonnade. 

Up the stairs to the rotunda...

...surrounded by these beautiful murals.

Andy told us the French have given us two gifts:  the Statue of Liberty and

the chandelier in this building.  It's very ornate.  Very French.

The former Library is through those doors.  It's offices now.

It sports a 50 foot ceiling all made of wood "bricks."

Everything in the room is original.

Standing on the third floor we could see the Aztec floor design..

and the tops of the columns outside.

Thank you, Andy, for a very special treat and taking time to share with us.

Hitting the road again, we were on our way to Schenectady.

The city is dominated by G.E. - a place with it's own zip code - 12345.

The golden years appear to have passed, but there is life and

resurgence in the Science Museum, the farmers market, and especially in 

the Stockade area

where old buildings are treasured, identified by their history, lovingly

restored, and there's a small aroma of gentrification.

This center of the Stockade is this little plaza.  

Each building has a small plaque dating it.

This one is on the left of the door.

Street after street looks like this.

Heroic events are remembered.

Another part of the neighborhood

The old stone church is Saint George's Church 1762.

It was organized in 1735 and built in 1759.  Part of this building was used

as a barracks during the Revolution.

There's a cemetery around the building with headstones so old

there is no visible or readable engraving.  Some are modern and we 

speculate that ancestors have maintained them.

Ed in front of the church

This home was believed to be one of the oldest in the neighborhood.

It has just been sold and the sign was still in front.

Then we found this...

A modern home...

Schenectady was settled by the Dutch.  Their names and design

are apparent throughout the city. 

Tomorrow:  Saratoga Springs.