On the fourth day of our vacation, we had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then met the Qin family in the parking lot to begin our morning touring. We had to get gas (Ack! $4.26! But we discovered that it was that pricey at home when we got back, too.) and stopped to get some water, and then drove out to Essex, CT on the "scenic route". I had always sort of pictured Connecticut as a vast residential suburb of New York, but it really isn't! Much of it is wooded and there is a lot of beautiful scenery. The Qins themselves live in a lovely wooded area off of a rustic country road.
Anyway, the drive to Gillette Castle was just terrific (and we weren't walking, for once!), and we were even more impressed when we arrived. There was a pretty pond just coated with waterlilies near the entrance drive. Esme was in a foul mood (too tired, I expect), and didn't appreciate it for what it was, but the castle was amazing. Everything was made of local stone or carved from local wood - even the light switches. I coveted the light fixtures in particular, most of which were made from a combination of stained glass and seashells. It was built for William Gillette, the actor who made Sherlock Holmes famous and coined the phrase that is usually attributed to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: "Elementary, my dear Watson." The grounds were also very pretty and we bought a few things in the snack bar so we could enjoy a picnic next to the lily pond.
We had to say goodbye to the Qins before heading to Stamford. An enormous thank you to all of them for taking such good care of us, for showing us all the sights, for all the great times we had with them!
We took the ferry across the Connecticut River - just another notch in the "forms of transportation" belt for this trip! After a while we started seeing dense city, and we didn't leave it for several more days. It made us glad that we don't have to live like that, like rats in a maze! Anyway, we arrived nice and early at the Hilton Stamford Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, where apparently most of the staff was also on vacation.
We are usually treated almost like royalty at any Hilton hotel, as Jim has Diamond status because he stays with them so much on business. Even here, the staff was certainly polite - those of them that were there! The executive lounge, on which we were counting for a light supper, was closed: no one available to staff it. Because of this inconvenience, we were given vouchers for dinner at the hotel restaurant - which unfortunately was not staffed. The restaurant's bar had one employee working, but we felt that was inappropriate for the children, of course. Jim had a little discussion with the front desk manager, and we got room service for free instead. It's good to be the king.
Our hero James went out twice by himself in Stamford - once to return the rental car, and once to fetch a few toiletries we'd run out of. The second time he had to walk quite far, as he'd already returned the car. Anyway, we had sandwiches, fries and fruit for dinner, and we ordered up a movie in our room - Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Good movie, and a nice way to end the day - with a little relaxation for a change!