This January, Alpha Zeta members John Zeiger, Lyndsie Collis and Elizabeth Martens toured around the northeast visiting Alpha Zetans and seeing the sights. We began the trip on New Years Eve hosted by Becca Terry at her home in Honeoye Falls. Sara Orlowski joined us for a night of fun and games to bring in the New Year.
On the 1st John, Lyndsie and Elizabeth drove west, stopping briefly in Tully, NY for dinner at Lyndsie’s house before moving on to John’s house in Ardsley, NY to spend the night. The next morning we delivered 4 bags of corn (from Elizabeth’s farm) to the Stone Barns Center, a nearby restaurant and educational farm. We got a tour of the 80 acre farm and restaurant and learned about their research, sustainable practices, and educational programs. We enjoyed a 100% locally grown lunch there before hopping on a train into New York City. We met up with Roop Singh for a few hours of exploring. The next day Lyndsie went to the Austrian consulate to get her visa to study abroad next semester. We spent the day in Chinatown, Battery Park and Wall Street and that night met up with Matt Picarillo for the last time before he left for his Semester at Sea.
On Friday we left New York and headed for Boston by way of Emily Tompkins in Litchfield, CT. We spent the evening touring a neighboring farm and downtown Litchfield, watching a spectacular sunset and playing with Emily’s goats. We enjoyed the best Philly Cheesesteaks in the world (compliments of Emily’s Mom) before finishing the drive to Boston.
That night we met our host, Gerta, whom we were renting our room from. After three days in hectic NYC it was good to relax and plan our next day in Boston with the help of a local. We met Liz Perkus at the New England Aquarium then ate at Quincy Market. That night we took the T to Cambridge to explore Harvard’s campus and college town.
On Sunday we spent the morning walking on the beach and looking at tide pools while Lyndsie identified seaweed and sea creatures. We drove to the small fishing town of Gloucester for lunch, and asked some fishermen on the docks where we could find the best seafood available.
With very full stomachs we kept driving north into the White Mountains of New Hampshire for a visit with Esthy Rodriguez and Kyllan Gilmore. We played in the snow, hiked in the woods, sledded down a mountain, and enjoyed great hospitality and delicious homemade food from the Gilmore family – including handpicked fiddleheads and mushrooms!
After 10 days of traveling and visiting with Alpha Zetans, we spent one more quiet weekend at home before rush. A big thanks to everyone who welcomed us into their homes for meals or for the night, and to everyone who met us along the way. It was really all of you who made this trip a success.