We Want to Stay in Hyde Park!!!!

These pictures are just a tiny sampling from today.

1. Our new friend Angie at the Eveready Diner

2. The CIA soup sampler and wine flight

3. My ham, cheese, tomato and basil panini

4. A CIA classroom

5. Franklin's "walk"

6. The Roosevelt front door at Springwood/Hyde Park presidential home

7. Burial site of Franklin and Eleanor (Fala is buried behind the memorial stone)

8. FDR's office in the library building as it was when he died

9. Eleanor's dining room at ValKill, her retreat

10. Visiting with the Roosevelts.

Well, have we had a nice day. This morning we drove across the street to the President's library and home. We could have walked but..... The tour of the house and presidential library was fabulous. I was very moved with the presentation by the ranger with the National Park Service when he thanked us for coming. He really captured the essence of the president and it was a very entertaining and moving hour. The picture showing the long driveway is where Franklin Roosevelt would try to walk after contracting polio. What strength of character to never give up and how painful and frustrating those attempts must have been. The library with one wing devoted to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is awe inspiring. The grounds of the estate are gorgeous and the simple graves in the Rose Garden are magnificent in their understatement. As a child I remember the President's dog, Fala, and was thrilled to see that he is buried close to the president.

After lunch we went to Eleanor Roosevelt's cottage, Val Kill. What a serene and peaceful setting and it is clear why she chose this place to build her retreat away from her mother-in-law in the "big house" down the road. After Mama Roosevelt's death in 1941 and Franklin's death in 1945 Eleanor spent her time in Hyde Park at Val Kill. Her children and grandchildren had many wonderful memories of that time. In her later years she received heads of state and important people at this humble cottage and I wish I could have been a part of the wonderful dinner table conversations which she loved. The weather was warm, the leaves are changing and rustling, and it was a perfect day!

And then we get to the food, making it even more perfect! The Culinary Institute of America, a mile or so down the road from the Presidential Library, is housed in an old brick monastary that is right on the road. Students bustle around in black and white checked pants, white coats, and funny chefs' hats. You can peek into classrooms where in one I saw a lecture going on about Corn. The instructor was using a large poster of one corn kernal as a visual aid! We went to lunch in the St. Andrews Cafe, one of the less expensive restaurants where we were able to make reservations. Our waitress is a second year student who is about to graduate with an AA degree. The Institute does offer a bachelors degree also. Makes you want to go back to school! We all had the same thing and the picture shows how much we loved our food!!!! It is a beautiful place and we hated to leave.

Lee and Judi did laundry while I looked for a place to stay in Philadelphia. I think they had better luck with the clothes but finally I found something for 2 nights. Have to be a bit more careful in big cities on the weekends. Things get busy. We do have our reservations in Washington DC so perhaps this was just a fluke!

We went back to the Eveready Diner where we ate last night. We were not very hungry but hated to miss another gastronomic opportunity and their were Buffalo Wings and Sweet Potato Fries were calling to the Gotta Go Girls. Wash this all down with a chocolate malt, chocolate soda, or a chocolate egg cream and you have the perfect meal to end a perfect day. AND we got to see one of our favorite waitresses Angie! We met Angie last night along with another doll, Amanda, who had tonight off. It was like old home week. Angie's bubbly personality, warm sense of humor, and hospitable manner wins you over immediately. We want to move to New York and be her friend. We chatted when she had a minute between seeing to her other customers and had the restaurant in a bit of an uproar as we left with Eveready Diner tee shirts from the management and hugs all around.

Boo Hoo!!!! On down the road tomorrow to Philadelphia.

Love, The Gotta Go Girls