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| Look at this amazing view of the Hudson River |
Once the time arrived we headed over to the track and boarded our time. Once again, the train was practically full when it pulled in and we were all forced to find seats that were separated. Our destination for the day was a small town known as Poughkeepsie, the home of Vassar. Ms. L had told us that the train ride over would be a short and scenic trip along the Hudson River. Unfortunately, the majority of the seats we found on the train were located in areas where taking a picture of the beautiful scenery was extremely difficult. However, I will admit that Ms. L was completely telling the truth in the sense that the trip was amazingly beautiful. The early morning light elegantly reflected off the crystal blue waters and the lush vegetation provided and incredible background. One if the iconic landmarks that we did see across the river was the infamous military academy known as West Point.
When we did finally arrive at our destination, we took a shuttle over to Hyde Park, the location of the summer home of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We were dropped off in front of the visitors building where we awaited for our tour of FDR's house to begin. We were very privileged enough to be able to receive a private tour of his summer house. Our guide showed us the long line of trees that made up the original boundaries of the estate and separated it from the old Vanderbilt Mansion on the other side of the park. From there we saw where both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried. I found it very heart-warming how he chose to be buried in his mother's rose garden out of all places and I feel that it really describes the sentiment he had toward the estate. After viewing the burial site, we headed over to the house. The architecture of the design was amazing. In a way it sort of resembled the design of the White House. According to the guide, FDR chose to spend at least 1/3 of the year in the house and he viewed it as a retreat from all the stress and complication of politics in Washington D.C. Inside, the house emanated peaceful and tranquil feeling; a sense that could make a person fully realize why Franklin enjoyed the home as much as he did. To him, this was his real home, even though the house actually still belonged to his mother at the time.
When we finished with the tour we watched an informative video over the life of FDR. I found the video to be very interesting and a great depiction of how an effective president he really was for the country. He helped the country rebound from multiple crisis that up the U.S on the brink of collapse.
We ate lunch at the local café located in the visitor center. We all ordered a different array of sandwiches and for the first time since we arrived on our trip, I actually felt I was eating semi-healthy.
After lunch we headed over to the Vassar University. This school is completely different from other schools we had visited. Upon arriving, we were able to see how beautiful the campus was. Trees everywhere provided a very calm and peaceful environment. The first thing we did was attend an informational session that gave us a better sense of how academics works there. According to the admissions officer that led the session, students are chosen based on their academic capabilities. Similar to Sarah Lawrence, Vassar finds the conventional secondary school approach to education flawed. Instead the school feels that allowing students to choose the classes they want provides a much better system of education system.
The tour of the campus was even better. The campus is extremely beautiful and the buildings all have so much uniqueness in theirs designs, Like our past tours, our guide was very informative and upbeat. She was an uprising senior who really knew her way around the enormous school campus. We received the opportunity to see not only a classroom, which was very small and clearly demonstrated how few students each class contained, but also a dorm room which was not as large as the dorms at Sarah Lawrence, but still very nice. While we only were able to see a portion of the campus, we all were able to imagine the type of life-style and close community that was formed there. Overall I found the campus incredibly stunning. The trees all added a new layer of depth to the landscape and the natural lakes really provided uniqueness and peace. After the tour we boarded the train and headed back to New York.
The highlight of my evening had to be dinner however. Unlike the last couple of nights were we had dined in restaurants were the gentry would eat, we headed to a more urban location, Ellen's Stardust Diner. Unlike conventional diners, this one was very unique. Where at most diners the waiters just serve, at Stardust the sing as well. Ms. L had told us a bit about it, but it was not until we arrived there that we learned what she actually meant. The ambience was very upbeat and lively. We sat down and the majority of us ordered burgers that were amazingly big. The main attraction though were the singers. Each of the waiters were aspiring Broadway singers, actors, or dancers and each was very talented. I was in shock at their vocal capabilities and how much passion they had for what they did. It was probably the most fun I have ever had while having dinner. it was one of the best live action singing places I have ever had the pleasure of going to and I will have to agree that it was entirely unique. I honestly hope that they all make it far in their singing careers because they were all very talented and kind people.
Overall it was another great adventure. Not only were we able to visit historical landmarks, such as Hyde Park, and Vassar, but we also had a phenomenal dinning experience, one that is entirely unique to New York City. Tomorrow is once again a new day full of adventures waiting to be had.
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| A sculpture of Franklin Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor |
When we did finally arrive at our destination, we took a shuttle over to Hyde Park, the location of the summer home of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We were dropped off in front of the visitors building where we awaited for our tour of FDR's house to begin. We were very privileged enough to be able to receive a private tour of his summer house. Our guide showed us the long line of trees that made up the original boundaries of the estate and separated it from the old Vanderbilt Mansion on the other side of the park. From there we saw where both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried. I found it very heart-warming how he chose to be buried in his mother's rose garden out of all places and I feel that it really describes the sentiment he had toward the estate. After viewing the burial site, we headed over to the house. The architecture of the design was amazing. In a way it sort of resembled the design of the White House. According to the guide, FDR chose to spend at least 1/3 of the year in the house and he viewed it as a retreat from all the stress and complication of politics in Washington D.C. Inside, the house emanated peaceful and tranquil feeling; a sense that could make a person fully realize why Franklin enjoyed the home as much as he did. To him, this was his real home, even though the house actually still belonged to his mother at the time.
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| The final resting place of FDR and Eleanor |
As a president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was amazing. He was the type of person that got things done no matter what the challenge and never had fear of anything. Roosevelt was president for four terms and during that time he faced many challenges. This era included the Great Depression, WWII and the Dust Bowl. However, political and government issues were not the only complications that faced this great man, in his later years he contracted the disease known as Polio and was fully paralyzed from the waist down. He never once let the disability get the best of him though and acted as if nothing was wrong with him with the aid of metal braces that supported him when he was in the view of the general public. Compared to today's modern society, the media during this time seemed to respect Roosevelt's efforts and never depicted him in a wheel chair.
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| The official summer home of Franklin D. Roosevelt |
When we finished with the tour we watched an informative video over the life of FDR. I found the video to be very interesting and a great depiction of how an effective president he really was for the country. He helped the country rebound from multiple crisis that up the U.S on the brink of collapse. We ate lunch at the local café located in the visitor center. We all ordered a different array of sandwiches and for the first time since we arrived on our trip, I actually felt I was eating semi-healthy.
After lunch we headed over to the Vassar University. This school is completely different from other schools we had visited. Upon arriving, we were able to see how beautiful the campus was. Trees everywhere provided a very calm and peaceful environment. The first thing we did was attend an informational session that gave us a better sense of how academics works there. According to the admissions officer that led the session, students are chosen based on their academic capabilities. Similar to Sarah Lawrence, Vassar finds the conventional secondary school approach to education flawed. Instead the school feels that allowing students to choose the classes they want provides a much better system of education system.
The tour of the campus was even better. The campus is extremely beautiful and the buildings all have so much uniqueness in theirs designs, Like our past tours, our guide was very informative and upbeat. She was an uprising senior who really knew her way around the enormous school campus. We received the opportunity to see not only a classroom, which was very small and clearly demonstrated how few students each class contained, but also a dorm room which was not as large as the dorms at Sarah Lawrence, but still very nice. While we only were able to see a portion of the campus, we all were able to imagine the type of life-style and close community that was formed there. Overall I found the campus incredibly stunning. The trees all added a new layer of depth to the landscape and the natural lakes really provided uniqueness and peace. After the tour we boarded the train and headed back to New York.
The highlight of my evening had to be dinner however. Unlike the last couple of nights were we had dined in restaurants were the gentry would eat, we headed to a more urban location, Ellen's Stardust Diner. Unlike conventional diners, this one was very unique. Where at most diners the waiters just serve, at Stardust the sing as well. Ms. L had told us a bit about it, but it was not until we arrived there that we learned what she actually meant. The ambience was very upbeat and lively. We sat down and the majority of us ordered burgers that were amazingly big. The main attraction though were the singers. Each of the waiters were aspiring Broadway singers, actors, or dancers and each was very talented. I was in shock at their vocal capabilities and how much passion they had for what they did. It was probably the most fun I have ever had while having dinner. it was one of the best live action singing places I have ever had the pleasure of going to and I will have to agree that it was entirely unique. I honestly hope that they all make it far in their singing careers because they were all very talented and kind people. Overall it was another great adventure. Not only were we able to visit historical landmarks, such as Hyde Park, and Vassar, but we also had a phenomenal dinning experience, one that is entirely unique to New York City. Tomorrow is once again a new day full of adventures waiting to be had.
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