Oct 9, 2022
与波士顿结缘，始于2002年。彼时携家带小，游访哈佛、麻省理工等校园。四年前，再莅剑桥(Cambridge)，吾家小子已于此地，定居执业。今次三访，受邀拜会其准in-laws，共商婚礼仪典，相聚甚欢。
诸事顺遂，胸臆灿然。昨日午后，乘兴启程，秋游新英格兰。自东向西，翻山越岭，海拔渐高，霜彩愈重。沿途秋色横贯，从数树深红，到层林尽染。甫穿绿州(Greenfield)，次下鹿州(Deerfield)；又上天桥(Natural Bridge State Park)，直抵威廉姆斯镇(Williamstown)。今日傍晚，漫步Williams College校园，借其学苑仙风，掸拂一路仆仆风尘。
自东向西山连山 金秋横贯染层岚
侧岭偏峰卷诗画 流溪静湖泻斑斓
甫穿绿州下鹿州 错过午饭向晚饭
一程海拔一重霜 直上天桥入仙苑
Oct 10，2022
1/ Bennington
It was raining early morning with overcast skies, which is not welcome for fall foliage peeping. When arrived at Battle Monument in Bennington VT, the rain turned into a downpour, preventing us from doing anything except giving up all the activities pre-planned for this location.
The reason why we were there was because we wanted to go a bit deeper into the history of America. It seemed that a whole lot of American history (the independence war against British, the establishment of the 13 colonies, the constitution, and so forth, all of these legends told in American history books) was literally written nowhere else but in New England. The Battle Monument in Bennington VT is part of the memorandum of the independence war.
Bennington is also part of the South Corridor of Vermont which goes about 50+ miles latitudinally along Route 9 and connects Bennington in the west, Wilmington in the middle, and Brattleboro in the east.
The rest of the day, we focused on touring these three towns of Vermont. First, we started the journey from Main Street of Bennington. However, there was nothing worthy of mentioning, only a few shots of old-fashioned structures, plus some pictures of rainy-day scenery.
2/ Wilmington
Wilmington was second to stop by. It’s a small town with rugged streets, rusted buildings, and old-school-looking type of folks. You would’ve got a weird feeling as if you were wandering off somewhere that belongs to the third world, no kidding!
However, in its vicinities of less than 30 minutes drive, there're great scenic spots worth a go, like Raponda Pond, Molly Stark State Park, and Hogback Mountain.
You could certainly be shocked by the view of an ocean with waves after waves of gold or amber looking forests spreading in all directions on top of the Hogback Mountain. Also, you might be amazed by a local snack, the maple syrup donut. It tasted really good and refreshing, injecting a warm and sweet feeling into and circling within your body while exposed out in the cold.
3/a Brattleboro: Museum of Art
The third town, Brattleboro, is pretty rustic as well, but a little fresher and moderner overall, in terms of local lifestyle. Immediately after arrival, we went to the Brattleboro Museum of Art Center, and very much appreciated the exhibits of “Felt Experience”.
Every piece of the artwork is made of felts (毛毡), an ancient material with extraordinary sensorial connection between humans and animals on earth. Also, it's believed that the warmth and affection of the wool felts is able to awaken memories gained from childhood, helping people make a better sense out of their interactions with the real world.
3/b Brattleboro: Main Street
After the “Felt Experience”, we then scouted the Main Street of Brattleboro all the way through, taking quite a few pictures of local churches, street arts and stuff.
In a food store, a special pack of beers caught my eyes. It's a mix of different brands brewed locally but in Austria style, “a little Austria, a lot of Vermont” as advertised outside of the pack.
A drink of beer concludes today's touristy log, of course. Hopefully, a good sleep tonight, and a good day tomorrow!
