Nov 7 & 8 Newport RI and NYC

 A reason for this cruise was a visit to Newport RI which we last visited about 40 years ago. We opted for the Cliff Walk with a visit to the Breakers mansion.

The Cliff Walk begins with a bus ride to the walk, and we pass by Salve Regina University which owns a bunch of land and several of the mansions on the island. I am not surprised that some high school seniors choose their institutions of higher learning based on the prevalence of surfing at the school.

One of Salve Regina's buildings, Ochre Court

A washed out section of the Cliff Walk. Although the walkway is protected land, the mansion owners always tried to move it down and away from their dwellings. Here they got it just far enough.

McAuley Hall, other Salve Regina building. Also very near a favored surfing spot. Although it was about 40F today, a not many surfers (ie, 0) were out.

The Breakers, a Gilded Age "cottage" built by Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Our excursion included a tour of the building.

As befits its "cottage" designation, it actually wasn't that big. Only 62,000 sq ft, although the huge rooms reduced the room count -- only four bedrooms on the tour route.

Let's paint the ceiling like the sky so we don't have to actually go outdoors.

The fireplace is about the size of an NYC studio apartment

The music room being prepared for Christmas

Although barely seen on the tour route, the house has ingenious fittings to separate the servant areas from the residents. Back staircases and closets are accessed through these doors that disappear when closed.

Touro Synagogue National Historic Site, the oldest existing US synagogue

Next, we return to NYC. It was a beautiful, clear and cool day. And it was a Saturday so all of the locals were out, along with people coming in from the suburbs. And, it's the beginning of the Christmas Season -- this was the first weekend of the Rockette Christmas show. So it was crowded, but we walked around.

This building was across the street from the Cruise Terminal. 

There was a big line of people going in for the 10am Rockette show.

St Patricks Cathedral

We made the mistake of walking through the Rockefeller Center area. Long lines of people waiting to get into the Lego Store and FAO Schwartz.

They were putting up the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center. 

The longest lines appeared to be for the Build A Bear attraction at FAO Schwartz. And once you buy the bear, you can add all sorts of clothing and accessories. It's like Barbie, but plusher.