Of Wings and Whispers

[Pushka]

Ahem. Where are the purchases?

 

[drron]

Well here is one place we shopped-

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But all the way from the Sunshine Coast to the back blocks of Connecticut-

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I'd be out of a job here-

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So which comes first the plum or the apricot?

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So after this upmarket shopping we briefly entered Massachussetts to visit the Wrentham outlets.Distinguished by the fact that they have a Bloomingdales outlet.We both got a few items.
Then back to CT and our third stay at the HGI Groton.First was as a diamond,second gold and now as silver so we came down a floor and at the back of the building.Groton is another reasonable base-a submarine base and museum just down the road and not far from Mystic.
We were here for something else-

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That next.

 

[drron]

So after mrsdrron had done the washing it was off to Abbott's lobster pound.As you enter the village of Noack there is a good little liquor store where you can pick up a bottle of wine.Here is the place.Quite a large menu-

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We started off sharing 6 oysters-damn big ones according to the menu-

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We each had a lobster from the 2-2.5lb category.Mine was ~2lb,mrsdrron's ~ 2.5lb.

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We made a bit of a mess-

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For some reason they also give you a tub of slaw and a bag of crisps to go with your lobster.
They were great.A recommended spot.Great views and some lovely nearby houses-

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Back at the HGI picked up a couple of oranges for brekkie.
Tomorrow it is off to Stamford via the Clinton Crossing outlets.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Ahem. Where are the purchases?

I am afraid I didn't do too much shopping this time ! AMEX will think I am sick . Ron got two pairs of Cole Haan shoes - I only got one pair :shock: ! I did get 3 skirts at Talbots - one of my new favourite stores for everyday wear. Some Uniglo T shirts for me, Brooks Bros shirts for Ron, a few things for the grandkids. We will be back in the USA in December so saving the shopping till then !

 

[drron]

Leisurely short drive from Groton to the Clinton Crossing outlets.Arrived at 1001-1 minute after opening.Not as many outlets here but 1 essential one to pick up supplies for our cruise-a huge bag of Lindt chocolate balls.Then set off down I-95 for Stamford but felt like a coffee and a snack so stopped at the next service area.A sign at Maccas caught our eye-

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It was pretty good but we wuz robbed.We decided to leave the Interstate and go the back roads and all the Maccas off I-95 had the lobster roll at $8.99!

Of course it is not the only thing cheaper off the Interstate.Gas $2.379 at the service centre and as low as $1.977 on highway 1.So not only the scenery and other interesting sights it is a good idea to get off the main drag occasionally.We did manage to get lost in Bridgeport when the signs went from 1 south to 1 west.I presumed 1 south was straight ahead but no it wasn't.Ended up going past derelict factories then obviously the old wealthy part of town with magnificent large timber homes.Virtually all now terribly run down.Fortunately a sign for I-95 so back on that to Stamford.
Arrived at the Sheraton Stamford about 1415.The very pleasant agent said we have a suite for you but it wont be ready for 30-45 minutes.So I just asked for an ordinary king room.For that I was given coupons for brekkie in the restaurant and for drinks at a nearby restaurant + my 500 points.We had other ideas for dinner though.
So the room-

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And the view-

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Next the last of our lobster extravaganza.

 

[drron]

For dinner I had picked Boothbay Lobster in the renovated Harbour Point area.Really was a trendy restaurant and we looked a little out of place especially when we ordered a bottle of wine and straight seafood.We both had a bowl of mussels with white wine,garlic and herbs and each a steamed lobster.A bit expensive but we both thought these were the best lobsters we had.Just cooked so juicy,sweet and fall out of the shell.

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We went outside and our car was waiting-

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Not really.Ours was in the free parking lot.We found out later there is a free trolley to this area with a stop just outside the Sheraton.We then had a look around the area.More buildings starting.First back to where the restaurants are and our chariot-

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The yacht club looks like a good spot for an afternoon drink-

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The distant shore is Greenwich,CT-

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A couple of vessels in the marina-

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Next-off to JFK.

 

[Pushka]

Ive never enjoyed seafood - not allergic but just dont like it. Maybe its because I've never really tried Maine Lobster and such like. You guys seem to be making up for it. Maybe I will give that a go next time.

 

[bam71]

I'm DYING to try Maine Lobster ......

 

[Pushka]

I'm DYING to try Maine Lobster ......

When is the season? Instead of Hawaii after Alaska next July, maybe NYC for me?

 

[love_the_life]

When is the season? Instead of Hawaii after Alaska next July, maybe NYC for me?

Travel junky :mrgreen:

 

[Pushka]

Travel junky :mrgreen:

Blame drron, amaroo, bc and the like for their damn trip reports that are never ending.

 

[ellen10]

We sampled our first Maine Lobsters in October last year.
We are hooked!

 

[drron]

The main season is US summer but you can get them year round.Cheaper in summer.
Same species you get in Scotland,France etc.

 

[drron]

When we got back to the hotel after our dinner we went to the lounge and it was packed.Apparently one older couple had "invited"about 20 younger adults to the lounge-the attendant shut down service so we had to wait until the "guests"left.Reasonable snacks which we had no need for and wine and beer complimentary.
Then back to the room and an early night.I slept well waking ~0800.

So the next morning we had brekkie in the restaurant.Pretty ordinary but at least an egg station.Just an observation.The lounge guests were predominantly white,those downstairs predominantly black or Hispanic.After brekkie it was repacking time-mrsdrron is good at assessing the luggage.At checkin both bags weighed 24.6kg.
Now I had counted on a slow trip to JFK aiming at arriving at the Checkin at 1330 as the Finnair website had checkin open at 1335.Of course it wasn't so slow.Even though I stayed in the right lane,let all merging traffic in I was able to stay at 50mph virtually the whole way down I-95.And of course the right lane turned out to be the fastest lane.So even letting 2 packed airtrains go at the car rental station we were at checkin at 1300 only to see it opened at 1405.Now Terminal 8 at JFK is not a place to wait some time-no seats at all so we took it in turn to walk around the terminal-no going outside as the temperature was rapidly heading to 38C and very humid.

Never cease to be amazed at the questions people ask at American airports in particular.I was standing beside the one agent there before all the staff arrived.So many people asked her where security was when the sign was straight in front of them.Then there were the 4 older American women travelling on Finnair coming over and trying to convince the agent they should be in the priority line-later at the gate they tried to board in the first group but were told to go back and wait.
The agent was a very good person handler but excelled when a couple came up speaking Portugese-their only English word was Portugese.The agent guessed correctly they would be on the TAM flight.We continued a friendly banter which made the time go quicker.

Finally through to the flagship lounge-more were being turned away than being allowed to enter.Unfortunately lunch items had disappeared and the snacks weren't great.Strange wines with the whites being a Napa chardy and a Santa Barbara "white wine"-small print was mainly viogner.Reds were a Spanish garnacha-Grenache-or an Italian merlot.Both drinkable but not great.

But at least our plane had arrived-

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[drron]

AA8986 (AY6). JFK-HEL. ETD-1730. Push back-1753. Take off-1820. A333. Seats 2D,H-middle pair.
ETA-0850. Landed-0839. At gate-0842.

A scrum at boarding.Pleasant service after boarding with a glass of Nicolas feuillatte in hand quickly.So the foot shot-

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Looked like a blood splatter next to IFE screen-murder at 35000 feet anyone?
Now the menu-

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[drron]

Now the wine list-

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I had the French red and the Ice wine.Both very nice.
Mrsdrron was happy because as well as a SB theyalso had Amarula.

 

[drron]

So here are the meals.Not very exciting.Mrsdrron had the veal which was tough.I had the salmon which was overcooked-

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I watched a film "Lobster" which was weird.Also didn't like the IFE menu-films and music listed by posters and writing so small I was unsure what was on offer.
So after the dinner I slept.missed brekkie.
There were 2 women in 1D,H who were there for takeoff and landing,not in uniform,but who disappeared for the whole flight.Didn't look Scandinavian and spoke English.

We stepped out of Finnair into HEL which was cold and raining.Went straight to the premium lounge as a 5 hour transit.A nice lounge.Mrsdrron wanted to sleep but the arrival of 2 toddlers and an infant put paid to that.We both had a shower-nice facilities.So a couple of lounge pics.Note the lighting change-

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Now awaiting our flight to Stockholm.

 

[irv]

The photo of the building branded Coastline Credit Union was where we lived in 1989, old Rural /State bank building. Was an enormous residence upstairs, entertainment on the street Saturday night was interesting to say the least.

 

[irv]

Ended the day with a very pleasant drinks with irv and irv+1 before walking to dinner at Mekong.OK but certainly not great Asian food.

Next time you end up this way we will visit the Stunned Mullet, erase the memories of those other places

 

[irv]

So after mrsdrron had done the washing it was off to Abbott's lobster pound.As you enter the village of Noack there is a good little liquor store where you can pick up a bottle of wine.Here is the place.Quite a large menu-

.

.

We started off sharing 6 oysters-damn big ones according to the menu-

.

We each had a lobster from the 2-2.5lb category.Mine was ~2lb,mrsdrron's ~ 2.5lb.

.

.

.

.

We made a bit of a mess-

.

For some reason they also give you a tub of slaw and a bag of crisps to go with your lobster.
They were great.A recommended spot.Great views and some lovely nearby houses-

.

.

Back at the HGI picked up a couple of oranges for brekkie.
Tomorrow it is off to Stamford via the Clinton Crossing outlets.

I am hurting after viewing this (penciling down Abbotts)