24/7/2010 - Newport, Rode Island, USA - Newport by Land and Sea Tour
We didn't arrive in Newport until 11am - due to the ship having to go slower in the area because of migrating whales (yes, no joke, they impose a speed limit on all shipping at this time of the year!).
Today was a tender port, which is one of my least favourite things! Thankfully since we'd booked a ship's tour, we were able to get off the ship quite quickly. These little boats become sweat boxes on hot days, and with the temperature pushing 30C we were really feeling it.
Our tour stared with us driving through Newport - the main thing that Newport has is rich and famous people's homes. There are some massive places overlooking the harbour that cost ridiculous amounts of money - and apparently they were built only with the intention of using them six to eight weeks a year!
The place itself was nice and green, the streets were a little narrow, but the countryside was very nice - it reminded us a lot of home (it was very similar to the noosa/sunshine coast area back home). We drove past the oldest continually operating pub in the USA - it was started in 1673!
The second half of the tour took us out on the harbour and we got to see the other side of the homes, because of course if you're building a house overlooking the harbour, that's where you want it to look impressive! We cruised the harbour for around an hour, looking at a fort very similar to the one yesterday at Boston.
One interesting sight was this below picture - this house is built out in the middle of the harbour! it has no running water or electricity - but it has some awesome views!
I experienced my first thunderstorm while on board the ship later in the afternoon (at least a storm I could go out on a balcony and watch) - quite a large thunderstorm struck around 4pm - turning over small sailboats in the harbour, it was an impressive sight (got some good video of it!).
Dave, Marylyn and I all started feeling a little homesick after the storm - it felt so much like a summer afternoon on the sunshine coast!
Today was a tender port, which is one of my least favourite things! Thankfully since we'd booked a ship's tour, we were able to get off the ship quite quickly. These little boats become sweat boxes on hot days, and with the temperature pushing 30C we were really feeling it.
Our tour stared with us driving through Newport - the main thing that Newport has is rich and famous people's homes. There are some massive places overlooking the harbour that cost ridiculous amounts of money - and apparently they were built only with the intention of using them six to eight weeks a year!The place itself was nice and green, the streets were a little narrow, but the countryside was very nice - it reminded us a lot of home (it was very similar to the noosa/sunshine coast area back home). We drove past the oldest continually operating pub in the USA - it was started in 1673!
The second half of the tour took us out on the harbour and we got to see the other side of the homes, because of course if you're building a house overlooking the harbour, that's where you want it to look impressive! We cruised the harbour for around an hour, looking at a fort very similar to the one yesterday at Boston.
One interesting sight was this below picture - this house is built out in the middle of the harbour! it has no running water or electricity - but it has some awesome views!I experienced my first thunderstorm while on board the ship later in the afternoon (at least a storm I could go out on a balcony and watch) - quite a large thunderstorm struck around 4pm - turning over small sailboats in the harbour, it was an impressive sight (got some good video of it!).Dave, Marylyn and I all started feeling a little homesick after the storm - it felt so much like a summer afternoon on the sunshine coast!
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