Monday October 12, 2015 At sea between Newport, RI and Boston, MA

We all slept well our first night at sea.  When we got up Gerri ordered our coffee and a light breakfast from room service.  They were very quick this morning.

We have started seeing some color changes

Our tour meets at the bus park on shore at 12:20.  Since we were tendering ashore we were ready by 10.  My having the walker and Neva having a cane we by passed the stairs and were taken down an elevator to the tender deck.  I was seated and the boat started moving away without my walker.  I got the crew’s attention in time.  Using the walker has the advantage that I have a seat with me when I need it.

We looked around the area and there were several shops and hotels near the dock.  The nearest cache was .3 miles away.  Too far to walk in the time we had.  We boarded the bus a few minutes later, Neva and I got front seats.  Our tour took us around the island where Newport is located.  In colonial times Newport was one of the largest cities in the colonies and an important port in the Triangle Trade; slaves from Africa to the West Indies, molasses from the West Indies to New England to be made in to rum.  Newport had 17 distilleries.  The British burned the town and Newport never recovered until the “Gilded Age” in the early 1900’s.

Typical Mansion

The land part of our tour took us passed numerous mansions that were built in the early part of the 20^th century when Newport was a sort of playground for the rich and famous.

The boat part of the tour gave us some better views of  the mansions from the water.  Also on the water tour we saw some of the 12 meter sailboats that helped make Newport famous for the America’s Cup.

Pell Bridge

Our tour guide

A mansion as seen from the water

Fort Adams, once the largest port
defense fort in North America

We tendered back to the ship at about 3:15.  We had snacks in the International Café and then rested for a while in our cabin before getting dressed for our first formal night.  We watched the champagne water fall being poured in the Piazza and then went to the dining room.

All of our table mates were there.  We had a pleasant time visiting while enjoying the meal.  After dinner we went back to the room.  I think I was the first asleep at about 10:40.