After my successes navigating public transportation in Manhattan, I hauled myself and my suitcases down five flights of stairs and proceeded confidently out onto the streets of New York. I proceeded to stand on a variety of street corners for the next THIRTY MINUTES in the pouring down rain and whipping wind, attempting to hail a cab. This endeavour was complicated by a) the weather, b) the fact that rush hour was in full force so cars were crawling by at a turtle's pace, and c) cab drivers are assholes. I eventually made it to Penn Station where I caught the train to Newark and realized that the AMAZING deal I'd gotten on a rental car was at a company located 15 minutes away from the airport. So, I sucked it up, accepted the $25 cancellation fee and got an AWFUL deal at a different company located at Newark.
Only two or so hours behind schedule, I got in my car, and with once again misplaced confidence, set off for the six hour drive from Newark to Stowe, Vermont. When four hours later, I had barely made it past Hartford, I had the sneaking suspicion it was going to take me a bit longer than expected to arrive at my destination. After ten hours in the car, eternally grateful for the fact that I'd stopped at Barnes & Noble for a book on cd, I finally arrived at the house a group of us had booked for the wedding weekend. Fortunately, I made it just in time to drop off my things, and hitch a ride over to the post-rehearsal dinner dinner! My lovely college pal, Melissa, had chosen the charmingly quaint Stowe for her destination wedding, and oh, Vermont, if it didn't get 12 inches of snow in October, I would move there in a heartbeat.
The morning of the wedding, we went out to hit the tourist spots and managed to feed ourselves on a multitude of samples consisting of chocolate, cheese, ice cream, cider donuts, maple fudge and wine. Does that not sound like heaven on earth?? On top of the culinary delights, the leaves were in fact as beautiful as everyone has ever sad they would be. Unfortunately, this dolt forgot to charge her one camera battery, so I wasn't able to capture the most vibrant examples of the Fall colors.
The wedding was positively beautiful, and though I started out not knowing a single other person there, by the end of my weekend I had met so many amazing people and had an incredible time both on and off the dance floor! The morning after the wedding, I dragged my hungover butt out of bed at the crack of dawn and once more began the epic journey through New England. Fortunately, it turned out that a huge reason the traffic was so miserable on my way up was that many roads had been closed and traffic diverted onto the interstate due to heavy rain and flooding. So, my trip back down only took seven hours. Only.
It was a long flipping day, starting out around 8 in the morning with my drive to Newark, a long wait at the airport, a connection in Charlotte, but I FINALLY made it back to Charleston at midnight. And had a flat tire.
Fortunately a knight in shining armor, in the form of roadside assistance, showed up after my mini-breakdown, and I spent the entire next day trying to get my tire and oil changed. Then I did a quick load of laundry, packed my bags one more time and hit the road the following day for the 13 hour drive home to Louisiana. I made it in time for my momsie's birthday and her Pink Party celebrating five years since her breast cancer diagnosis and raising money for breast cancer research. It was a wonderful week spent with family and friends, and I even managed to squeeze in some relaxation. My sister drove back to Charleston with me, and we spent the next few days hitting the highpoints of the lowcountry from the vodka distillery to the haunted jail tour.
When she left on Saturday, I entered into a definite post-whirlwind slump. After three weeks of near constant travel and entertainment, I wasn't entirely sure what to do myself. And then I remembered my DVR queue. And that's pretty much what I've been doing since. Phew! Now, onward!
I sure do not miss getting stuck in New England traffic, but it is lovely this time of year!
Posted by: Heidi Renée | October 22, 2010 at 06:50 PM
i have ALWAYS wanted to go to vermont (no idea where it came from) and your pictures are only helping the cause, haha.
Posted by: katelin | October 23, 2010 at 01:33 AM
Your Vermont weekend sounds like so much fun! I would love to visit that area! Despite the harsh winters, I think it would be awesome to live in the NE. Maybe these harsh German winters will toughen me up!
Posted by: Kendra | October 23, 2010 at 09:27 AM
Now that is one serious trip (or series of trips depending on how you look at it). Vermont does look beautiful--I've been dying to see the inn that my parents' former neighbors (and good friends) have been running for years up there.
Posted by: Kate P | October 24, 2010 at 04:05 AM
Getting a cab in the rain is always a miserable experience! Sounds like your trip to Vermont was amazing!
Posted by: garden state prep | October 24, 2010 at 05:40 PM
What a fun weekend! Your photos of the chocolate kill me....
Posted by: Melissa | October 25, 2010 at 01:17 AM
One of my co-workers is from Vermont and VERY proud of it. Looks adorable!
Posted by: Jessica | October 25, 2010 at 02:54 AM
Wow! Sounds like you survived several hurdles to make it to and from that wedding. You're a superwoman survivor. Nice.
Posted by: Molly | October 25, 2010 at 03:27 AM
You made me want to go to Vermont! While that's not likely in the next few weeks, I am soon heading to New Orleans for a few days. Any suggestions? There is the possibility of renting a car, too, so nearby destinations are welcome. Thanks!
Posted by: PomJob | October 30, 2010 at 05:26 PM