Touring by bus and car - September 9, 2015

Another lazy morning before taking a 90 minute bus tour of town.  We did a little walking of the local neighborhood first and marvelled at the homes built in the 1700 and 1800's.  Many were undergoing refurbishment and we could see that what passes for a "foundation" here is a little shaky.  Sometimes it was just columns of bricks every few feet.  One little house looked like it could be pushed off it's foundation with a little effort.

The bus tour was interesting - learned about the history of Newport as a rum trading town, then home to the British and then French armies, before finally becoming the summer resort town for the very rich during the Golden Age of 1860's to 1913.  At that point, income taxes, WWI and then the Depression put an end to all of that.  My favorite house was the one built for his 39 year old wife for $11 million dollars (susposedly equal to about $180 million today).  Two years later she divorced him, got the house, then married her husband's best friend down the street and moved into his home.  She later sold her house for $100,000.  Sounds like a little animosity going on there.

Lunch was at The Moorings which is right on the water.  I tried another lobster roll ($21) , this time on a croissant which was not my favorite - too sweet.  I agree with the fellow from New Jersey I overheard the other day saying "you don't serve a lobster roll on a croissant".  Michael had a caesar salad (good) and a crab cake, although the menu said "crab cakes".  The service was good and the view delightful.

The afternoon was spent driving around the area - this time with Michael doing the driving so I could actually see something.  We followed the Ocean Drive again where we could get a better look at the fancy ocean front homes we passed on the tour.  We saw the church were John and Jackie Kennedy were married, then her childhood summer home where they had the reception for 1,200 people on the lawn.

Another trip to a Stop and Shop for more dinner salad makings.  We started with cheese and crackers and never got around to making the salad for dinner since we were still full from lunch.  Watched Jersey Boys on the TV.

Fitbit registered 6,743 steps.