First Trip to Providence

 June 20 – Today we left about 10 for Providence, RI.  It’s an hour drive on 2 lane road through beautiful tree shrouded roads.  The city is the capitol of RI but not the least bit intimidating to drive in.  Although there are many one way streets we had little difficulty finding our way.  The reason for all of the one way streets is because of all of the old buildings that still stand from a time when the roads only needed to be large enough for carriages to pass.

On the road arriving

We started at the center of Federal Hill where we had no problem parking along the street beside the Capitol building.  It’s quite imposing as you drive up the street directly in front of it.  It’s also within walking distance of the Providence Place Mall which is quite large with all of the major stores and many more and 16 movie theaters.  We had no reason to visit so after the capitol we headed to the visitor center of the Roger Williams National Memorial.  He started the “town” of Providence.  He left England for the Massachusetts Bay Colonies due to religious persecution in 1631.  However, he

First Baptist Meeting House

still chose not to conform to the religion established in the new colony and was to be deported so he fled the colony leaving his wife and children behind to avoid arrest.  He befriended members of the Narragansett tribe and learned their language and became an interpreter between them and the colonists.  In 1636 the tribe deeded him land at the headwaters of Narragansett Bay which he named Providence.  He was joined by his family and some close friends and established a new colony that became Rhode Island.  In around 1638 he cofounded the first Baptist Church in North America and in 1775 the First Baptist Meeting House was built. It still stands.  We planned to visit and tour the church but although it didn’t say anything on the website, it was closed until Monday for renovations.  We will go back again and see the inside.  Williams was buried in his yard but later moved to a special place where a huge monument was erected in his honor.

Enjoying lunch

We had lunch at the Mediterraneo on Federal Hill.  It is in the Italian restaurant row and it was featured at one time on the Guy Fiero show, Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins.  It was a delicious if expensive lunch.  They offer a Pre Fixe menu for lunch and a huge selection of meals and a la carte items.  It was a difficult decision and I changed my mind 3 times.  I had the Caprese salad and Gluten Free Bolognese and Tiramisu for dessert.  I was stuffed!  Bill had a regular salad and he said it was Chicken Parmigiana but that’s not what they called it.  He had the Tiramisu also.  He did have some leftover chicken for tomorrow.

We drove around Brown University just to see the campus and since the church was closed we

Bill's new pet

started heading back home.  We drove home via a different route so we went through the town of Brooklyn.  We saw a sign for Creamery Brook Farm Bison and immediately took the turn.  At the end of the journey there was a small herd of buffalo and a farmhouse with a small store selling free range chickens that were huge and all cuts of buffalo along with ice cream and various gift items.  We bought some bison meat and then visited the petting zoo animals:  a buffalo, some emu, cows and ponies.

On the way home we made a stop and McD’s for our fix of iced coffee and some decent wifi.  Once we got home we stopped at the Rec Hall to let them know we were expecting a package today and actually we received 2 yesterday:  our dash mat for the car and my computer table.  Then they found another box that came today with the gas line for our grill that Kurt sent.  Wow! Bill immediately put the dash mat in and said it fit perfect and looks great.  We opened the desk and tried it in 4 places, none of which are perfect but finally settle on a spot we think it will work.  We’re keeping the packaging for a few days for me to give it a try and if it doesn’t work for me we can return it to Camping World.  It’s made to screw to a wall so it doesn’t tip over once you put your laptop or keyboard on it.  I’m sitting in the drivers seat turned around and propping the table part on the arm of the couch. 

We had our supper I made for tomorrow night tonight.  It was too late to thaw anything.  Guess it’s time to get my book out!