Warwick, RI

Warwick, RI

The women's barbershop singing organization, Harmony, Inc., invited Roger to judge their Area 2 Convention & Contests in late April in Warwick, RI, a suburb of Providence. Theresa came along on the trip and we made a little vacation of the trip to part of the Eastern seaboard.

After daughter Kathy took us to the Minneapolis Airport, the flight, hotel shuttle and hotel room were all on schedule and all "first class". Our hotel is the Crowne Plaza near the Providence Airport and near the school where the contests are held.

We arrived on Tuesday evening. So Wednesday morning, we rented a car and drove to Newport, a city southeast of Providence, built on a large island in Narragansett Bay. Two very high bridges get you there. The entire STATE is only the size of our metro area, and has about 1/3 of our population. The people whom we have encountered have all been very pleasant. And the scenery is all very "new England" - like.

Dan will want to know that our Hertz car rental had the "Never Lost" navigator (GPS) installed. And it really worked good. It was a life saver helper in finding sights, restaurants, etc. It was a color screen and included the talking option. Both worked fine.

The reason for the Rhode Island trip was to honor an invitation for Roger to be part of the judging panel for "Harmony, Incorporated", which is one of the women's barbershop singing organizations.

We think this is Providence, just north of Warwick, from the plane window. At any rate, it is most likely Rhode Island, since the picture was snapped about 5 minutes before we landed.

Theresa's ready for the day's trip. She just loves it when the hotel (as this one did) features a huge arrangement of fresh flowers. And even Roger enjoyed the fragrance. I think the yellow is forsythia, which (as in the Pacific Northwest) we see it here along the roadsides. They used also lovely roses, lilies, and other pretty things.

On our way to Newport, having just crossed on bridge over Narragansett Bay, we anticipate the next one.

Newport is famous for many lavish mansions, built well before the turn of the last century, right along the ocean, by and for the American aristocracy, for people of "old money". These very rich folks built these huge places - almost a fancy as what we saw at the Buckingham Palace in London; and- get this! - they lived here only in summer - July and August - to escape the heat of New York City. This home was for the Vanderbilt family, had a staff of FORTY; and you just cannot believe the grandeur. And, like the Buckingham Palace, I personally would not consider to live in it, even if it were given to me... well, I would accept it! (I am not mad!)- but would liquidate and go somewhere which had a much more cozy feel.

The name of this mansion is "The Breakers", called that for the ocean waves which break at the water's edge nearby. In 1885, it only cost $445,000. Inside photos were prohibited, so if you want to see the inside, ask for our book. This mammoth house has 35 bathrooms and we think they said 35,00 square feet. One room was 2,000 square feet and there were many like that, some for sure larger. The main dining room has a table which holds 34 chairs, and this is with splendor. In a church basement that space would hold a hundred very easily. They served formal 8 and 9 course dinners there which lasted 3 hours. The breakfast dining room was more formal than any we would know, and "only" held about a dozen, again in splendor. The butler's pantry was 2 stories and had china cupboards for uncounted hundreds of guests. The kitchen was bigger than some restaurants. They employed five chefs, and several other for kitchen help. Our waitress for lunch a few miles away said that her great grandmother was hired help out there.

A view off the "back porch" - expansive lawn and ocean view. What you see is about half, maybe less.

Front gate of the mansion.

Another view.

Also in Newport, a lovely park at the bay.

In the same park.

At the same bay, on the other side. Newport is across the water. Roger is viewing a Fort Adams placard. But it was closed.

As always, a sea gull looking for a handout. He did not like Gummy bears... wasn't even tempted.

Likewise.

At a parking area looking over toward Newport.

Just a few of the hundreds of New England - type shops in Newport.

At dinner at "Legal Sea Foods" in Warwick, we split a "surf and turf". Roger ate the "turf"; Theresa ate most of the "surf". The bibs, of course, are for the messy lobster.

Roger just had to show you the bib!

Today, Thursday, we drove into Providence itself, which was an eight mile trip from our Warwick hotel. This is what we saw of the downtown as we approached. We thought it seemed maybe as large as St. Paul.

There was a "River Walk". The basket-like devices in the river are for periodic celebratory water fires during summer. Here's a link to another nice picture of water fire.

Here is Roger with a bit of the skyline. Domes/steeples of all kinds were everywhere. Spring blooms were just starting.

More spring blossoms, a bit of the state capitol, and the snack shop at the River Walk.

Roger inside the library at the Capitol.

Another shot of Roger inside the Capitol. We spoke at length to an old engineer who says he has measured the dome and says it is the fourth largest self-supported white marble dome in the world. Minnesota's state capitol dome is supposed to be the 2nd biggest. St. Peter's in Rome is the largest; and the other of the four is, surprisingly, the Taj Mahal.

Inside the Capitol House of Representatives. Roger of course was impressed that they use computers.

Part of the ornate and impressive dome.

Theresa on the capitol steps. This small state, unlike Minnesota, can house most of the state offices right in this building.

Chairman of Judges, Jeanne, in preliminary conference with Roger.

With computers at the ready before quartet contest, Roger is visiting with judges.

2004 International winners, "Synchronicity", live in this area, and they entertained, even though they did not perform for points.

Before the chorus contest on Saturday, the judges area is ready. Roger is at far left of photo.

Another shot from the other end of the tables. The scene is relaxed, although, no doubt the contestants backstage are "sweating bullets"! :) (Roger is in foreground at left.)

Ottawa chorus hamming it up and entertaining us during their contest set.

The highly respected Jeanne is announcing results as Roger continues working after the contest.

More after-the-contest-follow-up by both Jeanne and Roger.

Winners chorus: "New England Voices in Harmony". They have a ton of excellent quartets within this group.

As always, the Harmony, Inc. folks treated us very well, with personalized hostessing of all sorts, and, of course, some superior entertainment.

The trip home went well, although we did not photograph anything from the air since, we had overcast conditions for most of the way.

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