Fall Foliage Tour II

Today is the first day of our Fall Foliage Tour, not considering yesterday as a tour day because of travel and friendship time. We packed up our things and checked out of our hotel, the Dolce Villa. They tried to charge us an extra $126 for some strange reason, but we did not get caught. We decided to join the Rhode Island History Society's walking tour of Benefit Street. We met at the Brown House, where they have their offices. The ladies at the reception were most helpful and got us paid and organized in a jiffy. There was another couple on the tour with us; a small group. The tour was excellent, taking at least and hour and a half. Highlights included the wonderful architecture and the very special Athaneaum, a beautiful library, where Edgar Allen Poe wooed his fiancee. (They never married). After the tour, we walked along the river walk, through the memorial to 9/11 and back towards benefit street. We found a small restaurant called Parkside Rotisserie, where we enjoyed a light but tasty lunch, looking over the adjacent park. After lunch, we returned to our car for the short drive to our next port of call, Newport, Rhode Island. We arrived in a short time amazed by the beauty of the town. We loved crossing the two bridges across the water with the yachts sailing below us. We found our bed-and-breakfast easily. The Almondy In turned out to be delightful. Our hostess welcomed us at the door and showed us around. The place was very tastefully decorated and is exactly what we would have expected in Newport. After dropping our cases in our room, we walked the two blocks down the the Newport wharves. We wandered around, popping into shops and enjoying the surroundings. we returned to the Almondy Inn where we enjoyed cheese and wine with the other guests in the beautiful sitting room. The conversation was enjoyable and lively. Our hostess joined us, adding tips on the area and titbits of information when necessary. This was an added bonus to staying at the Almondy. After drinks, I walked along the quaint Spring Street, among the small homes and shos until I reached Touro Street, which has the USA's oldest synagogue. I joined the congregation present for the evening services, which was a treat. I returned to the Inn, after which we walked two blocks down to the Moorings restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious fish meal. We shared a salad with a unique orange dressing, some fish tacos and sole. The sole helping was large, so we shared it. Another fun day in Rhode Island.