HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW........NOVEMBER 01 2011........

About the Hudson Valley?  All I really remembered was there was a Hudson River, discovered by, of all people, Henry Hudson.  It was in New York State.  A couple of books were written, one about Rip Van Winkle, and one about the Headless Horseman.  So much for what I learned in History, and actually remembered. 

The Hudson Valley was where our bus trip took us.  Leaving Washington Pa. at 5:15 a.m. on a Wednesday, we drove, and drove, and drove, and slept.  We arrived at our first destination about 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon.  It was the home of Washington Irving.  Now do you make the connection?  Light bulb came on. 

His home sat on a knoll overlooking the Hudson River.  It is called Sunnyside.  We had a period costumed tour guide, touring the house and grounds.  We learned about his life and his writings. 

SUNNYSIDE

Thumbnail:  he was youngest of 11 children, born in 1783.  Legend has it Irving's father had met George Washington, hence the name Washington Irving.  Irving had a passion for reading.  Irving never married,  though he had been engaged.  However his fiance died at the age of 17.  Irving spent several years in Europe and upon returning to New York began writing in earnest.  (He had written several things earlier, I had never heard of them)  He purchased and lived at Sunnyside from 1836 until 1842.  He continued living in Tarrytown until his death in 1859.
Story has it as that just before retiring for the night, the author had said: "Well, I must arrange my pillows for another weary night!  If this could only end!"

Rip Van Winkle,  the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Headless Horseman, is what I remember about Washington Irving.  

Upon leaving Sunnyside, we had supper, then proceeded to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where we did a lantern-light tour.  Again we had a great tour guide, telling us stories of different prominent (not only the good, but the bad) residents of this particular cemetery.  The monuments were amazing.  Washington Irving is buried in this cemetery.  We learned about robber barons, counterfeiters, dalliances, numerous authors, politicians, and just ordinary people.



OUR LANTERNS AWAITING US



NO WE DIDN'T LEAVE NANCY IN THE MAUSOLEUM.




From there we traveled to our Hotel in Orangeburg, crossing the Hudson River on the Tappan Zee bridge, and finally got checked in, found our rooms and crashed.  By then it was well after 10:00 p.m., and tomorrow would be another busy day.  And so our first day of the three had come to an end and

 it would be another day tomorrow, with places to go and things to do. 

In the meantime, I hope you learned a little bit in our History 101 class today and will continue the saga tomorrow,  In the meantime, enjoy and God Bless.