I’ve had a busy last couple months. Started a new role within my company and haven’t had as much time as I wanted to reflect and write, so I’ll keep this one brief. I did a work trip out to San Francisco and Napa in September that I’ll hopefully write about when I have a chance. This month, I’ve had two weekends back-to-back of good travels and good company with friends.
Newport
Two weeks ago, I went down to Newport, Rhode Island to visit the mansions and see the Christmas decorations.
1. Marble House Chinese Tea House
Marble House is pretty spiffy. It’s what you expect for a Gilded Age mansion, but what really surprised me was the the Chinese Tea House around back. I didn’t have a chance to go inside it and enjoy tea since it was close to closing time, but I will certainly be back. New England is very euro-centric and Asian architecture is extremely out of place, which made just walking around it a treat. I’m also a tea snob.
2. Cliff Walk
I’ve been to Newport many times over the years, but still hadn’t ambled the Cliff Walk. Access is not super well marked, but you can find the entrances on Google Maps. I parked near the Salve Regina campus. The Walk offers intimate views that meander in the backyards of some of Newport’s biggest mansions. It even tunnels under the corner of several properties through large dark tunnels.
Portland
Portland is starting to get over-run with bums and drug addicts, which is unfortunately a sign of the times, but it is still worth visiting.
1. Duck Fat
The restaurant called Duck Fat lives up to its rave reviews. I really liked this place. They cook everything in duck fat rather than cheap, unhealthy vegetable oils. We had poutine, milkshakes, sandwiches, and donuts. All four food groups.
2. Washington Baths
Washington Baths offers an exceptional Nordic sauna and hot tub experience right in New England. Really nice amenities and pealed many layers of stress right off. I would probably go back, but even the Europeans would laugh at how woke this business was.
First, they make everyone sign a waver acknowledging that the sauna is a “non-hierarchical” environment. Next, the attendant cleverly asks each guest if he or she would like a key to the men’s or the women’s locker room. And if that wasn’t dehumanizing enough, the door to the men’s area is only labeled as “Lockers 1-20” and the women’s “Lockers 21-40”. Mr. Orwell would like to have a word in Room 101!