This spring, we had the pleasure of sharing time with brothers, nieces, long-time friends, children, and grandchildren in the two locations where our families reside: Dallas and New York.
That would have been plenty to delight in, but we also enjoyed two other special experiences during our stay.
Full Solar Eclipse
Throughout Texas – and especially in a spot we used in East Texas – the moon, the sun, and some clouds made their alchemy for us. Despite forecasts of thick cloud cover, we could see the whole progression, with the light gradually greying on the ground and in the sky. It was a long spectacle, with hours of the moon’s progress across the sun and away again.
The 4-plus minutes of the full eclipse proved especially interesting as wisps of cloud flared around the edges. Some people we know saw solar flares or plasma bursts spiking off the surface. Dark descended but twilight lingered way in the distance.
As the spectacle ended, the whole of our family had good reason to celebrate along with the loudly twittering birds. And then massage our necks after the extended skyward attention.
Festa Italiana
Rao’s Italian Restaurant in East Harlem is perhaps the toughest NYC table to get, a throwback to the days of loud wise guys and players like Sinatra. We were lucky to gain an insider track to a delightful, at times uproarious, evening there. It was a beautiful day, so we took the slow route there – a long walk along Central Park Lake and through the brilliant tulip gardens to its north.
We settled into our booth at the side of the small crowded room, surrounded by eager eaters and walls festooned with autographed pictures of notable diners past.
Our food counselor joined us to work out a full set of courses. The wine guy set us up with the limited but agreeable options available. Then the staff kept delivering endless dishes piled high and non-stop wine. After several hours, we waddled out, a bit tipsy, but feeling like made men and women ourselves.
You might know Rao’s from its widely distributed sauces and foods at groceries. Yet its Harlem ambiance was unique.
(To enlarge any picture above, click on it. Also, for more pictures from USA, CLICK HERE to view the slideshow at the end of the itinerary page.)
