#7, Connecticut CT (Been There)

While I was born in Long Island, New York, we took a number of family trips along the East Coast. We did visit Connecticut but there were a number of times while living in Illinois that we made the trip back there since my parents moved from Illinois to New York upstate and later to Connecticut.

Before retiring my parents moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, for a couple years. We probably stayed there a week or less so my wife and I took one day to make a run through New Hampshire. I'll share that on the New Hampshire page. Another day my dad had to make a quick run to Boston and we tagged along with him to get a quick view of that city. I guess you could say Connecticut became home base for a number of treks including a late afternoon run along the coast to find a beach to go swimming for an hour or two.

But, for the most time spent in Connecticut, it would have to be the trip we made to New Haven in August of 2009. I described the trip here from Myrtle Beach in the Delaware blog. Our son was finishing his doctorate at Yale University and it was a chance to see the picturesque East Coast. There are plaques and memorial markers all over New Haven, and the East Coast for that matter, giving one a chance to seek out the history of the area.

One of many historical markers

While on the campaus of the University we took a tour of the many buildings, including museums, library, and a rare book collection. We were amazed at the history all around us, which was a much better way of describing everything as simply old. It's old because it's survived much over the centuries and it a reminder of how much life moves on.

On the campus of Yale University

My son and wife wanted to have pizza at Frank Pepe Pizzeria, where the "New Haven-based pizzeria is famous for its signature coal-fired White Clam Pizza featuring fresh clams, grated pecorino romano, garlic, oregano and olive oil." That was a quote from The Daily Meal, who as recently as 2020 had declared this "one of the greatest old-school restaurants of all time." You can see the open coal-fired oven and watch as yours gets baked. Even in 2009 it was on everybody's radar as a fantastic pizza and a pizza destination to visit, which is why my son mentioned that we should go try it out. I take those kinds of proclamations with a grain of salt since everybody's tastes are so different. Living in Illinois I have had my share of deep dish Chicago style pizza, and love it, so I personally was none too impressed with the coal-fired pie. But it was a nice experience nonetheless.

Well known around the country for its coal-fired pizza

Students heading to classes at Yale University

From the sign on the table it looks like the original was usually right here

It was truly a memorable trip while traveling through Connecticut on our way back to the Midwest. I"ve got hundreds more photos in my files, and on my DSLR no less as I had just purchased my first smart phone and was none too thrilled with the resolution and clarity of those pictures.

Until next time,

Arktander

(aka David Andreasen)