Yes ... Salem was once upon a time gripped in the throes of mass hysteria during 1692 ...
... and for a lot of people, the picture above may be exactly what they conjure up at the thought of Salem, Massachusetts - eerie cemeteries with centuries old gravestones.
But Salem is also a coastal town and there are things to see and do down by the water, too.
Amanda and I walked around downtown and stopped in at a consignment shop with lots of neat old things. Good thing I don't own a pick-up truck!
Even though fall was obviously waning and a lot of the leaves had fallen from the trees ...
... there was plenty of beautiful autumn color to still be found!
This picture that I took from the corner of Essex Street and Hawthorne Boulevard of the Hawthorne Hotel almost looks like a postcard, doesn't it?
This is Room #418 which was our ginourmous and beautiful room for the two nights that we were there.
It was week one of Salem's Restaurant Week so I treated myself to dinner at Nathaniel's after Amanda took the commuter rail down to Boston to visit with friends.
The first course of my three-course meal was a bowl of Steven's Seafood Chowder and it was so delicious I was tempted to embarrass myself by picking up the bowl and licking it to make sure I got every drop!
The next night I went out to dinner with Juli and Walt but the meal wasn't nearly as good as the one at Nathaniel's. That said, the company was fabulous! Later that evening, after I had been editing pictures for a few hours, I went down to the warmth of the Tavern to treat myself to a drink.
My Vanilla Creamsicle martini was delicious and went perfectly with the Pumpkin Cheesecake that was calling my name from the kitchen. Yes, I probably ate WAY too much on this trip but it's not like I eat like that every day - which is probably a good thing!
The next day I took more pictures of different parts of Salem including this beautiful house on Chestnut Street. I don't suppose there's any chance the guy that owns the place is single and looking for a wife?? Oh to live in a house like that!
On Friday Amanda and I went to the Peabody Essex Museum to see a new exhibition that would officially open on November 12th but we were lucky enough to get in to see it before then.
No matter how you look at it - the PEM is beautiful ...
... and their newest exhibition - "Unbound, Highlights from the Phillips Library at PEM" - is fascinating and fantastic! I am so glad that Amanda and I had the chance to see it and you can see part of it too if you visit my post at The Distracted Wanderer - Rare Objects Become "Unbound" at Salem's Peabody Essex Museum.
No matter how many times I go up to Salem, there is always something new and different to see and do so there's never any danger of me being bored or running out of things to occupy my time! As a matter of fact, I'm plotting my next trip up already as Salem is quite beautiful at Christmastime and there just might be something good to take a picture of!
Oh, that brick building framed with tree and the yellow leaves looks like a picture perfect postcard shot to me!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Salem in ages! Must.Do.Soon! One of these days, I'll be living back there again and maybe I can go on a few of these trips with you. Heaven, I tell you!
Now I'm hungry for pumpkin cheesecake. Bugger.
I find the picture of the light post and bench to be oddly compelling. It is framed so well. Depending on one's mood, it seems to have either a peaceful feeling or a sinister one.
ReplyDeleteNice work!
I'm in love with that photo of the park bench. I always love your pictures...but that one, that one is definitely going in my top ten favorites. ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad that you had a good time in Salem. I'm kind of curious enough to maybe venture up there again one day. I didn't get to explore it very much the only time I was there.
the trees are lovely! a perfect autumn weekend! good for you!
ReplyDeletesmiles, bee
xoxoxoxoox
Love all of these shots, really like the bench from above and the spiral staircase. Beautiful!
ReplyDeletePerfect autumn colors! Our leaves are all gone :(
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time off! You have a very demanding job :)
Have to agree with the bench shot, there is something special about that one. Not sure whether it has a romantic or lonely vibe, ,maybe a mixture of both.
ReplyDeleteAlso love the spiral staircase too.
Yet again you have been a great tour guide to Salem :)
Going where you love to be is what all of us should do. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. :)
I would love to visit Salem!
ReplyDeleteThe words 'Pressed To Death' conjure up a frightening image.
Fabulous photos as always Linda. :)
Beautiful photos! I see I have a lot of posts to go check out. This was another lovely trip. I don't get tired of seeing it.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs, honey...
Now you know why I love going to Niagara Falls all the time, no matter how many times I go, there's always something different to see and do:-) How I'd love to be making those trips to Salem with you, I'm amazed that they even have graves from as far back as the 1600's! I get all excited when I see a grave from the 1800's!! lol Your pictures are, as always, gorgeous. You have such a good eye for composition and it shows in your pictures.
ReplyDeleteVanilla Creamsicle martini? Pumpkin Cheesecake?? Linda, you're killin' me here! lol You have me drooling all over my laptop again. Slurppppp!!!
The room you stayed in is amazing, no wonder you so love staying there:-) God willing, one day I'll make it there and then you can show me around!! xoxo