When Fall Comes to New England

Here in Chautauqua, Fall is about 3 weeks ahead of where it is back home. Many of the trees are turning bright magnificent colors and losing their leaves. The weather is still unseasonably warm, but Fall is definitely in the air here.

We decided to come up for a long weekend to see just what this place looks like in a different season. What greeted us was a ghost town version of the place that was so bustling with people just a couple of months ago. It’s not totally deserted, but almost as just a few hearty souls live here year around.

We took a leisurely bike ride this morning outside the “grounds”, where I spied this tree and fall mums and pumpkins for sale.



Fall leaves cover the walkway to our house. The house across the street wears a vinyl curtain to protect it from the winds and snows of winter.




The library is open and decorated for Fall -- business as usual. But business is definitely slow.

Bestor Plaza is still there, but the children playing in the fountain are gone and the ice cream store is closed.
Last night as my friend Kris and I walked down to the lake we experienced the purest of silences, one that is almost nonexistent in an urban environment. Then we looked overhead to see thousands of diamonds in the sky, another sight we seldom see in the city.

I’m treating myself to a much-needed massage this afternoon. St. Elmo Spa is open for appointments only.

It’s the same place, but missing are the music and the lectures and the throngs of people. I can’t imagine a better place to spend a quiet Fall weekend away from home.