Travelogue: Rhode Island and Connecticut Getaway

 

August 8-10, 2025, a quick getaway to Rhode Island and Connecticut with my son and sister.

 

Mystic, Connecticut was our first stop. It has a charming and quaint New England atmosphere, still retaining a laid-back small-town vibe despite the multitude of tourists sampling Mystic Pizza (as popularized in the movie). The rich maritime history, combined with picturesque waterfront views, makes this town a popular destination and a quick getaway.

Newport in Rhode Island is renowned for its opulent mansions, such as The Breakers and Marble House, which served as the summer "cottages" for the ultra-rich and famous during the late 19th century, as dramatized in the "Gilded Age" HBO drama. 

The grand dame of these mansions is the Breakers, where the Vanderbilt family lived lavishly in this breathtaking display of grandeur and wealth. The 70-room mansion attracts many visitors who are dazzled by its architecture and interior decorations, featuring marbled floors, gilded high-vaulted ceilings, walnut and platinum-leafed panels, alabaster arches and columns, crystal chandeliers (probably costing more than my annual salary), and mahogany and oak furniture. 

So amazing how the other half lives. I am sure that all the other visitors fantasized about being one of the Vanderbilt children. Maybe this is where Anderson Cooper vacationed as a child. There is an inscription on the fireplace that was imported from a 16th-century French chateau:  "I laugh at great wealth, and never miss it; nothing but wisdom matters in the end." I strongly disagree with this; who in their right mind will laugh at wealth?

Providence has a vibrant arts and culture scene, a charming small town that was the setting for the American medical drama of the same name, which ran from 1999 to 2002. Chantal Krevaziuk crooned a whimsical version of the Beatles' "In My Life".

Providence is steeped in art and history. Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design attract students from all over, adding to the “happening vibe” of this place.

A must-see attraction is the WaterFire, an award-winning outdoor sculpture installation by local artist Barnaby Evans. We were lucky to catch the event during our visit. The iron braziers along the three rivers in downtown Providence were lit with small bonfires. The banks along the rivers were filled with people, a la Times Square. The scheduled evening event began at sunset with a ceremonial gong and music to hype the bonfire lighting. It was magical.

River Boat Tour

We took a scenic boat tour along the Providence River, with the boat captain narrating the historic milestones and pointing out the nautical and architectural highlights of Providence. It was interesting to learn that the Providence River Bridge was constructed elsewhere in North Kingston before the entire bridge span was placed on barges and floated into its final location. Voila, a new bridge.

Yale University

We also stopped by Yale University, a private Ivy League University in New Haven, Connecticut. Famous alumni include the two Presidents Bush (Senior and Junior), Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Jodie Foster.

Food trip

Of course, wherever we travel, food beckons. We dined at Il Massimo (Italian), Dolores  (Mexican) at Hope Street, Sherkaan (delicious Indian food), and bought PVD donuts home.

One funny thing happened. As we were driving from the WaterFire, traffic stopped because of a runaway turkey. The driver in front of us tried to coax the turkey to move out of the road, as the pedestrians on the sidewalk shouted encouragements (as if the turkey could understand). I was able to pass by Mr. Turkey. Fortunately, I saw him in my rearview mirror as he successfully reached the sidewalk, where a gaggle of pedestrians were ready to welcome him.

SONG CHALLENGE (PART TWO)

With quarantine fever brought by COVID-19 lockdowns and the slow return to near-normal, the 30-day Song Challenge is back on Instagram.  Users are invited to list the song as per the prompt for that calendar day. It is quite interesting and entertaining to go through the musical bibliography of our life stories to answer this song challenge. Certainly a great diversion from the worries of this 2020 scourge.

Back in 2018, I did an abbreviated version of the 30-day song challenge: https://jcerrudocreations.blogspot.com/2018/07/musical-challenge.html  Like with my 2018 post, I decided to do a shorter list and added a few things on my own. 

   A song that is funky with swag moves

“Uptown Funk” - Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

I like (but do not understand) the Michelle Pfeiffer reference; the lyrics are (sorry) atrocious, but the music is delightfully infectious. There is abundant charm, cheekiness, and raucous energy in the song. Bruno Mars can do no wrong with that choreography; his moves confident and graceful. The groovy and retro swag dance moves with the Hooligans on the city streets have inspired “euphoric dancing” whenever or wherever it is played. No wonder this song is such a big hit here and abroad and had topped the Billboard 100 for several weeks.

 

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2.     A song I never get tired of

“Save The Last Dance For Me” -Bruce Springsteen

The song was originally recorded by the Drifters in 1960, with versions later by several artists like Michael Buble, and recently by the REO Brothers. Here with my 80’s crush Bruce Springsteen is the sexiest version of this song.  I sit here with a huge smile on my face as I live vicariously through that woman. I am that woman in this video, totally overwhelmed by the song and the man. It is such a sweet, sweet song and I can just imagine myself self-combusting with happiness if the Boss danced with me, sweat and all. I don't know if I would have survived that kiss. Oh my! If it was me, I would have probably thought, "I died and went to heaven."

3.    A song that reminds me of someone I’d rather forget

“That Don't Impress Me Much”- Shania Twain

I like empowered women who are not easily impressed by men who get by on brains, looks, and brawns but are too self-absorbed to provide women with the emotional connection that we all crave. And I have seen a fair share of men like these. I may not be able to pull off a leopard print coat like Shania, but I can be haughty and disdainful with men who mistakenly think they're all that, even if they look like Brad Pitt.

 

4.    A song that I did not expect that I will put on repeat

“Ordinary Song”- Marc Velasco

Marc is a Filipino acoustic/folk-singer who is so unassuming but has totally surprised me with how the song hooked me. It is not really just an ordinary song; it is an earnest, romantic song.  Cannot explain why.

5.    A song I like from the 70s

"Hotel California"- The Eagles

The song lyrics has been misinterpreted in many ways, but I just love the Eagles particularly Glenn Frey and Don Henley, so I don’t care. Maybe it was because my brother played their songs almost non-stop back then in Manila. He used to jam to Eagles songs with his friends. It’s only later when I recognized the exquisite guitar solo between Felder and Walsh which has been the standard by which all guitarists were judged. 

 

6. A song I like that’s a cover by another artist

“All By Myself”- Charice

The song was written by American artist Eric Carmen in 1975 and subsequently covered by the great Celine Dion herself. But it was Charice’s powerful version that gave me goosebumps as she pulled no stops in singing her heart out. She shattered the roof and brought the house down. Charice was poised for superstardom when, out of nowhere, we learned that she transitioned into a man and is now known as Jake Zyrus.  I know he had to do what was best for him and that he is happy with the decision. 

 

7.     A song with a person’s name in the title

“Fernando”- ABBA

"There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando.” The song by the Swedish group is a nostalgic toast to old memories. The group seems to have a predilection for persons’ names as titles in their songs like Mamma Mia and Chiquitita.

8.     A song that moves me forward

“Climb”- Miley Cyrus

Long before I got turned off by her gyrations and twerks, Miley performed this country pop song as the lead single off the soundtrack of her movie Hannah Montana. The song is about pursuing your goals no matter how hard the journey, no matter how high and arduous the climb is.

9.   A song I like by an artist no longer living

“I Will Always Love You” - Whitney Houston

Gone too soon.  I know this was originally Dolly Parton’s song but Whitney whipped this song into the stratosphere with a tour-de-force and bombastic performance.

Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote: “Houston transforms a plaintive country ballad into a towering pop-gospel assertion of lasting devotion to a departing lover. Her voice breaking and tensing, she treats the song as a series of emotional bursts in a steady climb toward a final full-out declamation. Along the way, her virtuosic gospel embellishments enhance the emotion and never seem merely ornamental.”

10A song that breaks my heart

"Tears in Heaven"- Eric Clapton

This is a most tragic song about Eric Clapton’s 4 y/o son who fell to his death from a 53^rd-floor window. The anguish and profound sadness in the song breaks my heart every time I hear it. 

11A song by an artist whose voice I love

“Iingatan Ka” (Taking Care of You) by Carol Banawa

In the late 1990s, I was obsessed with Carol’s voice. She had that airy, melodious golden voice that just rendered the song a sweet, poignant homage to mothers. This song is a grateful daughter's promise to the woman who gave her life; that she will always take care of and watch over her mother. She left Philippine showbiz in 2003 to migrate to the United States to start a family. Now, I like her even more because she is a nurse like me.

12A song I like that’s a cover of another band

“In My Life” | The Beatles- cover by the REO Brothers

Here’s my new obsession, the REO brothers. They’re a band of 4 Filipino brothers (sometimes five) who have astounded professional musicians all over the world with their musical instrumentations and tight vocal harmonies. They are a versatile group who can switch from the Beatles to the Bee Gees, Beachboys, Cliff Richard, Hollies, Critters, Dave Clark 5, the Turtles, Earth Wind and Fire, Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel,  etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. "In My Life" evokes remembrance of people and places in life, with the lead vocalist Raymart sounding Lennon-ish. I discovered them during this COVID-era, and I am pleasantly surprised that these young men can actually do much more than the Beatles.

13A song from a favorite musical

“On My Own” (Les Misérables)- Lea Salonga

Lea is a famous Filipina singer and actress who conquered Broadway as “Miss Saigon” and later sang the voices of Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan. She even managed to star as Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables. She transcended the color barrier on stage and became the first Asian Eponine. She is hands down, the best Eponine. The song is about unrequited love for Marius, and Lea infused the song with such emotions with her crystalline voice. What did Marius see in Cosette anyway?

In the rain the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever

 SONG CHALLENGE PART ONE:

Song Challenge, Part 1