Breakfast with Diana from Rochester Tourism at the Highland Park Diner in Rochester – another great place to have waffles, pancakes or eggs benedict in a cozy atmosphere for a decent price. Wish we would have places like this one!
On to the Strong National Museum of Play - frankly, didn't really know what to expect before. The Strong - named for the collector - owns and cares for the world’s most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, board games, video games, other electronic games documents and historical materials related to play. It is an assemblage explaining the role of play in different ways and how play reflects cultural history. There is even a Toy Halls of Fame, where you'll find famous toys like marbles, hula hoop or barbie dolls, and the biggest collection of computer games in the world.
The George Eastman Museum, our next stop, is connected to "Kodak", since Eastman was the founder of the still existing company in Rochester. It's a highly interesting story how this guy changed the whole world of photography, first with changing from wet glass plates - difficult to carry and to develop - to dry ones and then to films. The museum's core is George Eastman’s fancy historic mansion (pic of the living room) and gardens, where this visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist (1854-1932) lived for almost 30 years during the early 20th century.In 1884, Eastman patented the first film in roll form to prove practicable, and, in 1888, he perfected the Kodak Black camera. The famous "Kodak Brownie" (pic) was the first easy-to-use camera in the world. The mansion on its own and the gardens are worth being seen, the archives are unique and the exhibitions highly instructive. Again,,, another hour would have been great,,,!!!
Before lunch at the Genesee Brewery (Bratwurst & Sauerkraut / Avocado Burger) and a beer tasting flight we had a chance to see the Rochester High Falls of the Genesee River, which are pretty impressive (pic).
Our planned Erie Canal boat tour had been cancelled, but instead we had a tour at the Genessee Country Village & Museum - not a bad choice neither! It is the 3rd largest Living History Museum in New York State, a working, 19th-century historic country village with the largest and most comprehensive collection of 68 buildings, with costumed interpreters, workshops and animals like the oxen on the pic. From a Pioneer Settlement (1790-1820), when the people moved into Upstate NY, to Center Village (1830-1860) and the Gas Light District (1860-1900) it gives a good overview over how life has been in the area in different time periods.
Always in a hurry, just made our drive to Niagara Falls in time, in heavy rain and rush hour traffic around Buffalo. We just had about half an hour to check in, unpack and dress up before we were picked up again for dinner. But, the hotel was great and the whole experience (more later) terrific!
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen