Cliff Walking

April 12th, 2004 · No Comments

I spent Easter weekend with Aimee and her family in Newport, an unexpected and relaxing break filled with food and extended family. That doesn’t really sound appealing – maybe “filled with” isn’t the right term. Anyway, we had a great time, I got to experience the Cliff Walk, I got in a somewhat long run on Saturday, and we all hung out with Jack and Faith, whom I hadn’t seen since her early days in the hospital.

We headed down on Friday night, and after checking in at the house, we walked around downtown Newport and ended up at the Brick Alley Pub, where we had a drink in the bar, which was decorated almost entirely with vanity license plates, autographed photos of football players and yachtsmen, plus what seemed to be their own specialty, restaurant comment cards filled out by celebrities, most notably Dick Vermeil and Steven Spielberg.

We had breakfast at Cindy’s Roadside Caf? (formerly Claire’s Roadside Caf?) – new name, same small room and, I assume, good food, though I never experienced the previous incarnation.

We hit the most depressing and strange party goods store in the world for some mylar balloons and a Bob the Builder birthday banner, though we passed up the bulk floor wax and frozen bagel bites that were also for sale there.

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I took a run through the Navy housing area of Newport (from the parking lot to the dump and back…) for an hour or so, and then Aimee and went into town to experience the Cliff Walk, both scenically and architecturally beautiful.

The Breakers, bottom half obscured by strategically grown hedges.

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I even got to see Rosecliff, location of childhood wedding fantasies as well as films as varied as High Society and True Lies.

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We all ate at Cafe Zelda on Thames Street (pronounced the other way), and then enjoyed the strangely smoke-filled atmosphere of The Cheeky Monkey Cafe afterwards.

The next day brought family and Easter dinner, during which we dined on Aimee’s dad’s concoctions (as well as a casserole Aimee and I managed not ruin), followed by Jack’s birthday cake, minus Jack. At two, you’re still allowed to be too tired and cranky to eat cake.

Tags: Travel