Governors Island Dutch Festival

These butterfly or dragonfly-looking art installations called Wind Nomads were spread out over a vast open field on Governors Island. There were actual dragonflies hovering over the pieces, I'm guessing, sort of confused.
Rob amongst the Wind Nomads.
Kristia, Erin and me, PT.
Our end of the day trek through the Wind Nomads to the ferry.
Here is the sun setting on tugboat shot.

We took the ferry on Saturday from the riverfront under the Brooklyn Bridge to Governors Island for the Dutch New Island Festival. The festival is put on by all Dutch artists. There were a bunch of different site-specific art installations (Wind Nomads), performance art pieces and music and comedy routines (Mr. Jones and Fred, his little (stuffed) stunt pig, was Rob's favorite act).

Brooklyn--hollah!

Our beloved R train to Brooklyn.
The moon shining at the top of 18th St.
A little bit of the West Indies Day Parade. There were LOTS of people! We did not stay very long.
People celebrating and viewing the parade from their fire escapes.
Rob and our friend James dancing on the roof top! A group of giggling girls at the back.

Montauk-the end.

Rob and I with the giant, roadside duck.
Rob walking Butters in front of the looming duck.
Rob, Nanook and our friends, Ken and Butters, in downtown 'Tauk.
Paige and Nanook by the sea. Since there were no dogs allowed, as well as a ridiculously pricey admission into the light house, we just enjoyed scaling the rocks around the base.
Rob, the dogs and I by the rocky shore.
The Montauk Point light house is apparently the 3rd oldest light house in the nation. There is no fabled light house keeper anymore; it is presently maintained by the Coast Guard--not very romantic.

Our visit to Ellis Island

Ah, Lady Liberty...her crown was closed for the day.
View of downtown Manhattan from our ferry, Miss Gateway.
Rob outside of the museum. It is so great that this beautiful building was completely restored!
The obsession with fashion ensued.
Little baby shoes from Italy and Austria, I think.
So, after the grueling immigration process, folks got train tickets to all over. There was one crazy story about a couple of mail order brides getting their tickets mixed up, one mistakenly going to Cincinnati, the other to Memphis or Mississippi, or somewhere, and all parties, of course, very upset. It turned out that a conductor in New Jersey was to blame for the mix up--yikes, to say the least!
Ellis Island interior view from the 3rd floor where the tiny dormitories were located. Yep, people lived here for extended periods of time. People died and babies were born on Ellis Island. It seems so unbelievable what people went through for the pursuit of any sort of freedom, opportunity and happiness. The stories are all at once inspiring and humbling.

Down Home

Rob and Lefty enjoying some leisure time on the sister's back porch.
Li'l Picasso-Olivia is making her arty aunt so proud:)
Olivia completely absorbed by the technology.

Paige on the tracks in Carrboro, N.C.
Rob and the train car bar in Carrboro, N.C. Here we taste-tested some of the local brews, like 1556 and the Seeing Double IPA--not too shabby of a selection.
Downtown Wilmington drive-by.
The lovely, lovely Inter coastal waterway at Carolina Beach. We are highly looking forward to being so close to this!