Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving. A time for family and friends to gather and feast and laugh and fight and make up and remember and miss those who've left us. I am thinking about my parents, too soon gone from my life, and dear friends who are missing their loved ones as well. And a friend whose mother is fighting for her life as the rest of us prepare for the holiday.

Sometimes it is hard to be thankful when beloved family members are no longer in your life and the family has gradually scattered. It often seems that the family dynamic has changed, loosened or stretched. Where you find yourself biting your tongue when you know something is wrong just to keep the peace. When attending the family gathering is not so important anymore to some members of the family and deep down inside you feel a little pain. Or if it seems as if some are trying too hard to enjoy themselves when it is obvious they are not.

You often wonder if you are letting your memories of holidays past color your expectations for the present. Maybe your own life has changed and you wonder if the effort you are making to maintain tradition is what has skewed the experience. 

And then you realize that you have so much to be thankful for in spite of your loss. Life is about change, some good, some harsh, some fun, some not. So be thankful for what you have now, and let the past be the framework for the changes of the future. Be thankful for the memories you carry in your heart, and the people who made them possible. 

Miss you, Mom and Dad.

And thanks.

Farewell My Lovely, The Garden Patio and Pool

Walk down a few steps onto a stone floor toward a pair of doors leading to the outside.

On the way you'll pass a small cafe with windows that look out into the back garden patio.

In spite of the late Fall chill flowers were still blooming.

The patio is still beautiful even though the chairs are empty.

Stone steps lead up to the pool area.

The pool, closed for the last season.

The last guests of the season.

Next, the guest floors.

Farewell My Lovely, The Lobby and Ground Floor

As soon as you walk into the lobby you are transported back in time. The rich colors, sumptuous seats, elegant greenery, all conspire to evoke images of ladies and gentlemen in Victorian splendor.

The cozy bar and breakfast area.

 

 

 

Small details.

The side parlor.

 

 The telephone booth.

The elevator, run only by key, temporarily car-less.

 

 

Reception, manned by a wonderful staff. (No, that is not the staff.)

Next up, the patio and pool area.

Farewell My Lovely, The Piazza and Parlor

The Adelphi, as with other grand Victorian-era structures, was designed to look like an Italian villa, complete with a piazza that allowed guests to relax and take in the sights of the streets below The Adelphi's piazza is located on the second floor of the hotel, and is accessible through the parlor.

The piazza is visible as you look up at the hotel from the street.

First, a visit to the parlor. You can close your eyes and imagine the parlor full of ladies in Victorian dress, sitting daintily on the edge of the beautiful sofas and chairs that adorn the parlor. I am sure that the furniture is not original, but that doesn't matter. The room exudes charm and elegance regardless.

In the picture below you can clearly see an orb by the mirror. The parlor has an interesting history, and I'll talk about that in the paranormal post on the Adelphi.

More pictures of the parlor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A door in the parlor takes you out to the piazza.

As you step though the door you find yourself in a relaxing atmosphere of comfy wicker chairs and potted plants. We spent a little time out here, day and night. It was perfect.

The view looking up.

And at night ...

Leaving the parlor, you walk out onto the second floor, looking up the staircase to the third floor.

Next, the lobby and cafe, with a few bonus first floor areas.