What a great weekend! Got up north about 10:30 and we left a half hour later. Long, long trip--five hours--but we had no problems. Arrived in time for a lovely dinner of manicotti (I can't spell it and neither, apparently, can SpellCheck), made from scratch by N., a wonderful cook. I was driven to the Penn Wells Hotel (more about that later) where I had reserved a room.
On Saturday, I was picked up by grandson J. and we all had a great breakfast. We then decided to go to the Corning glass works, only about a half hour away in New York. N., who had a bad cold, opted out, but the rest of us, four adults and four little boys went. It was great fun and well worth the trip.
Got back by dinnertime to find a sumptuous meal all ready from the crock pot. It included chicken, steak, asparagus, tomatoes, and zucchini, all simmered together for hours and was it yummy. That was really our Easter dinner. J. took me back to the Penn Wells and I ventured out only to pick up a few things at the CVS nearby.
I was called for on Sunday and we brought back bagels and juice for breakfast. N. was still sick, but the boys were in fine fettle. They had had an Easter egg hunt and, of course, had been left baskets by the bunny. What fun to be with them! We had to say goodbye by noon, though, and took the long trip back. Made it fine and when we got back, I enjoyed a nice dinner of navy bean soup and a big salad. Said my goodbyes and arrived back home by 7:30.
The hotel: The Penn Wells, in the heart of Wellsboro, sure isn't the Singapore Fairmont or even the Koyodo Business Hotel. It was built in 1831, and a few years later, the top (fourth) floor burned. It was rebuilt and seemingly, hasn't changed since. Actually, it has, of course. In 1931, it was renovated and remains--I think--more or less in that state.
It's FAB-U-LOUS! It's all dark woodwork and brass fittings that are clearly of the period and not repros. The sink and bathtub have separate hot and cold water faucets and rubber stoppers on chains (I grew up with those, at least during my early years). The room is adequate--bed and desk in hideous 1950's-style blond wood, and vinyl (or some other mysterious substance) "easy" chair. There's no coffee in the room, but is in the lobby, and that was pretty good.
The hotel is certainly populated by ghosts: squeaks, groans, and rhyrmic knocks abound, and the walls are so thin, you can hear practically every other guest. Most of the lobby is lovely. It has a real fireplace, not fueled by gas and not equipped with DuraFlame for a tame, prissy little glowing matchstick; it was ablaze with real wood logs that emitted a wonderful roaring fire and beautiful woodsy smell.
The lobby is bisected by the front door (very high, with old, dark, dull wood and brass hand plates, well burnished by years of being pushed). The right wall is occupied by a gigantic American flag made out of Christmas balls from the Corning Glass Factory. Oh, it's just too long and involved to explain why--suffice to say, it's one of the most bizarre displays I've ever seen.)
The Penn Wells also boasts a terrific guy as desk clerk. His name is David (late forties, I guess) and he quickly began calling me by my first name. He wore an Easter tie covered with religious phrases.
There's an elevator but I was a bit nervous about being in it by myself, so took to walking up the three flights of stairs instead. I did this a number of times and it's better for me, anyway.
Anyway, it's a terrific place--the hotel and the area--and we had a wonderful weekend.