Arts and Entertainment

I had never heard of the Tommy Plane and, to my surprise, neither had my aviation-enthusiast, John. The World War I Thomas-Morse S-4B aka the “Tommy Plane” was made in Ithaca. For a few short years in the early 20th century, Ithaca was a thriving center of the aviation industry. The Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation produced hundreds of World War I-era “Tommy” Scout Planes.

When the leaves start to turn people often head to the Adirondacks and, for sure, they have some awesome foliage. I especially like the ride to Old Forge and beyond. The panoramic view from the McCauley chair lift is awe inspiring. A boat ride on the Clearwater from Old Forge on the Fulton Chain is a relaxing way to see the area, but they are coming to the end of their season. However, the Finger Lakes are also a wonderful place for a fall trip.

Our culture is so pervasive that many of our customs have caught on worldwide and most people around the world accept our idiosyncrasies. I love a lot of ice in my drinks and so do many other people. Foreigners think that putting ice in a drink waters it down so you don’t get the full value of what you are buying. If everyone did everything the same there would be no reason to travel.

The children have gone back to school and most people have used up their vacation time during the summer. So, now is a good time to travel. Places are less crowded and some prices start to fall. And, in Europe the winter weather hasn’t set in.