Bridging the Years - Fallasburg Covered Bridge & Historic Village

I love Sundays – it is “our” time to do whatever we want.  Today, the late afternoon sunshine suggests we take a Sunday drive … somewhere “off the beaten path”.  We find ourselves near Lowell, Michigan and drive to Fallasburg County Park (established in 1928). The Flat River flows calmly through this picturesque park making it a perfect spot for some family time.  Some people play games on the grassy banks of the Flat River, some bring a picnic lunch, and some do a little fishing from the shore.  For us, it means photographing the park and the Fallasburg Covered Bridge. 

Built in 1871, this 100’ long bridge spans the Flat River.  The nearby State Historical sign gives the history of the bridge which was listed with the Michigan State Register on February 12, 1959. Despite its age (it has been rehabilitated), its condition allows it to be open to motor vehicles.   

Bridge's Historic Sign

 Fallasburg Covered Bridge - Late Afternoon and Early Evening

The park has informative exhibit signs about the area’s history – including the “ghost town” village of Fallasburg.  Even though it is getting late, we have to check this out too.   

We begin at the Fallasburg Covered Bridge which marks the entrance to this historic pioneer village. The "Fallasburg Historical District" was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 31, 1999.

Village's Historic Sign

Within its 42 acres are a one-room schoolhouse, farm houses, barns, and a village cemetery.  The school house and Misner House are museums that are open to the public on most Sunday afternoons during the summer months.  The surviving historic buildings can easily be seen during the short drive down Covered Bridge Road.

 Misner House (built 1850)

Fallasburg Schoolhouse  (built in 1867)

Fallas House (built in 1842)

Stagecoach House (built in 1853)

Tower Farm - House (built in 1896)

Tower Farm - Barn (built in 1896)

Fallas Farm - Barn (built in 1896)

Fallasburg Cemetery

I enjoy history and it is nice to see a place like this exists to preserve what life was like in "the olden days".   

For information on Fallasburg County Park, please click on the following link:

Fallasburg County Park

For information on Fallasburg Pioneer Village, please click on the following link:

Fallasburg Pioneer Village

Visiting the Dominican Republic

Just before 10 a.m., the ship anchors in Samana Bay near Samana.

Today, I am taking the Cultural Highlights tour.  Our bus stops in front of the historic Dominican Evangelical Church (aka La Churcha).  The church came across the ocean from England in a hundred pieces and was reassembled here in 1824.  It is the oldest original building left in Samaná.  In 1946 a city-wide fire wiped out most of Samaná's wooden buildings.  Miraculously this church was spared. 

 La Churcha

Our first stop is at the Whaling Museum.  This is a small museum but it serves an important role in educating the public on whales.  Fortunately, we have an English speaking guide because the signs are written in Spanish. 

It is a 35 minute drive to the town of Sanchez.  Here, we take a short walking tour (a couple of blocks).  The government is restoring 18 of the old "Victorian" houses.  The "Victorian" house we toured was a single-story cottage (now being used as a school classroom) with a two-sided porch.

Restoring Buildings to their Former Glory

 

Side Porch

Included in the restoration project is a couple of churches.

 Restored Our Lady of the Lourdes Church – exterior & interior

Our last stop (about a 5 minute drive from the town of Samana) is at Puerto Bahia.  It looks like a nice seaside resort.  At the cafe, we are given a couple slices of pizza and a diet Coke.   I could see myself enjoying the view on one of those comfy seating areas.  Back in town, we pass colorful buildings.  

Puerto Bahia Resort 

Colorful buildings in Samana

My time here on the Dominican Republic is done.  I must return to the ship before it leaves.  From the tender boat, I can see the Bridge to Nowhere.  Maybe next time I am here, I will take the time to walk across the bridge to the small island. 

Bridge to Nowhere

 For more information on visiting the Dominican Republic, click on the following link:

Dominican Republic Tourist Info

or 

Go Dominican Republic

Grand Turk Island Tour

Our cruise ship docks in Cockburn Town at noon.  I opt to take the 2.5 hour island tour.   Since the island is only seven miles long and just over a mile wide, I should be able to see most of the island’s popular destinations.

Our tour bus stops briefly at the entrance to the Grand Turk Island airport where a replica of John Glenn's space capsule – the Friendship 7 is on display.  It commemorates the 1962 splashdown of Glenn’s Mercury spacecraft which landed off the southeast shoreline of Grand Turk. 

Replica of John Glenn’s Space capsule

Our first stop is the White Gold Museum where we learn about the island’s salt industry.  It does not take long to go through this very small museum and gift shop.

Learning about the salt industry at the White Gold Museum

I love to photograph churches and there are some picturesque ones here.  St. Mary’s Anglican Church was built in 1899 and was the first church within Cockburn Town proper.  The St. Thomas Anglican Church was built in 1823-24 and the Methodist Church was built in 1930. 

 St. Mary’s Anglican Church - Exterior & Interior

St. Thomas Anglican Church

Methodist Church

 The National Museum is located in a 200 year old house (Guinep House).  It is uncertain if the mystery ship wreck discovered in the 1970's is Columbus' sailing ship "The Pinta".  But it is confirmed that it dates before 1515 AD and is the correct type of vessel.  After viewing a short video, we walk through the two-story building where we see a 1,000 year old chair and other artifacts. 

Grand Turk National Museum – Exterior & Porch View

The bus drives down the narrow, historic Front Street which parallels the shoreline.  I was on the side of the bus that faced the water views and not the houses.  So, I did not get any pictures of the historic 18th and 19th century buildings that reflect the Bermudan style architecture of the salt era.

Our last stop is at the Grand Turk Lighthouse (built in 1852).  The grounds are closed but we are able to take pictures of it.  The 60’ high tower was built on a small hill overlooking a shallow reef that extends from the northern end of the island. 

Grand Turk Lighthouse and View 

For more information about Grand Turk click on the following link:

Grand Turk & Caicos Tourism

Colonial St. Thomas

Brrr!   The 2013-14 winter months are long with bitterly cold temperatures.  We need a break from winter.  So, we book ourselves on an 11-day Southern Caribbean Cruise. 

 

Day 4:  Our first port-of-call is St. Thomas USVI.   This is not my first time at St. Thomas but it is my first time touring the island (we usually go to St. John or Tortola to do water activities).  As we leave Charlotte Amalie, we drive by Fort Christian (the oldest structure in the USVI). Fort Christian (red building with an ornate clock tower) has been a school, jail, government building, and a museum.

   

Fort Christian

Our first stop is a panoramic view from Drakes Seat (where Sir Francis Drake was supposed to have looked for enemy ships of the Spanish fleet).  The view from this high vantage point is beautiful. 

      

View from Drake’s Seat

At Blackbeard’s Castle, we begin a self-guided walking tour of Colonial St. Thomas.  The tour includes Blackbeard’s Castle, two historic homes, Hotel 1829, the 99 Steps, and an unusual amber waterfall.  Unfortunately, we are not given any map, so I wander around on my own. 

Blackbeard's Castle (built in 1679) is really a watch tower.  It is 35 feet high, four feet thick and has a spiral staircase consisting of 36 steps to the top viewing platform.  The top of the tower is so small only 8 people are allowed there at one time but the view is outstanding. 

          

   Blackbeard’s Castle and Panoramic View from Top of Tower

Located on the hillside is the Britannia House (originally built in 1847).  The house is furnished with antiques and the porch has a lovely view of the bay.

      

Britannia House – Porch View

Haagensen House: is beautifully decorated and furnished with West Indian antiques.  The original 1.5 story house was built in 1822.  I can imagine myself sipping on a cold beverage while sitting on a porch chair enjoying this view.   

  

Haagensen House – Porch View

Amber Waterfall is tucked away in a small courtyard near Hotel 1829.  It is the largest amber waterfall in the world (2-stories high) and contains over 12,000 stones.  This “waterfall” is not what I call a waterfall but it is unusual and an interesting tourist attraction.

   

Amber Stone Waterfall

Built in the mid-1700’s, Charlotte Amalie has many step streets cutting through the hills that rise from the harbor area.  Of these step streets, the 99 steps are the most popular and probably the most photographed. 

  

99 Steps – Going Up?

Well, the allotted time for my St. Thomas walking tour time is coming to an end and the warmth of the day is making me feel tired and ready for air conditioning.  I am heading back to the ship.  See you at the next port – Dominica!

WELCOME TO MY TRAVEL BLOG

Hi, my name is Denice ... and I am a travel-holic ...

I remember the first time I was exposed to thrill of travel.