Back from Gettysburg

We got back from Gettysburg last night and I'm slowly getting the hundreds of photos and video downloaded. I want to write down some of the highlights of the trip, so I remember everything.

As most everyone knows, hubby and I go there every year to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We've been going there for about a decade now. The last two years, we've gone without our teenagers.

We had talked about going to NYC this year, but something just called me back to Gettysburg. I can't explain it. When I get there, it's like I'm finally home. I sit on top of Devil's Den at night and just get recharged. The witness tree there is like an old friend. I can close my eyes and see the town and battlefields like I was still there. We didn't push ourselves to see and do everything. It's not possible for two nights and three days. We know the things we like best and did them. I needed to lie down a bit when the pain hit real bad, but I didn't let it keep me from enjoying the trip. We hiked up Big Round Top and the three look out towers as well as the Pennsylvania monument.

We discovered a new resteraunt this time - The Dobbin House. WOW! The food is absolutely incredible! We had dinner there the first night and had lunch at their Tavern (which is only lit by candles) on our way home yesterday. It looks like something out of a fantasy novel. They also have a bed and breakfast, so we'll be staying there next year.



We stayed at the Farnsworth House again this year. Our first night wasn't very restful. We were in the house and the room had a "smell" that was not very pleasant. Reading the book written in by other guests, they felt it was ghosts doing it. I think there was just a problem with the plumbing. I was kept up by the banging and stomping in the attic. Sounded like a chest was being dragged all over, even though it was locked and nobody was there.

Our second night, we stayed in a room in the garden called the Belle Boyd Room. It was an adult's only room and we thought it would be the perfect place to celebrate our 21st anniversary. OMG! It was incredible, but VERY cold. There was a two-person hot tub and a walk in shower in the bathroom that looked like a Grecian bathhouse. The bed was soft and huge. The bedroom walls were covered with paintings of the Birth of Venus, Aphrodite and Cupid and little naked cherubs. We kept the fireplace going all night. After soaking in the tub, I was so relaxed, I fell asleep and didn't wake up til the alarm went off the next morning.



We took a ghost tour with Ghosts of Gettysburg Wednesday night. It's the only ghost tour in town we'll ever do. We've tried others and they were not very good. At one, I won't name names on here, but email and I'll be happy to give more details, hubby leaned under and took photos and found hidden speakers! So very lame! I don't expect to see ghosts on the tours, I enjoy the stories and history. There's no reason to fake things!



Thursday morning, we got up and took a double decker bus tour of the battlefields. We do this every year, too. It's a two-hour tour that gives an overview of the three-day battle and some history of the town. Well worth the minimal price. We sat on Devil's Den til the park closed at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Usually, it's my favorite part of the trip. Unfortunately, this time, a bus load of kids were there screaming and swearing and running all over. Can't enjoy something like that. Some parent had his two little kids on top of the rocks and let them run all over in the dark. I was sure they were going to fall off. SIGH! What is wrong with people? Seeing where mutants had carved their initials into the rocks made me cry. Then when we got to Sachs Bridge, it was awful. Why is it acceptable to write and draw all over historic places? Why ruin things? I'll never understand why people feel the need to destroy.



I miss the town and people already. We met quite a few new people this year from all over the United States and Canda.

The shops are very friendly. My absolutely favorite is the Quartermaster's Daughter, who runs a little jewelry store and I can't recommend it enough. I bought a new charm for my bracelet and she added the charms I had picked up in Salem and Boston for free. She even replaced a broken clasp for me. Never charged me a penny for all her time and material. I'll be back again next year to add a new charm. :)