Places To Remember
Everyday we travel to different places. Some as part of our normal routines others as part of our travel bucket list. Some places we easily forget while others remain as part of our treasured memories. Some places help us rediscover ourselves while others inspire us to be bigger than what others simply expect us to be. Some places give us that much-needed escape and help us see the blessings of life with fresh eyes.
A Place Called Mystic
Traveling to places brings the most unexpected surprises. On our fifth day in Norwalk, my brother-in-law announced, “Are you guys ready to taste the best pizza in Connecticut?” Like a dose of caffeine loaded coffee, my adventure senses woke up. I replied excitedly, “Best pizza? Where’s that?” He said, “Remember the movie Mystic Pizza with Julia Roberts?” I replied, “Yes, I do remember.” He smiled and said, “Well, it does exist and we’ll go there today.”
On the way to Mystic, my sister and I were able to reminisce the joys of the past and went ahead to plan our next reunion.
We arrived late in the afternoon. In less than 2 hours, the Sun was about to set. As I took these pictures, the rays of the Sun created an almost surreal, mesmerizing effect. For a moment it felt like I was in a magical place I only read in story books. Perhaps I was over imagining it but these was how I saw the place in images. What do you think?
First stop was the Seaport. Sadly, the visitor’s tour guide area was about to close and we were only able to see the entrance of the Seaport. We did get some cool pictures.
On the way to the gift shop, a big anchor greeted us. I quietly told myself, “Wow! Must be a part of a ship. A giant ship!”
The gift shop was full with beautiful things. I went around the Christmas section and found these adorable Gingerbread people.
My son went to the toy section and found this miniature wooden ships. I looked at him silently. Just observing. Before I knew it, I was transformed back in time and saw myself holding a toy boat dreaming to set sail and travel the world. As fast as it hit me, the flashback imagery vanished. Again, I must be over imagining things but isn’t it that once most of us dreamt of that great adventure when we were kids?
My son bought a Boat In A Bottle to forever remember our journey to this wonderful place. What did I buy for myself? Nothing. I have all the great stuff I needed in my iPhone camera.
I heard my stomach growling. Time to eat and head to the famous Pizza place.
While waiting for our order, we had a quick walk to the quaint shops. My wife bought a beautiful necklace for my niece 16th Birthday.
The pizza place was cozy and had the welcoming, warm small town vibe. All over the walls were the various pictures and memorabilia similar to what they have in Friday’s and Planet Hollywood restaurant only it’s all about the movie Mystic Pizza.
As we looked at the pictures, we remembered the fun times during our youth. It felt good to talk about the happiest moments of our past. It’s amazing how 2o years or so felt like yesterday.
Finally, the much awaited pizza arrived. The first few bites I was speechless. It was so delicious no word came out of my mouth. After three slices I told my brother-in-law, “You were right, this is the best Pizza around!”
On the way home, I thank my sister and her husband for bringing us to this amazing place. They drove us for 2 hours so we can experience for ourselves the unforgettable charms of Mystic as well as get a slice of heaven just like what the sign said outside the pizza place.
Thank you for sharing your day with me. I hope this post made you remember the places you traveled that made you happy. Places you shared with the people that mattered to you the most. Places you were blessed to be a part of. Places you wish to revisit one day.
What are the places you’d been too that you can never forget?
Today, discover the inspiring world of these blogger friends. Their zest for life, their families, their environment and most of all their faith are priceless treasures that will bring a smile to your day.
Katy of http://praguebykaty.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/weekly-image-of-life-weekend/
April of http://alwaysbobswife.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/weekly-image-of-life-weekend/
The Guat of http://thewishfactor.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/weekly-image-of-life-weekend/
Francine of http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/weekend-couch-potato/
Patricia of http://lifeofaministermom.com/2013/01/20/weekly-image-of-life-weekend/
Jenn of http://the-serenity-space.com/2013/01/22/weekly-image-of-life-weekend/
For those who wish to join in this week’s challenge, here’s a link and the widget. Have a great time making wonderful memories.
http://thismansjourney.net/2012/06/13/weekly-image-of-life-happiness/
My friends, let us find time to discover and capture the images around us. Take a moment, breath and just enjoy what the season has to offer. You’ll be surprised of the many things we missed in this lifetime. Happy or sad, they are a part of the unforgettable journey called “life.”
Images taken using an iPhone 4 camera with Camera + App and Nikon 1 J1.
An absolute winner once more…. thank you…
Thanks Bro. Just read your post on Visitors and totally an awesome adventure. Wish I can do something like that one day. Perhaps an animal preservation in an island with a beach nearby.
What a lovely family time and pizza too – perfect!
It was a perfect day. Great food. Great trip. Great bonding.
I have heard of Mystic. Maybe one day I will go there!
You’ll love it my friend. I told my sis, “If by crazy chance I relocate to Connecticut, I want to live here.” I’ll just worry what happens when it snow since now I an totally in tuned with Texan weather. Ha, ha, ha. Thanks Georgette.
I visited Mystic Seaport before the Julia Roberts’ movie came out. I love that movie. Now I want to go back and visit Mystic Pizza, too! Was it good? No, wait! Don’t tell me. I want to be surprised.
If you fell in love with the movie, you’ll fell in love with the pizza. It was worth the 2 hour drive to find it. Update me on your trip. Have fun. Thanks for sharing.
How could you not fall in love with a place that mystically welcomes you from the start?!
I know, right? I’m glad my sister and her husband brought us there. Mystical indeed.
It’s wonderful that you are discovering the wonders of the East Coast, but it’s also lovely that we get to watch your joy and read your insights. Thanks again for letting us be part of your journey with your family.
Thanks Sally. Blogging help us discover the many inspiring journey of our blogger friends. Journies that help us see the world from someone’s perspective and experience. Wishing you and your family all the best.
Top notch! I loved the gathering of Gingerbread people
My son loves to tease me , “Catch me, catch me I’m the GIngerbread man,” as he ran around the house. It’s one of his favorite characters in a book. He inspired me to take this picture. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for taking us on a delightful tour with your family! That pizza looks wonderful, and your description made me hungry for pizza for breakfast! My mind raced forward as I pondered the possibilities of finding pizza for sale in town this afternoon. Hmmmmm.
Great post! Sorry I’ve been absent. Am catching up between rain, power outages and horrible internet connections!
Z
Thanks Z. Like you, writing about the pizza made me crave for one too. They are sort of a comfort food. I’d been busy myself and could hardly catch up. But I love blogging and miss sharing and reading. Take care.
i miss it too! this morning i’ve been planting seeds and pulling weeds.. with so much rain, we take advantage of the break in the weather, even if the ground is still muddy! ah, but the birds are so happy and are singing their hearts out!
i worked til 3 this morning on images – ah, to have many ‘hobbies – that’s a wonderful blessing!
enjoy the weekend with your family!
z
Mystic looks like a wonderful place to visit……and enjoy pizza!
It is. Thanks Angeline.
I’ve been to Conn. many times but never Mystic. Gotta put that on
my place-to-visit list. Thanks for sharing your memories.
I didn’t know it existed too . I thought it was just a movie and I was surprised to learn that the town is actually called Mystic. Thanks.
Super place. I really like the way those cookies look.
Thanks. A fun place indeed. A place where I see myself getting old….to dream is free, right?
You always manage to describe your day in a way that takes us along with you. Beautiful descriptions and lovely photos. I just had a bite of the pizza and its delicious. Mmmmm….
The best pizza I’ve eaten? In Rome in the early 1970′s when Mr F and I were traveling around Europe in a VW Van.
Oh wow. Did you ever go back and revisited the place? I’m kind of nostalgic and if given the chance I will go back to all the places that left me a beautiful memory. Hmm…this goes to my bucket list. Thanks my friend.
Thank you – beautiful trip, gorgeous photos
We had a fun time and yes, gorgeous images everywhere. I wish I had more time to explore the place. Thanks.
Enjoyed the tour, IT! You are making me hungry…
I hear ya! Looking at food makes me hungry too even if I just ate. No wonder I can’t loose weight. Ha, ha, ha. Thanks Amy.
Love those hazy mystical photos. Glad you could plan your next family time. Have a great weekend.
Thanks to camera + app and luck. That was the only angle I could get as we drove past them. It was against the Sun thus the effect. Have a great weekend. Thanks.
Italian food, my favorite!!
You and your family must had lots of fun in the trip! The gingerbread buddies are so cute!! Thanks for sharing!
We did. It was a much awaited family reunion. Priceless. Thanks Ristin.
Mystic looks like a wonderful destination for a drive and served as a great response to the weekly challenge. The fact that your day ended with pizza is icing on the cake.
Indeed it was. A perfect ending to a perfect day. What more can I ask for? Thanks.
What a great place to visit! Tanks for taking us there. I enjoyed the visit. Great to see you and your family in what looks like a most enjoyable outing!
Thank you. My brother-in-law did a great job in choosing our travel destination. Everyday was a new surprise.
Pingback: Weekly Image of Life : Places « बंजारा
Thanks friend for such superb Photographs. the places you go are marvelous and with family you can enjoy much more. Thanks for your theme, i could show some pictures I have taken.http://amaltaas.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/weekly-image-of-life-places
Thotlakonda just breathes serenity, beauty and solemnity. A place to marvel and be one with nature. The sea view…just beautiful. A place where I wish I am at or similar to it. Truly unforgettable. Have a great weekend and best wishes to your family. Thanks.
Mystic, Connecticut is one of the places I would like to visit one day. Some unforgettable places – Glacier National Park, Cobbscook Bay State Park, Maine, the Oregon coast . . .
I wish one day I will be blessed to see this places too.Thanks for sharing.
Those gingerbread men look too good to eat! Looks like a beautiful place to visit.
It is a great place.I wish we stayed longer although I am thankful that somehow I had the chance to go there. Thanks.
Amazing place. AMAZING PIZZA! And you stopped at three pieces! How did you manage that?
Yes, the Pizza was worth the 2 hours drive. Usually, I can only have 2. We did take home the left over which we ate the next day. Thanks for sharing.
Pingback: An African Buddhist Temple | Colline's Blog
Thanks Colline. Beautiful post!
I had to come back and share our visit to this amazing place: http://collinesblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/an-african-buddhist-temple/
Thanks Colline. That was one beautiful temple. Amazing architectural details and colors. Sp peaceful. Thanks for sharing this place of solitude.
I am glad you enjoyed the pictures
I truly did. There is always something beautiful in another’s vision of the world around them. Thanks Colline.
Pingback: WEEKLY IMAGE OF LIFE: PLACES « Francine In Retirement
Thanks Francine.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful place. Here is mine: http://wp.me/p23TG1-28y
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks Francine. Thanks for sharing places that makes us appreciate the hsitory of the past and the lesson they give us in the present. Great pics.
Beautiful and exciting post my friend. Thanks.
You make me want to travel over there. It certainly looks like a a magical place. I love the ginger bread people, they look so cute.
Thanks my friend. It does look magical. I think this is one of the gifts of travelling. they make us see beautiful places in an even more magical way.
Thank you. It was a wonderful place.
Pingback: Weekly Image Of Life: Places « PragueByKaty
Thanks for posting the link to my page. I really like your Places and here I share mine Place: http://praguebykaty.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/weekly-image-of-life-places/
Port Vergi is dream place to be. It’s a bit of coastal paradise on Earth. Beautiful images. Thanks for sharing.
Love these places. Thank you for sharing them.
Aah, you could write a book about all your magical family outings IT! This one seems even more special
Thanks Madhu. Travels are more special when we share it with our loves ones. Mine I get to share with my sister and her husband whom I have not seen in person for years.
Pingback: Weekly Image of Life: Places « Life of a Minister Mom
This looks like SUCH a fun place! I think you’ve given me another one to add to my list! We haven’t gone out of town recently, but I’ve definitely been making the most of our local places. I had a great time with just me yesterday, and I hope for may days like it in the future. Here’s my entry.
http://lifeofaministermom.com/2013/01/29/weekly-image-of-life-places/
This is one awesome “me day” my friend. We do need to pamper ourselves every now and then. To feel renewed body and mind. Your daughter look so adorable sitting inside the box smiling so happily. My son used to do that until he got too big. I love this quote, ” Sometimes it’s up to us to turn our local venues into a special place just for us.” Indeed we can. God bless you and your beautiful family. Thanks for sharing a post that makes me see the brighter and happier side of things.
Thanks for sharing one of your mystical days spent with your family with us! The photos are beautiful and the story shining with love
Thank you. It’s one trip that’s hard to forget.
Pingback: Weekly Image of Life: Places | The Serenity Space
Beautiful as always
thankyou for sharing. I loved the movie. It was great to see the town through your eyes. I remember many years ago buying my son a boat in a bottle at a seaside town we visited in Western Australia. He still has it 
My contribution is here http://the-serenity-space.com/2013/01/30/weekly-image-of-life-places/
Thanks Jenn. That was one treasure of a post. A place to dream and be a kid all over again. The moments we share with our family will always be relived in our memories and souvenirs from each unforgettable events.
Excellent
these memories last forever 
Indeed they do. They bring sunshine to our grey days. Thanks Jenn.
Thankyou so much for linking my blog from last week
Brightest Blessings 
Thank you as well. Your posts always brings joy and a vision that makes us appreciate life, family, nature and many more.
I think WHOA! That sunrays pic is a keeper! Sure will be a memorable one from you. I also like how the angle of the anchor shot. So cool!
That pizza sure is filling. I’m eying a lot of toppings there. And the crust looks like perfectly prepared, not too thick, not too thin.
Thanks Bro. I was a lucky shot. The car was moving when I took it with the iPhone camera. The pizza was beyond delicious. Plus I was so hungry. Thanks.
Here is my debut entry for this challege:
http://mang0pe0ple.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/weekly-image-of-life-places/
Wow! All of these places I only see in my dreams. You are truly blessed to expereince in person this exciting, fun, awesome places. Thanks for sharing them.
Thanx for the challenge
Mystic is quite beautiful… I’m glad you enjoyed your visit there… The Pizza…
I wish to go back there one day and really get to know the town and the mystic wonders behind it. And yes, to expereince another pizza adventure. Thanks .
Thanks for taking us along to Mystic. I have heard it’s quite a place, and now I see why. Beautiful pictures, my friend.
Thanks. My brother-in-law wanted to share its magic and it was true as what he described.
How fun!! My family visited Mystic 35 plus years ago … what a lovely memory!
Thanks. Wow, 35 years ago. It’s amazing how reading and looking at images brings us back to places like it happened yesterday.