Surf, sand, dune grass and….. Horseshoe Crabs
When visiting the Cape next time, take a detour to Long Beach (between Centreville and Osterville).
The day we visited was a rather windy day, and the surf was up. Walking on the sand, it was very hard to keep one’s hat on, and in fact mine decided to go for a short flight (luckily rescued before getting taken by one of the many seagulls). The gulls would just hang in the wind, not moving about ten feet off the ground. Amazing how they can do that without flapping their wings! These were the guys who went after my hat
The beach is really on a very narrow but long island. On one side is the ocean and on the other is the outlet from the river to the sea.
Along the top of the sand dunes, were strands of dune grass. When the wind would hit them, they appeared to be dancing or be like waves in the ocean but on the sand.
Another interesting feature of the beach is that parts of it are private. Every so often, walking on the sand between the grass and the ocean, there are these signs stating that that portion of the beach is private. Then 30 yards later, the beach is public again – a bit confusing. But upon reading the fine print on the signs, one can detect that it is OK to cross the private stretch as you proceed to the public stretch and don’t linger. Since we didn’t have a timer, and no specific time was specified, it was somewhat difficult to determine what constituted linger versus, say, walking slowly.
However, it is at the far end or tip of the beach that the most unusual sight was spotted. At first I thought that they were coconuts floating on top of the waves. Then realizing that there are no palm trees on the Cape (that I’m aware of), it was necessary to investigate. The phenomenon was explained when walking a little further down the beach; we saw on the sand that there were dozens of Horseshoe crabs of all sizes (and all sexes, I guess – hard to distinguish).
The high tide must have pushed them on the sand and then left them high and dry! Some had been pulled back into the ocean and that was what was floating on top of the waves. But I’ll leave you with this fact: the waves were pushing them in a direction parallel to the shore not up on the shore. We followed them along the shore back the way we had come, and they never came ashore – stayed out there riding the crests of the waves.
Could this have been a horseshoe crab convention, which did not end well? It’s a puzzle to me.
What do Law enforcement-related buildings and luxury hotels have in common?
Building “recycling” Boston Style.
Before recycling, one of the buildings was a jail; the other was the Boston Police Department Headquarters. Not only did they “host” very different types of guests, but also they are on opposite sides of town –one near the river, the other near the old Hancock Tower.
Both are now very high-end luxury hotels – the Old Charles Street Jail is the Liberty Hotel (no pun intended, maybe?) located by the Charles Street T station, the Old Police Headquarters is the Loews Boston Hotel at 360 Stuart Street. The Loews hotel was previously called Jury’s Hotel – but the name was not a play on its former use, it was the name of the family group that bought it (there are several Jury’s Hotels in Ireland but not sure that they are related).
Both buildings have kept many of the features of their former use. The First impression of the Liberty Hotel is the massive granite blocks that comprise the structure of the building. Then, near the main entrance, is a large granite plaque – built into the wall – presenting all the information from when the jail opened in 1851. (By the way, when it opened, it was considered modern and incorporated all the latest theories on what incarceration should be all about.)
Upon entering, the lobby atrium is several stories high (must have been the central core of the old jail?). At different levels there are still what appear to be railings or catwalks from the old cell corridors. The eating and drinking lounges are called “Alibi” and “Clink”.
The Loews hotel has on its façade “Boston Police Department Headquarters”. Entering the building there is the initial feeling of entering – Police Department Headquarters. The entry doors are the original doors.
Once inside two other items are eye-catching. The first one is the plaque on the wall of the stairs leading to the reception desk. This is the original plaque from when the building was dedicated and opened in the 1920’s. (James Michael Curley is the mayor – more on that later.) The second one is the yellow and marble floor with black marble trimming. (Just what one would expect from the HQ of a large city police department.)
Fittingly, the bar here is called “Cuffs”.
Both hotels have had famous (infamous?) “Guests”. The Liberty Hotel “guests” included James Michael Curley –Mayor of Boston who actually won re-election while a guest there! Loews was also used as a holding tank. One of its “guests” was The Boston Strangler.
But, at the same time there is no doubt that both are high-end luxury hotels with the appropriate modern comforts, outstanding quality and courteous service. They have a dignified elegance about them, which is palpable from the minute one enters.
Up to you which side of the law you want to be on, but both places are definitely worth a visit/stay to view them, enjoy some libations and imagine what they must have been like in their previous “lives”. And remember, unlike previous “guests” you get to leave, of your own free will, whenever you are ready to do so.
MENDOZA BEYOND WINE: CACHEUTA THERMAL BATHS HOTEL AND SPA – BATHROBES PROVIDED
High desert country . . . abandoned railroad tunnels cut into the mountains as the road keeps climbing following the river path . . . a V-shaped valley with mountain sides rising over 2000 feet from the valley floor. Overhead, against a deep blue sky, without a cloud to be seen, circle Andean Condors riding the thermal air currents rising from the valley.
In the Andes at an altitude of 4100 feet, 24 miles south of Mendoza, at the end of this road, is the Cacheuta Thermal Baths Hotel and Spa.
Entering to the baths /spas via the hotel front desk and payment for the day taken care of, every visitor receives a white bathrobe and instructions to proceed to the check-in building for the baths. The spa takes the guests’ health very seriously. Every guest has a blood pressure test. Depending on the results, guests are advised which of the pools to use. (High BP, no very hot pool.) Changing into bathing suits and after a warm shower, guests proceed to the thermal pools. Clothes are left at the check-in counter, safe in a locker.
The seven thermal pools form a cascade overlooking the raging river. The higher up the cascade the pool is located, the hotter the water. Temperatures range from 108°F to 83°F. The best way to enjoy the pools is to start at the top, at the hottest, spend 5 minutes in each pool while working one’s way down to the last pool, a large pool with “warm” (83°F) water. Some of the pools have bubblers providing “massages” along the way.
At the top of the cascade, guests lather themselves with warm mud located in a tub. It is quite a sight to see 10-15 life-size, clay statues – the guests all mud-covered baking in the sun! WIthin15-20 minutes the mud has hardened and can then be washed off taking an outdoor shower of mineral-laden warm water. The skin is left feeling soft and smooth – like new.
Lunch, served at the hotel dining room, consists of buffet stations of various salads, local vegetables and the meats of an Argentinian “Asado” (BBQ). However, the most amazing part of lunch is the sight of over 100 guests all wearing their bathrobe – the formal lunch attire, mandatory for all guests.
A sight not to be missed – unfortunately, no pictures allowed.
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