On Saturday Tim & I were all over the state doing long-distance errands, like visiting a computer show, etc. Larisa & Dima were also all over the state, helping a friend move, etc. For a little bit we were all in Manchester traveling on I-84 westbound at the same time, but did not meet up there. After endless cell phone calls and changing estimated-times-of-arrival and places-to-arrive, we finally met in Essex for a late lunch at the Griswold Inn.
The Perfect Small American Town & Its Oldest Inn
Essex is a mint-condition one-traffic-light river town where the dignified revolutionary-era spirit still lingers – and there’s not a fast food joint in sight.
~ Patricia Schultz
(1,000 Places to See Before You Die)
Now the Griswold Inn is a familiar stomping ground for Tim and Larisa – they are often there on Monday nights enjoying Sea Chanteys and beer. I went once but it was a little too loud and rowdy for my sensitive nature… But it’s a quiet and cozy restaurant in the daytime. The Gris, as it is affectionately called by regulars, is the oldest continuously operating inn in Connecticut, first opened in 1776.
So we had a nice lunch with Dima & Larisa and heard all about their recent scuba diving adventure in Curaçao and the upcoming plans for the move to the big city next month. And then they were off – on to the next thing, zipping around as young adults do. We think Larisa has found in Dima a wonderful companion who shares her wanderlust and sense of adventure. And so we headed home in the pouring rain to recuperate and contemplate.
I feel I would have to straighten my back and make sure my hair wasn’t sticking up as much as usual before I felt smart enough to walk down that main street.
🙂 Trust me, Paul, all the people we encountered were dressed as casually as we were – it’s nice that people don’t have to be so formal in this day and age!
Hi Barbara,
What a lovely little town, and the Inn looks magnificent, so well looked after and everything looks very clean, what a great day out.
It is a charming little town – perhaps next time I’m in the area I can get some more pictures of the older homes – it was raining too much to get many pictures. Wish we could send some of this rain to Texas! I think they give everything a fresh coat of paint and put out red, white and blue flowers in anticipation of the 4th of July and then the summer tourists…
Barbara,
It seems you had a fun adventure! The Gris sounds wonderful! Glad that you have had some family time!!!
Good for you!
Thanks, Jeff! I have a feeling you’d enjoy a Monday night at the Gris! 🙂
You were enjoying a respite with your family at the Gris on the same day Jeff and I were meeting. I keep marveling at some of the similarities between our “cubs”. Even the names of their boyfriends~~glad you were able to meet up. Sounds like a wonderful time.
Too bad your “cub” is leaving New York just as my “cub” is arriving! It sounds like they both are adventurous spirits and might have enjoyed each others company. I can’t keep up with Larisa any more, I just catch a few moments with her now and then as she passes by and wonder how she manages to cram so much into her life! 🙂
It’s always awesome to have good people around and share with them… especially in a nice town inn.
It is good… I’m glad we managed to finally cross paths with them that day!
THANK YOU for the FANTASTIC virtual tour!
You’re welcome, Laurie… Happy you enjoyed it!
This looks like a place that I would like to visit. Thanks for sharing it. I would not have known of it otherwise. I could use a sea chantey or two.
Well, if you ever pass through Connecticut let me know and I’d love to meet you there! 🙂 (Make sure it’s a Monday if you want to belt out a few sea chanteys!)
BEAUTIFUL pictures. I’ve never been to Connecticut but love Maryland for having similar buildings. Texas just doesn’t have that feel quite yet.
I’ve never been to Texas, but I do imagine it is very different from the Atlantic coast! Hope you’re getting some rain – it sounds like it’s been pretty dry down there, from what I’ve heard on the news… One of my aunts lives in Maryland and it does have a colonial feel to it. Welcome to “By the Sea,” Christina!
“First opened in 1776” sounds like a place in Europe not the USA. We have so few historical places like that in this country. Thanks for sharing your lovely day with us. Look forward to more photos of the town.
What a relief for you that your daughter’s found a good mate. I like her name.
America does seem very young when compared with the architectural treasures found in Europe.
I first came across Larisa’s name in the novel, “Dr. Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak, which I read as a teenager, and have never stopped loving it. Apparently it’s a pretty common Slavic name, which my Ukrainian aunts recognized immediately when they heard what I named her, although they pronounce it a little differently.
Just a beautiful town. It reminded me of my sister in Norwalk , Connecticut. We last saw each other about 4 years ago. This made realize to visit her soon. great post.
Time does have a way of getting away from us – it seems like we just turn around and years have sped past us. I hope you get to visit your sister soon!
Did you get see the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk? I haven’t been there yet – the traffic between New Haven and New York we avoid as much as possible! But it sounds like a great place to take your family. 🙂