THE BEGINNING OF MANY MORE...... CAZENOVIA

One of the biggest advantages of living in Syracuse that is located in the North East of America is it's picturesque getaways. This entire area close to the 'finger lakes' is believed to have experienced the ice age at its most intense phase. But when the glaciers melted and began retreating, they left imprints that are a nature lover's delight: massive lakes, waterfalls, numerous streams and rivers winding across the North East.

When I first decided to move to the US for my Master's, I wasn't excited so much about the prospect of going to University, meeting new people (which I think are the two best things happening to me right now amongst some others :)) and getting to see New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco and other historical/cultural cities that Indians tend to be familiar with (But I am getting to do them all gradually so hurray!) but the prospect of coming to a country that has numerous state parks and unimaginably beautiful spots to do trails and hikes, both of which help me preserve my sanity and bring me closer to my priorities. And today was one of my first and hope won't be the last.

One of my friends here is a wild child, not in the hippie-bohemian way but one of those women who feels unhealthy if she doesn't go on her long jogs or venture out into an intense hike. Having studied Greek art and history in Greece and travelled Eastern Europe, Israel, France amongst many other counties, she's a very intelligent and yet 'down to earth' 25 year old. We were supposed to take off for Ithaca today but my garage sale hopping threw our plan off radar and so a little research, google mapping and scribbling directions (she doesn't EVER use a GPS because it's turned Americans into robots. The charm of taking unknown roads now and then and getting lost is incomparable to that annoying auto voice beeping 'turn right' ' recalculating' grrrr) and we hit the road for Cazenovia. A small almost too good to be true 'New England'ish town, half an hour drive from Syracuse. And i'm so glad we shelved our Ithaca plan because really made the most of this town.


An hour's trail into deep woods along the river and we found a secluded spot almost etched into the landscape with perfection. With crystal clear water running through moss covered rocks at our feet - ferns and emerald green trees towering above us - we lay on logs strewn across a portion of a stream. That silence, the noise of water gurgling through those rocks injected a kind of peace that I have always realised to be crucial but one that I have only found in my mother's village, my grandfather's garden and of course the occasional trails that remind me how much I love all that the earth has to offer. About an hour later, we got back onto the trail and jogged our way through half of it. I was famished and almost dizzy by now so we walked over to almost every cafe and restaurant in town only to see the CLOSED 'will resume at 5pm' sign. A siesta culture in small ville! Almost like Kokata where shops are shut post 1 till about 4 for owners to catch a quick nap :)

So we survived on a Granola bar and a banana and waited outside the Glen Loch Mill, a very reputed quaint old Scottish inn. To kill time, my friend suggested that we venture towards the lake. Well that casual 'venture' eventually had us swimming in the lake. I shouldn't cheat you here. I can't swim but that just sounded so much cooler and easier :) Well I did doggy puddles and floated around ...while holding onto the steps while my friend a natural mermaid disappeared for long. The swimming instructor was surely amused with my water antics but she gave me a thumbs up and said "Well atleast you are trying to learn". Only if she knew I have been doing so for the last 10 years. Tch tch

Around 6 pm we get out of the freezing water, change back and quickly head back to our Loch and place our orders. I barely get to eat fish here or rather i haven't been experimenting much in Syrcause so the spiced Tilapia Burrito seemed promising. Just that there was no spice in it. I must sound such a 'desi' :P Well honestly given that the jalapenos were the only spicy thing on my plate and the chopped tomato with onion (which by the way came close to the 'tomator chaatney' which Ma makes for us) was watered down with some oil....I wasn't too kicked about my food. I should have just been bold and ordered the lobster. That meal was followed by some decaf coffee again watered down and pretty bad

All in all considering we barely did any planning and Jackie had heard of this place from a friend and we set out with her map etching and navigation skills (Ripley's....you guys need to come up with Believe it Or Not for this girl who rocks without depending upon a GPS) we packed in a trail, a two hour lounge in a secluded stream, a swim (or a splash depending whom we are talking about between me and Jackie) a meal at a famous old Scottish Inn and a waterfall on our way back.

Whoever said the US doesn't have places to see and things to do? I just hope this trip is the first of many more to come. And oh, thank God for women like Jackie. Finally found my nature trail buddy :)