Ithaca Festival

Once the thousands of undergrads have left for the summer, the city of Ithaca celebrates by throwing a big five-day long party.  Ithaca Festival is held yearly the weekend after graduation weekend, and kicks off with a huge parade showcasing dozens of local organizations plus performances by well-loved parade regulars such as the Chainsaw Marching Band and the Volvo Ballet.

 We headed to a friends porch party where, gloriously, we could eat...

...drink...

and enjoy the parade!

While the parade began with sunshine, a rainshower hit only minutes later.

However, no one let that put a stop to the fun!

There was a dog-tortoise in a wheelbarrow.

And last but not least, the Chainsaw Marching Band!

The parade was loads of fun and I can't wait for the rest of the festival this weekend.  As I headed home, I passed by a park where some parade watchers were enjoying the sunset...and where there was also a group of food trucks!  Unfortunately a second dinner wasn't in store for me this evening, but I'll be checking them out next week :)

Chasing Waterfalls

Determined to not to miss out on some sunshine this past holiday Monday, Jenny and I headed to Taughannock Falls State Park in the late afternoon for some fresh air and ice cream.  After a day of errands and computer work, it was a nice treat to relax and enjoy the water and lush green of emerging summer.

While Taughannock is known for its waterfall, the part of the park along the lake is worth checking out as well, with expansive green spaces for frisbee or stretching out in the sun with a delicious book.

There's a small concession booth near the lake selling savory and sweet treats.  We got some "single scoop" chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream to fuel us on our hike to the falls.

The path to the waterfall follows a gorge all the way up to the base of the falls, winding in and out of a forest growing along the gorge's edges.

After a quarter hour of walking peacefully through the forest, the roar of water intensified, and crossing a footbridge leading out of the forest you are finally greeted with Taughannock falls.

Jenny and I had a blast taking a number of silly pictures in front of the falls.  The thing I liked most about them is that they have been left in a mostly natural state, without too many visitors signs and fences around.   The park has definitely been added to my list of intended summer hangouts!

Cruising Cayuga Lake

The weather in Ithaca has been great lately, bringing people out of their winter burrows and into the sunshine.  While the weather wasn't perfect today, my friend Jenny and I had been generously given the chance to go on a Cayuga Lake cocktail cruise, and so set out on the M/V Columbia to see Ithaca from the sparkly waters of the lake.

We had rushed to be certain to be on the boat in time, but found that the "setting sail" time was pretty lax, and so got to lounge around a bit and soak up the dock scenery from our table on the upper deck.  And pretty soon, we got bored.  So we went exploring.

The boat was not designed for tall people.  Jenny had to be careful not to stand on tiptoe!

We found the vessel's bar, and ordered some drinks.

And then, the engine started to roar louder, the boat's ties to the land were thrown away, and we were off!

At the start of the cruise, you are traveling by shipyards and canals.  There is so much activity on the water - people doing all sorts of watersports - and so many eclectic weathered structures to peer into on the shore.

Our university rose like an enchanted city over the pastoral scene at the lake.

After passing through the muddier waters of the canals, we hit open water.  Clear, blue open water.

Two universities atop two hills.  Cornell university and Ithaca College.

Half way through the cruise, the wind picked up.  Our hair was wonderfully disheveled.

And then the wind must have blown away the blanket of clouds in the sky, as the sun came out.  We soaked up some rays and relaxed as the boat headed back toward the dock.

Once back on land, we thanked our captain.  A wonderful cruise!

I had been on a cruise like this on Cayuga Lake before, but I never get tired of being out on the water and getting to see Ithaca from a different perspective.  And most beloved of all are the glimpses of Cornell.