Last week I took a trip to Rome, New York with my daughters and my grandsons. It was one of those trips that feels like a warm hug for the soul. Rome is a small city with a gentle pace. The kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think and the trees have conversations with the sky. It was absolutely beautiful. From the fall colors 🍁 to that small town feel. I believe the population there is only 30,000.
We tried several different cuisines. Chinese pizza 🍕 (not my forte). It wasn’t bad, it’s just… who puts general Tsao on a pizza crust?
We also went to Franca’s Wine 🍷 room. We had such a good time. We tried almost all of the appetizers and the brisket nachos. My daughters had a drink called the poisoned apple and an espresso martini 🍸. I just had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.
We also visited Howe Caverns. The caverns were in another town about 1.5 hours away. The route was a scenic winding road full of Fall colors. The kind of road that makes you want to roll the window down just to breathe it in.
I have a full on love affair with Autumn 🍂 It is my absolute most favorite season.
I was born and raised in Illinois and moved to Houston about ten years ago. And let me tell you, I miss Autumn. The trees just do not change color in Houston. Everything stays green year round. Even when it is freezing outside in January 😹. It gets cold 🥶 for like 2 weeks and the. We are back to 60°-70° in December and January. “Winter” is a nice break from the constant 100° degree days we have most of the year. Right now it’s about 85° outside. And in Rome it’s 52° with burnt oranges, deep golds, and maple reds like a painting come to life. My heart needed this trip. My spirit needed it. Sometimes nature brings us back to ourselves in the softest ways.
Aaah 😌 but I digress. Back to the caverns! I was told it would be 52° with 90% humidity so I decided to stop in the gift shop and buy a $20 hoodie because I was afraid it would be a wet miserable cold like the winters in Houston! But it actually was not too bad.
The tour guide told us that the cave was discovered in 1842 by Lester Howe. The story says that Mr. Howe noticed his cows gathering in one spot every day, even when it was super hot out, so he went to investigate. Upon arriving at the spot he felt a cool breeze coming from a Rocky ledge. But the ledge was not on his property. It was on his neighbors property, Henry Wetsel. So Mr. Howe went down and explored the cavern.
After extensively exploring the cavern on multiple occasions he purchased the land from his neighbor for about $100. Idk what $100 was worth back then… let me find out. Google says it is the equivalent to about $4,000. Wow. 🤩 that is still a great bargain. Howe later opened the cavern to visitors not long after.
Inside the cavern, deep beneath the surface (roughly 156 feet down), you’re surrounded by limestone formations carved by an underground river over millions of years old. Whenever I see water 💦 I tell my grandsons to say “I love you water”. Because water is source. Before you drink a glass of water or a bottle of water tell your water that you love it. Tell your water to heal your body. Tell your water whatever you want to tell it because water is Source. If you live near a lake or an ocean, open a bottle of water and tell the water that you love it and then pour the water into the lake or ocean.
We walked through this cool, timeless space. We even got to go on a boat ride. It was so awesome. 10/10, highly recommend. My favorite part of the tour was when they turned off all the lights and it was pitch black inside the cavern. I wanted to stay in that moment forever. The tour guide joked if you are afraid of the dark, just close your eyes 👀 🤣. Being with my daughters and grandsons in this cavern made me feel connected to something far older than this universe.
After the cavern we stopped in Cobskill, NY for some grub. The food was delicious. 🤤
The next day we ate breakfast at the cutest little diner 🍽️ It had that old school, back-in-time feel. The kind of place where the coffee is always hot and the food tastes like somebody’s grandma is in the kitchen. The food was phenomenal.
According to my son-in-law, it’s cash only. But I didn’t pay so idk 😹
We also had dinner with my daughter’s in-laws who live in Rome. I wanted to try a place named Unico Sabor Latino, (a Dominican restaurant), but Nayeli did not want to go. 🙄 We ended up at Arizona tacos and the staff was rude and the food matched the staff. 😤 That was the last place we ate before our early flight home. So the poor experience didn’t really ruin our trip. ☺️
We also went to some malls. Nothing to rant or rave about.
I have to say flying ✈️ first class is a real treat. If you ever get the chance, please choose it. If you book a flight and then add bags 💼 and seats 💺 how much does that add up to? I guarantee you First Class is only $100 more and your bags (2 per person) and seats are free 🆓. Who doesn’t like free?
We were served dinner on our flight to Rome and breakfast on our flight ✈️ home. That’s funny how that rhymes and people in Rome have license plates covers that say: “There’s no place like Rome” 🤭
I can remember when I used to sit in the seats just behind first class and wish I was sitting up there. Look at me now. 🥰 I manifested this life. 🥰
What else? I think that’s about all of the adventures we had on this trip! I have some videos on my TikTok and also on my YouTube channel under Shorts.
All in all, this trip reminded me that:
- I need to spend more time soaking up the beauty in nature
- I need new experiences in my life
- I love ❤️ slow moments with my family
- And I will always be a Midwest fall loving girl at heart 🍁
A little reminder that no matter where we move, pieces of home stay inside us.
Until our next adventure ✨
With love, 💕
Yolanda
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