Loving New York

Today was a beautiful day. Driving south through upstate New York, through Syracuse and into the Finger Lakes region, I was taken aback by the charm and even the grandeur of the state. Various shades of lush green paint an inviting landscape. The majestic tree-covered hills and valleys, the lakes and rivers, and the picturesque little towns and farmhouses create an unforgettable impression. It reminded me of the drive north from Quebec City to Lac Saint Jean. Post-industrial Syracuse seems somewhat frozen in time, a city from another era.

I should also mention that the gorges of Ithaca are quite gorgeous. There is a path going down the side of one gorge where Wittgenstein used to go for walks on his visits. I suppose that will only be of interest to my Wittgenstinian friends. This was my second time driving through northern New York State; the first time, I came via the Niagara border crossing, and the long jog on the I-90 reminded me of rural Ontario. Onondaga, Courtland, and Tompkins counties are something quite different. I'm still drinking it all in.