Charming Nyack-On-The-Hudson, NY

Nyack, New York is a charming waterfront village on the Hudson River.  It is situated about an hour north of NYC on the westside of the river.  The first known inhabitants of Nyack were the Algonquin Indians that (it is speculated) traveled after the sale of the island of Manhattan to the western shore and eventually up river to what is now Nyack.  Next came the Dutch in the late 1600s.  The Dutch settlers primarily farmed but little by little Nyack's harbor became known and as such came new growth...by the mid 1800s manufacturing was dominant.  300 years after the Dutch settled and with the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge and the Palisades Interstate Parkway, Nyack was about to experience an urban renewal that put it back on the map.  And NYC inhabitants are still relocating to the area much like the Algonquins!! Nyack's residents and shopkeepers have renovated, restored and re-purposed it's homes and storefronts into one of the most charming villages in the area.  Nyack has been, and is still, known as a haven for artists and "foodies" come to enjoy in the diversity of ethnic menus.  From fast foods to gourmet meals, there is something for everyone's palate.  There's also a weekly green market for those who would rather cook fresh from the farm to their table at home.  The village offers plenty of shopping: clothes, gifts, crafts, home furnishings and accessories, antiques, flowers and so much more!  And if you can still reach that inner child in you, come join Nyack's Halloween Parade!  Adults, like children, dress up and there are creative floats vying for prizes.
(You can do a search for Nyack Halloween Parade 2016 for great photos of the event)

I was there recently over the holiday weekend and walked the village from Main Street down and along Broadway...bright sun peeked between grey skies and the crisp fall weather made the stroll so very enjoyable.  The shops were filled with customers, their windows in full holiday display and the restaurants' tables were beautifully set for the evening meal.  What did I enjoyed most?  The friendly smiles!  Here are a few photos I took of Nyack....

BY THE WAY....
HOTEL:
If you find yourself in Rockland County and want to stay the weekend to enjoy as much of the area, treat yourself to the DoubleTree Hotel in Nanuet (Route 59).  Very comfortable, very clean, great service (a warm cookie upon checkin!) and it's centrally located with free parking.
Here's the link:  http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-nanuet-NYCNADT/index.html
There is a new hotel in Nyack called "Time"; I've not stayed nor visited, but did notice it's location near the NYS Thruway exit for Nyack. It's a stone's throw from the "West Gate Inn" famous for it's weekends of music and dancing; for years Tito Puente played there and believe his son carries on.  The holiday weekend had a tribute to Celia Cruz - bet the place was rockin''!!

DINING:
1.  I enjoyed a very good BBQ meal one evening in West Haverstraw, NY at Babe's Bar and Grill.  Great food, friendly service and well worth the visit (see their Facebook page or my Trip Advisor review for more info).  
2.  Another great dining stop was O Lar in Piermont, NY.  Tiny, tiny place serving up great pizzas and flatbreads with a nice selection of tapas to share.  Sangria was spot-on!
(Again see their Facebook page or my Trip Advisor review for more info.)
3.  My favorite for pizza is Turiello's in Nyack...it was a favorite when we lived there, and it is still oh-so-good today!  Here's their link: http://www.turiellospizza.com

Carcassonne, France

A few weeks ago I wrote about our trip along a portion of the Canal du Midi.  One of the highlights, and the reason for this particular segment of the trip, was a stop to the city of Carcassonne.  Carcassonne is divided into the "new" town and "Le Cite Medievale", the historical UNESCO site.  After an evening's stroll along the pedestrian-only newer part of town we prepared ourselves for the visit the next morning.
Originally we thought we'd walk up to the fortified "Cite", but after considering traffic, weather (warm temperatures) and the long steep incline, we opted for the city bus for 2 euros round trip.   The bus meandered through several streets and began its climb, curving around narrow lanes as we held our breath passing cars, trucks and vans - on two-way streets!  That part of the adventure over, we arrived to "Le Cite"....amazing with breathtaking views.  We walked and walked, stared into storefronts full of delectable sweets, perused menus, admired hand made items and marveled at it all as we walked the cobbled streets.  The ramparts protect the village within and then there is the castle.  The village has plenty of shops, a hotel or two and no shortage of places to eat.  We found a cute little place to eat with a hidden garden tucked behind a stone wall entrance and enjoyed the menu of the day.   During the earlier part of the day, we opted to take a tour of the castle and took as many pictures as I could to share.  The tour of the castle is not for everyone, it seemed as if the entire tour was up another set of steps - and not just little steps - steps with huge risers.  Not sure how the people of the Middle Ages (who were shorter than today's average) could climb those stairs, in full armor and/or carrying weapons!  But it was all worth it - the tour was well worth every step!
Should you ever find yourself in SW France, whether visiting by cruise ship, river boat or self-drive boating vacation, Carcassonne should be on your "must see" list.  There is a tremendous amount of history there - not just of military fortifications, but of religious persecution.  (Several years ago I read a really good book about the massacre at Beziers (near Carcassonne) and the Crusade against the Cathars - The Labyrinth by Kate Mosse.  The story line is terrific and goes between 1209 and 2005!)
Well, enjoy the visit to Carcassonne via my video of photos!

Camille