bridging worlds through stories

Heading south, we veered off the beaten path, down into western Virginia, ending up in Tennessee, at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Lured by the promise of spotty cell service, long lazy mountains, few New Englanders (it’s been a long winter in the New England coop), and the possibility of wild trout in little ventured streams, we packed the magic bus with gear, bikes, food, and rolled out of Connecticut.

We stayed at a bed & breakfast – probably the first Latinos to do so (no one on Radio Bemba could confirm staying in one but we haven’t googled it). In my family, the idea of staying in a  B&B sounds very strange – why would you want to stay in some strangers house when a perfectly good hotel is nearby?  Down in the western Virginia area, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, we stayed with Kevin & Sally Santmyer, who own the Cedar Post Inn.

We’re glad we got out of our comfort zone as the experience was rewarding, and that was largely due to the relaxed and unpretentious manner which which Sally and Kevin welcomed us into their home, not to mention the relaxing and incredibly modern  home, whose interior space reflected the wide open space surrounding their 65 acre farm (that and the great online reviews which erased any thoughts of banjoes).

Lina was the only one really nervous and that was due to a series of mystery books she had just finished reading, all of which took place in B&Bs and all of which has terrible endings for the guests – ghosts, vampires, wolves.  Needless to say, we survived, and Lina was relieved that the Santmyer’s are garlic farmers, which put the vampire threat to rest.

Great food at Olde Liberty Station, though we regretted not being able to get into Millstone Tea Room – who would have thought you needed NYC level reservations in the middle of the country, 12 miles from the nearest town.  We’ll have to make a return trip through here some day.

If you’re looking for a place far from the reach of cell towers and internet noise, this is the place.  We got an education in local politics, organic farming, recycling, and how art, intellect, compassion, and the creative spirit lives vibrantly in this part of the nation. As a child about my daughter’s age, I remember to this day the time my parents took us out to the Pennsylvania Amish country and the impact it had on me, leaving the concrete and steel of the city.  I wonder how this experience will imprint on my little girl, how it will remove certain barriers, make for a life with less boundaries.  That remains the dream of an anxious father.

{ 0 comments }