Connecticut - Hard to spell and easy to like

Dorothy joined us in Mystic and we ate at Mystic Pizza (good pizza!) and took a cruise of the Mystic River harbor.  Another day, we walked through Mystic Seaport, a collection of restored homes and ships from the 1800s.  It is the 6th such re-created village that we've seen (the others being Williamsburg and Jamestown VA, Winston-Salem NC, Acadia Village in Moncton, New Brunswick and a village at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, FL).  Here is what has become clear after visiting Connecticut:  These places have helped me to piece together a vivid impression of early life in the United States.  I can't claim to remember all of the facts I've heard, but U.S. history of the 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s is real to me now as it never was before.   (Touring the mansions in Newport, RI brought the wealth and craziness of the early 20th century into focus, but more of that later.)

We also saw the charming towns of Stonington and Pawcatuck and were surprised by the lovely beach at Misquamicut and the huge mansions on the water in Westerly (both of which are actually in Rhode Island) . 

We stayed in two VRBO places - Newtown (CT) and Westerly (RI).  Newtown is a labyrinth filled with huge Atherton-like mansions, tucked away on windy streets in a vast forested area.   We stayed on the grounds of an estate that is surrounded by acres of bright green lawns.  It was gorgeous.  I felt lucky to be able to peek into the world of the East Coast rich and famous.  That is my lasting impression of Connecticut - "it's not me" but who cares?  It's absolutely gorgeous.