I took a chance to do a road trip to Philadelphia during the last Thanksgiving holiday. Got four days off from my office in total. That should be enough for a getaway vacation. So, this time I eyed Philadelphia. Aside from a good friend of mine who happens to live there, the existence of Indonesian community in Philly along with its restaurants and groceries had fueled me to take this 300miles of road trip from the getting-even-colder Boston.
The trip from Boston to Philly should take somewhere around 5 to 6 hours. However, on my departure, I decided to make a stop for a night at Connecticut to visit a friend, Taufik. He lived in West Haven, a few miles from New Haven, the town of one respectable academic institution Yale University. Regardless the quick visit, a night in Connecticut is worth of a visit. My first impression was, the state is calm and quiet. As I drove along residential area around New Haven, which is most likely students area, I saw nothing than a peaceful neighbor. May be it was because I visit the neighborhood during Thanksgiving holiday. Apartements were dark, roads were empty. What I quiet place to live.
Then, I met with Taufik and he took me to Crown Street, one corner in New Haven that is very popular by its nightlife. After hitting a few bars and meeting with a few friends, the clock ticked to 1am and Voila! A massive amount of people poured to the street from the closed bars and nightclubs along the street. It was more like a big festive outside the door. Most are drunk and ready to pick fight, even with the police. Not so wise, but I guess these people don’t even realize if they were in that place. So, this is where all the residents of the quite neighborhood I’ve passed before went to. Mystery solved!
There’s nothing much to expect in the morning on Thanksgiving. Most business are closed, whether they are preparing for the Black Friday, or they just let their employee take a day off to celebrate the day with family. That would include restaurants. Fortunately, my hunger problem was solved by IHOP. I would give them credits for stayed open until 2pm on Thanksgiving day. Since not everybody celebrate Thanksgiving with their family, and also not everybody in the town are there because they live there. There could be a visitor who happens to be in the town for a short stop and feels hungry just like me.
One worth to note about New Haven is Yale University. I would not rant much about this school, since it is quite well known. Or may be the best school in the US. You tell me. *okay, here you go again.. my school is best ur is suck*. Aside from every debate about quality or whatsoever, I do love the buildings. All the big pillars, statues, gates and fences. It looks massive. It worth the trip.
They Remember The Day