Today feels “written off.”   I had thought about walking around this morning to try and familiarise myself with this part of my itinerary.  If I have interpreted the weather website correctly.  I may be able to venture out without getting drenched, later today. 

As it happens, an extra two days at Niagara Falls would have been a waste; it’s raining there, too, and is decidedly colder.  However, in New York, it’s a nice 25°C and dry.  Buxton SK  shares its 16° weather with Buffalo, NY. 

The receptionist this morning has pointed me in the direction of a local information centre, Centerstate CEO.  It appears to have dried up a little, although from my eighth floor room, the roof tops and the ground below remain saturated.

Although Centerstate CEO is closed on Mondays, two ladies were there rearranging the place. They were welcoming and assisted me greatly.  My first port of call (in the drizzle) was the Salt City (S. Salina Street) Market, where lunch might be available.

Opposite is the Syracuse Hotel, now owned by Marriott Hotels. 

On the way, I came across a large vintage clothes shop, “Scholars and Champs,” dealing mainly with sports clothing and related memorabilia.

From what I gather, downtown Syracuse comprises an area of around “10 square blocks.”  As in Buffalo, old and new architecture seem to co-exist quite nicely.  The assistant in the antique sports clothing establishment explained that the new hi-tec industry was settling in Syracuse and the city was on the cusp of better fortunes.

My hotel is in the heart of Downtown Syracuse. Now in possession of a street map. I should be able to plan tomorrow much more productively. Today, so far, has been almost a perfect storm of heavy rain and possibly the effects of excessive sugar intake (unavoidable over here except in high-end restaurants.) making me feel unexpectedly tired.  The jetlag excuse doesn’t work any more!  I really should be living solely on chicken Caesar salad.  Ye Gods!  Even the oatmeal/porridge is heavily flavoured.   With some effort, I am beginning to experience a sample of Syracusian (is there such a word?) life. (I discover that a native of Syracuse is a Syracusan)  I do like my hotel.  The room, spotlessly clean and with nothing that needs fixing, is quirky.  I got the coffee machine to work this morning.  If I was staying much longer, I could do a shopping and put the kitchen to good use.  

I ambled slowly back towards my hotel.  I recognised a Far Eastern family who are staying there, walking in the opposite direction, looking equally “lost.”   Greetings were not exchanged!   But, as I wander around this downtown district, I find it hard to believe that I am actually experiencing (rather than merely seeing on T.V. or in a movie) a genuine mid-state unglamorized working city.  All around me, fine examples of late 19th or early 20th century architecture. The rain has held off generally since before noon, but the heavens are continually threatening the dowsing of a lifetime.  It feels cool outside.  After yet another coffee break, walking back to the hotel, I arrived back with the info obtained earlier and a souvenir t-shirt from the vintage clothes sports shop, Scholars and Champs.

Eventually, I made it back to the hotel.  I wonder what this building’s original purpose was.

When it was thrashing it down with rain this morning, I have to confess to feeling somewhat despondent. Nobody in his right mind would have ventured out, especially without a specific plan. But the day was not completely ruined.  I had acquired a plethora of info thanks to advice from Stephanie at reception, who pointed me in the direction of Centerstate C.E.O – Corporation for Economic Opportunity. On my return, the receptionist lent me a magnificent hardback illustrated account of the history of Syracuse  “Crossroads In Time” by Dennis J. Conners.  I really wish I could speed-read!  The account of Syracuse’s rise, dip, and recovery is as fascinating  and interesting as any town or city.   Railways and the Erie Canal accelerated the development of Syracuse from tiny village to proposed capital of New York State. However, Albany remains the state capital to this day. 

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I am finishing the night at my (now) fav eatery, Pastabilities – it’s the name that brings me back. 

The thing is, this morning, I was ready to move on. I hadn’t slept brilliantly, and my determination to explore was thwarted by incessant heavy rain.  New York should be warm the day after tomorrow.  But I would gradually learn that this ordinary place would, in fact, have much of interest to explore. “Back in the day”, there were street cars.  New York Central had its steam hauled passenger trains sharing a main street up to the 1930s. With a ton of information, I hope to see much more of the “10 square blocks” than I did today. And I think I shall revisit the antique clothes shop for an out of character Syracuse sweat shirt or two!

I was fortunate.  At Pastabilities, they had stopped accepting reservations. Still, the lady at reception found me a very nice candle-lit table.  In an effort to eat healthily, it has to be Caesar salad again!  I succumbed to delicious ravioli last night.  The book that Stephanie lent me is fascinating and lavishly illustrated.  It brings to mind John Leach’s Book of Buxton, which, completed in the late 1980s now, needs the period from then to now documented in a similar manner. 

I finished the evening watching Jo Biden on B.B.C. News, giving his farewell speech in Chicago at the ³Democratic National  Convention.

It was a very mixed day today, which improved as time progressed.  The rain thankfully eased up.and I was able to enjoy an afternoon’s gentle looking around as already described.

Thanks for reading, David, 00.54 hrs in the hotel room.