DrJohnAmbrose's Blog

Friday after work we joined up with Johnny, Tina and Christopher at their home in Abington, PA, packed our luggage into an SUV that Johnny had rented and drove during the night to Gettysburg, PA for a trip to the Civil War’s most historic site.
That’s Johnny at the wheel driving the two hours from his home in Abington to Gettysburg in the middle of Pennsylvania.
Little Christopher slept intermittently during the trip.

Marzena kept watch and fed little “Krzysztof.”

Upon arrival Pops took over looking after Christopher

Ciocia Marzena took the liitle man in hand.

In the morning, properly dressed in his dad’s hat, Chris was ready to visit the new Gettysburg Museum.

Holding the tickets for us, Chris gained us admission to the museum.

One of the wonders of both the artistic and the historic worlds is “The Battle of Gettysburg” Cyclorama by artist Paul Phillioteaux.

Read about it here
The Gettysburg Cyclorama


And in the following clip from the phenomenal painting, I want you to look closely at the figure of a fallen warrior being carried by fellow soldiers. It is none other than the figure of assassinated president Abraham Lincoln, symbolically honored by Phillipoteaux in his monumental painting. I doubt you can see him on this kind of a screen, but if you’re ever interested, come over the house and I’ll show you the picture zoomed in!

Of course there were ongoing free tours, and we were lucky to get detailed information about the defense of Little Round Top, one of the most interesting and courageous events of the battle.

Tough guy was able to brave the chill and the rain, having been outfitted by mom, Tina with foul weather gear.
Marzena had to take a break from touring to tend to the hungry little guy’s appetite

We took a car tour of the various locales, and caught this pic of the eternal flame

We stopped for lunch


At night we had dinner at the picturesque Farnsworth Inn Tavern


where we met some characters…I’ll tell you about him some other time!

It was a really beautiful, sunny day, so we started out to go for a ferry ride. Along the way, Marzena spotted a car show. Alex frequently announces that “Cars are my favorite thing!” So we stopped to check some of the souped-up and customized antiques on display at the armory show. Alex picked a few favorites. Mainly, he was looking for cars that matched the models he had in the form of toys at his home.

Checking out a red Chevy

The yellow monster

Inside a model T

Admiring what’s under the hood

Once Alex announced “Let’s go somewhere,” we got back in the car and headed to Weehawken for the ferry. Soon we were aboard. Marzena took this shot as soon as Alex and I had climbed to the upper deck.
Boarding Ferryboat

Backing out of Ferry Slip

Heading across Hudson

Aboard Ferry

The aircraft-carrier Intrepid was just a short walk uptown along the waterfront from the ferry stop, so we headed up there to view and enter the retired naval carrier. Watch out! Adults are over $22 each and kids 3 and over are $14.50! You could get into deep economic trouble if you bring a whole tribe with you!
Arrival at the Intrepid

Pop and Alex with Intrepid in background

Studying the layout of the Intrepid from diagram

Alex viewing an attack helicopter

Alex with Italian stunt jet from the “Tricolore” team

The crew of the ferryboat spotted Alex and—well—who can resist that boy? So they invited him into the captain’s bridge. After a little persuasion on Marzena’s part, he agreed to take the helm.
Ciocia Marzena getting Alex a temporary position as co-pilot of Ferryboat on return trip

“Yes, Alex, it’s okay to steer the Ferryboat!”

Alex getting us back safely to NJ