You know what they say...

...about all work and no play, right?! I made the most of my final week of freedom, thanks to my new colleagues and friends.

On Thursday, Michelle took me to Vermont to see some of the covered bridges. Vermont ('the green state') is beautiful and reminded me very much of home. It's more open than the places I've been to thus far and predominantly farmland, with hills never far away (ahh, hills, how I've missed you :D). Some of the roads were interesting though - mainly gravel covered! We passed what appeared to be houses selling maple syrup (they tap it directly from the tree - I am to witness this process before I leave) and pretty little farms before arriving at the first of the bridges. Built in the 1800s, the bridges were covered to protect them. They became known as 'kissing bridges' as they were the only places lovers could stop and get privacy. Usually painted red, they are pretty structures and we spent a pleasant afternoon photographing them whilst eating my imported Curly Wurlys! I am told Vermont is spectacular in the fall, and that it makes great cheese, so expect more on this state in a few weeks.

Friday brought an injection of history and culture. Matt, who proved to be an incredibly knowledgeable tour guide, took me to Concord, home of the Transcendentalists (Emerson and Thoreau) and the authors of Little Women and The Scarlet Letter. Concord is also the location of several significant events from the American Revolution, most involving the loss of British infantry! Concord is a lovely little town in its own right, but enriched with Matt's knowledge, it was an enchanting place.

Michele provided me with my much-needed rock fix on Saturday; we went to a bar in Worcester where there was an AC/DC tribute band and several support acts. Touch 2 Much were an interesting ensemble, putting their own twist on playing the Highway to Hell and Back in Black albums, almost in their entirety. By the end of the show, half the females present in the audience were gyrating on stage which is something I have (thankfully) not witnessed before. Needless to say, I didn't join them!