Croton on Hudson side trips

We moved on to Half Moon Bay Marina in Croton on Hudson approximately 38.6 mile above NYC. We stayed two nights, rented a car and drove to see the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and tour West Point.

The CIA, located in Hyde Park, NY, is the premiere culinary college for preparing students to assume roles as chefs in some of the finest restaurants in the world. There are three restaurants on the campus featuring the distinctive cuisines of France, Italy and America, as well as an Apple Pie Bakery Cafe. The three main restaurants are reservation only and are staffed by the students who serve in all the roles of restaurant personnel, from the kitchen help, to the waiter, to the chef. Sara and I ate at the French restaurant, by the name of Bocuse and we were not only impressed with the service, the presentation of the food, but by the small portions. Guess that's why there are not many fat Frenchmen. 

While traveling to the CIA, we also visited the United States Military Academy at West Point. A school to train and educate the Army Officer Corps of the newly founded nation was something George Washington wrote and spoke about but did not live to see it started in 1805.

Located on the most defensible piece of terrain along the entire Hudson River valley, a fort was established here during the Revolutionary War to prevent the British from coming south along the Hudson River to attack New York. The America Military was so concerned about this possible attack that a huge chain was created and stretched across the river at its narrowest point where the river makes a ninety degree bend below the bluffs. The weight of one link of that chain weighed 100 pounds. It was never tested against the British ships, because Benedict Arnold, a traitor to the U. S. cause, gave the plans and location of the West Point defenses to the British before they were to launch their offensive south into New York.

Pictured above is the narrow ninety degree bend in the Hudson River where the huge chain was located to stop the British ships that never came.

Some of the major buildings of West Point are built in the style of Military Gothic. It is intended to look like a fortress or castle,

The main chapel at West Point that seats 1500 cadets.

Above is the main alter of the chapel. It is carved out of white marble. It was donated by the family of President U. S. Grant, who graduated from West Point and who was the General of the Army of the Potomac that was victorious over the Confederate Armies of General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. General Grant's son and Grandson also graduated from West Point. 

Memorial at West Point honoring all the West Point graduates who died during the Civil War. Only the Union Officers who died are listed, not the Confederate Officers, many of whom had also graduated from West Point.