Dave joked that my birthday became a weeklong event. He's right! One night we went out for appetizers and a quick margarita. The next night, one of my friends came over for a short visit while Dave was at a Jeff Beck concert, his birthday gift from me back in April.
On Friday, we went candlepin bowling with the kids. Somehow Eva managed to beat all of us. Although I think that's because there was a problem with their scoring system. Sometimes she was allowed to roll the ball five times rather than three, and then on my turn (immediately after her) I would only get two balls before the pin clearer came down! It was a fun time and I think the girls really enjoyed being included in the birthday celebration.
After we had finished bowling, we brought pizzas back to the house and had dinner with my mother-in-law. She surprised me after the meal with an ice cream cake "from the kids." It was so delicious! I think from now on, we'll skip regular cakes and go with strictly ice cream cakes.
As for the "Grand Finale", I knew that Dave had planned something special because he had told me to reserve Saturday night for a date. He had been alluding to some secret plan, only telling me that I needed to wear my "fanciest Prom dress."
A few days before my birthday, Dave couldn't keep the secret any longer and decided to let the cat out of the bag. He had booked two tickets for the Cape Cod Centrail Railroad's Elegant Dinner Train, which departed from Hyannis.
I immediately Googled it to learn more about it.
I was really looking forward to this, especially after having had such great experiences on the Napa Wine Train many years ago!
We were seated in the Sandyneck car.
We were shown to a four-top table which we shared with an older couple from Utica, NY. We hoped they would be fun and interesting, since we would be in their company for the next three hours! As it turned out, they were very nice.
Our dinner partners from New York (We were definitely the youngest ones on the train!)
Over a glass of wine, we introduced ourselves and had pleasant conversation with Chuck and Patty. We learned that they were celebrating their 25th anniversary and had decided to vacation in Cape Cod because this was where they had honeymooned.Over the course of three hours, we learned that she was involved in college administration and he was a real estate broker.
We slowly worked our way through a five course meal consisting of a crudite platter, rolls, seafood chowder, salad, entrees and dessert/coffee.
The food was exquisite! Dave had to choose our dinner entrees at the time of the ticket purchase and he definitely mad the right choices. Their were four main entrees to select from: sliced Beef Tenderloin with a Cheron sauce, Chicken Coq Au Vin, Stuffed Salmon Florentine or roasted vegetable manicotti.
I had the salmon, stuffed with crabmeat and spinach, and topped with Holondaise sauce. It was a huge portion and ohhh, so rich! Dave had the beef tenderloin slices, topped with shrimp, which was also very tasty. Both of these were served with mashed potatoes and steamed zucchini and summer squash.
Dessert was the best part of all, a decadent chocolate raspberry cheesecake!
As for the scenery, it wasn't all that spectacular.
Then again, to someone from out of state, I'm sure it was much more interesting. The train basically took us past cranberry bogs and through salt marshes.
Toward the end of the outbound leg, we rode alongside the Cape Cod Canal, crossing underneath both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.
Once we started heading back to the station, the train picked up speed. By that time, it had gotten dark out so you forced to either stare out the window into blackness... or gaze across the table to your dinner partners.
Having run out of dinner conversation, Dave and I decided to make our way to the Lounge Car, which was great! The chairs were large and comfortable and faced toward the large windows. We both agreed that a three hour ride was a bit long, both of us yawning and not looking forward to the hour long car ride home.
We decided that if we do this again, we'll opt for either the Lunch or Brunch excursions, which are just two hours long... and obviously during the day when you can out of the windows.
It really was an enjoyable and relaxing night! Definitely a birthday to remember.
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