Newport Mansions

Yesterday, the high temperature for the day was 60 F.  This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland, with fluffy white snowflakes tumbling out of an iron gray sky!

We toured two of Newport's famous "cottages" today.  First up was Rosecliff -- a white marble confection designed by Stanford White in 1899 for silver heiress "Tessie" Oelrichs.  When we arrived, it was snowing hard, but by the time we had finished our tour we exited to brilliant sunshine and bright blue skies!  The second mansion we visited was The Elms, built for a coal magnate in 1901.  Living the high life during the Gilded Age was certainly something!

Extras:  A stalwart surfer braving the ice cold waters of Narragansett Bay, a bit of Newport maritime kitsch, and a taste of the wintry scene that awaited us this morning.