[bunkalapa]

Spice, I was thinking of going there for Engineering. (way back when)

It is one of the best places out there, but it is known for being dreary and depressing with NOTHING to do off campus (or on) besides jumping off the bridge.

The only place I saw that was worse was Lehigh (Bethlehem Penn).

[C7JjVczP]

I have nothing against the school per-se. I went there for 4 years and almost considered 7 years (4 undergrad and 3 law) but that does not mean that Ithaca itself is a nice place to spend your formative years.

To be sure, I got a top notch education. But I think that I could have gotten one in a place that did not have the country's second most cloudy days. (Could have also done without the KKK rallies in the commons every year.. or at least did, years ago. )

The whole place was a little to dancing bear, ben and gerry's, on one hand and a little to "privilaged sons and daughter of NY/NJ" on the other... sprinkled with anti social mniority groups... hey..... I guess that is why I moved to brooklyn afterwords......touche Ezra...

[GutleNus]

I just got back from a few days at a friend's house in Troy (lives in BPC, but spends the weekends there) All he was talking about is how the prices are going up and that more and more "City" people keep showing up.

Also he mentioned some sort of High speed train to White plains or something, but he was sketch on the details, any info?

Due to rising prices, Albany is assessing properties either this year or next (I forget). The last time they did this was 2003 -- that's how fast they're going up. And unlike most other markets, this one shows only healthy signs. Also, may I benevolently point out the irony in your friend's constant talking about the rising prices when he's a part of the issue

I've heard nothing about a train to White Plains, but there has been talks for years now about getting the existing Amtrak route upgraded to high-speed service, which at this point seems like it will stay only in talks. I suppose one day when there are even more NYC commuters living up there it'll happen, but that seems so far off...

And, although I've never been, I get the same vibe from Ithaca that you describe, Panda. I have been to Potsdam many times though, and that, like Ithaca, is nothing but a (tiny) college town with nothing surrounding it for miles on end -- that feeling of isolation is really unpleasant. Anyway, I went to school in Buffalo for two years, and I feel your pain. Let's say it together, us upstate residents/students --

f~@*ing clouds!!

[Dabdklwu]

I feel like I know more about New Jersey, Connecticut, and PA than NY state.

Letchworth State Park
Set from Sheldon Brandon's photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldon...orthstatepark/

[U5pz6B71]

Gorgeous -- but not so close.

[bingookenoo]

Gorgeous pictures of upstate New York. Thanks very very much for all of the pictures and of the posts about upstate New York. But I will be in New York City this summer. I don't know when I will be in upstate New York to see Eliazabeth my 1st cousin birthplace in Plattsburgh,New York Elizabeth was born on December 23rd,1973. And Elizabeth is my dad's 4th niece.

[huylibizonoff]

Summers on lake Sacandaga. It was pure magic for this kid.