Massachusetts

 As we are always looking for a walk or a hike, we found one on our way to Salem, Ma. We just saw this on the side of the road, a few cars and people helped us spot a neat walk around a marshy area. It was about 2 miles, and very well maintained. It lead us on a section of the East coast green way, which is a traffic free trail that goes from Maine to Florida. It stretches 2,500 miles. 

When we visited Salem, Massachusetts, it was still a couple of weeks until Halloween. You would have never guessed with the huge crowds everywhere you turned. The whole month of October they have "Haunted Happenings", it is a constant festival of Halloween celebrations. Haunted houses on every corner, psychic readings, ghost tours, and on and on. Being hungry when we arrived, the first order of business was to find a place to eat. On the way we found this big chair!

Now with a few beers and full tummies, we set off to explore the town. One of the most widely known aspects of Salem is its history of witchcraft allegations, which in many popular accounts started with Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, and their friends playing with a Venus glass and egg.

 William Hathorne's son, Judge John Hathorne, came to prominence in the late 17th century. People generally believed witchcraft to be real. Nothing caused more fear in the Puritan community than people who appeared to be possessed by demons, and witchcraft was a serious felony. Judge Hathorne is the best known of the witch trial judges, and he became known as the "Hanging Judge" for sentencing witches to death.

These are the reasons this area is so popular during Halloween.

Cemetery in Salem. 

Just a glimpse of the crowds. We did visit a haunted house, it was hard to choose one because of the amount offered. We settled on one, and were a bit disappointed with the lack of scare.