Sunday, May 15, 2011

Presque Isle (almost an island)

We really should have known better.  It was raining here and the forecast didn't look good, but we thought we could handle a little rain so we headed north to see what Presque Isle was all about.

Presque Isle is a little peninsula that arches into Lake Eric just off of the city of Erie PA, making a safe little harbor there.  Presque Isle actually means "almost an island".  There are lots of trails there, beaches, a 1950's style amusement park with wooden roller coaster, bike paths, a protected environmental area.

But, alas, it was raining so hard when we got there that we could barely get out of the car.  When I opened the window to view the beach the water blew straight into the car.  And the temperature dropped about 15-20 degrees, so it was quite cold. 

I guess that's what they call the "lake effect".

We did find a covered place for a picnic.  No rush on the tables today.
We will have to go back.  I would like to see Presque Isle during winter when they say that Lake Eric freezes.

2 comments:

  1. Do the locals pronounce it presk eel (as in French) or presky - isle (as in Maine)?

    In French, I believe it is written presqu'ile. Our word peninsula comes from the Latin paene insula or almost an island. In German, it is Halbinsel (half island). In Japanese, it is hantoh (half island, too). I love languages!!!!

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  2. You know, Barbara, I'm not sure because I didn't talk to anyone there! But the people around here (Pittsburgh) say PRESK ISLE.

    When you think about it, words are pretty amazing!

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