The Research Triangle, North Carolina. Three booming towns in North Carolina form the so-called research triangle; namely Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. There is a concentration of universities such as Duke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State. The triangle is chock full of high tech enterprises including companies in software and biotechnology. The economy is booming and prospects are good. We spent most of our time in Raleigh which is a very pleasant town. It reminds me of Toronto; lots of trees and liveable neighbourhoods. We checked out The North Carolina Museum of Art and saw Janis Joplin's painted Porsche alongside old masters. We sampled North Carolina barbecue; usually chopped (not pulled) pork with the North Carolina style vinegar pepper sauce. We went to a Carolina Hurricane hockey game for the price of 2 beers and 2 hot dogs at a Maple Leafs game and we actually sat in the first row behind the players benches. So, who do we sit next to….a guy in a Leaf jersey, he and his family transplanted from Watertown, New York. Huge Leaf fans. His wife told me that they are Leaf fanatics and had Leaf tickets for a Hurricanes/Leafs game 5 years ago. They also had been trying to adopt a child for a couple of years at the time. As luck would have it, the adoption agency called to say that there were 2 children available but they would have to receive the kids that night (the same night as the the Leafs game…(Nov. 9, 2009). They had to decide between the Leafs or the kids! She stayed home to receive their children He went to the Leafs game Leafs 3 Canes 2. Everybody wins.

Janis Joplin's Porsche

"Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz....my friends all drive Porsches..."

North Carolina Barbecue

Brunswick Stew at The Pit in Raleigh

North Carolina ribs seasoned with peppers and vinegar with a side of mac 'n' cheese and baked beans at The Pit

Clyde Coopers in Raleigh has been operating for over 70 years serving up North Carolina style chopped pork with a spicy vinegar sauce

Confederate cemetery in Raleigh

The original Krispy Kreme Doughnut restaurant in Raleigh

Doughnuts coming off the line at Krispy Kreme

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University

Sarah Duke Gardens

Sarah Duke Gardens

Amazing old school North Carolina barbecue at Allen & Sons in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Carolina Hurricanes  2  Colorado Avalanche 1; our seats are right behind the bench

Eric and Jordan Staal; brothers and teammates

Huddle with coach in last minute of play

If you look in the upper left hand corner of the picture, you can see a couple of hockey fans from Toronto; me on the left and Emily next to me partially obstructed by the red post