We were delighted to stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester. It was so comfortable and cheerful.
The hotel has most generously accommodated our team several times in the past also. Many staff members were present 2 years ago when we came. We loved the family feeling amongst them all.
This morning we start running on the Empire State Trail towards Syracuse, enjoying beautiful flora and fauna on the way.
We met many open-hearted people.
Teresa was treating the Ash trees on the trail.
We were so happy to meet Jason.
We were welcomed by representatives from the Town of Elbridge and the Village of Jordan, as well as friends and people from the community.
Jovana is giving hints to the public to see who can guess her country. Good guess, it's Serbia!
Kenneth Bush III, Town Supervisor, holds the Peace Torch with his sweet daughters.
The Village of Jordan was represented at the ceremony by the Mayor himself.
Holding the Peace Torch is Marianne, Daulot's sister, a very good friend of the Peace Run, who will be hosting the peace runners and cooking dinner for us all!
Christopher, Marianne's husband, who will also be hosting the team and helping prepare dinner for the runners.
We presented the Township of Elbridge with a Certificate of Appreciation and we received a beautifully written Proclamation announcing today as Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run Day in Elbridge.
Councilor Joe Farrugia is holding the Peace Torch.
Daulot, a great peace runner since the early days, is leading the runners towards Syracuse.
Daulot meeting the people in the neighborhood.
This couple was delighted to hold the Peace Torch and to offer coconut water to the runner passing by their house.
Happy Tavishi, from Australia, on the Erie Canal Trail.
After a fast paced uphill and downhill run by Goga and Violeta to get to our next meeting on time, we are welcomed by Mayor Sharon Owens at the Boys and Girls Club in Syracuse. She's the first African-American Mayor of Syracuse and the second woman Mayor here! Channel 7, ABC affiliate, is happy to share the news of the Peace Torch in the city.
Jim, holding the Peace Torch, is the Fundraiser of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse. On the left is Derrick Bacon, the Club Director, who is doing a really wonderful job with the students! They indeed guessed without any hesitation countries like Latvia, Croatia and Bulgaria and pointed them up on the world map! Gints from Latvia was so happy!
How special it is to hold the Peace Torch!
Mayor Sharon Owens of Syracuse was happy to read out the poem by Sri Chinmoy on our Certificate of Appreciation. we just offered her to thank her for welcoming us so warmly. She truly embodies what she is reading out loud:
"O dreamers of peace, come. Let us walk together. O lovers of peace, come. Let us run together. O servers of peace, come. Let us grow together." Sri Chinmoy
"Just one smile immensely increases the beauty of the universe" Sri Chinmoy
The students proudly display the Certificate of Appreciation by Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.
Group photo for memory! Next to the mayor is Syeisha Byrd, Commissioner of Parks. She was so happy to meet the Peace Run and shared with us that more than 30 years ago she ran with the Peace Torch when she was coming to this Boys and Girls Club in her youth!
It's time to run with the Peace Torch!
Dinner is getting ready at Marianne and Christopher's!
Marianne by her Peace Pole, while showing us around her stunning garden.
It's a little piece of paradise and so easy to feel peace here!
Christopher is cooking delicious vegan burgers for the team and together with Marianne they serve us a most incredibly nourishing dinner! Their self-giving hearts moved us deeply.
Marianne giving Harita a push on the swing.
We were so happy to camp in such a beautiful field!
We ended the day with some frisbee!
