Category Archives: Domestic Travel

Winding Our Way Through the Windy City By Boat

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Before I travel, I do a lot of research on my destination; because it is something I really enjoy doing as part of the entire travel experience.  But, this time, I chose a different approach, because I was traveling with Laura.  She had been to Chicago before and had ideas in mind about what she wanted to see, this time around.  I was excited about going along for the ride!  And, we were meeting up in Chicago more to celebrate her upcoming 50th birthday, rather than mine, which had already been celebrated in California.  So, aside from finding our accommodations on Trip Advisor, I had only glanced a time or two at Chicago’s tourism website and quickly checked out “Things To Do” in Chicago, on Trip Advisor.

There were only a few things I knew I really wanted to do in Chicago; my must-see, must-do list.  Otherwise, I figured I would enjoy anything Laura would want to see and do; after all, she has been my best friend for 42 years!  So, what topped my list?  First of all, “Cloud Gate”, the huge sculpture in Millennium Park affectionately known as “The Bean”, because of its bean-like shape.  I knew it would be a hoot to photograph, so I had my heart set on it.  Meanwhile, I had my stomach set on sinking my teeth into a Chicago-style deep dish pizza.  In my mind, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.  In Chicago, it’s deep dish pizza!  And, speaking of food, which Laura and I do frequently, I wanted to treat Laura to dinner at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill, for her birthday ( http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/grill.html ).  Finally, I was sure Laura and I would agree on this one:  An architectural boat tour to learn about downtown Chicago’s varied architecture.  (And, if we made it to the Art Institute, it would be a bonus!)

Thanks to Laura scoring a Groupon, we got a great deal on that architectural boat tour that we were both really looking forward to doing.  So, we set out on foot after enjoying our first night and breakfast at our B&B, heading down Michigan Ave. (“Magnificent Mile”) towards the river.

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Wow!  What a gorgeous avenue; the most beautiful I have ever seen in a large U.S. city.  Gorgeously planted and maintained mini gardens surrounded each tree, along each side of the street, and there was no litter or graffiti to be found.  Chicagoans sure take pride in their city; at least in that part! (We never ventured out to the south side…)  But, the Magnificent Mile is also one of the wealthiest miles anywhere.  Sak’s, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s; the list goes on.  It it’s not there, it doesn’t exist.  Needless to say, my wallet stayed firmly in waist pack as we soldiered on (with blinders).

We arrived at the Wrigley Building early for our boat tour, so it was a perfect opportunity to take a stroll along the river and take in the sites of downtown.  What a fabulous surprise!  There was a point to me explaining my lack of research preparation for this trip, detailed previously; I had no idea Chicago had a river located right in between the skyscrapers of downtown!  Having skipped over any of the photos posted on the tourism website or Trip Advisor, I had no idea what to expect.  And, honestly, what I thought I might expect was something more like Manhattan, in New York City.  I figured downtown to be located on Lake Michigan and our boat tour cruising along the shore, to take in the sites of the skyscrapers.  After all, that is what our N.Y. boat tour was like.  Reasonable, right?  Noooo; it wasn’t like that at all!  A river runs right through downtown Chicago with skyscrapers and cafes lining each side of it.  And, beautiful bridges (all unique) cross the river at each block.  WoooHoooo!  It was love at first site.  And, at the very moment I laid eyes on this scene, I declared Chicago my favorite large city in the U.S.A ; other than San Diego, that is!)

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 The twin towers above are “Marina City” (aka “Corn Cobs”); a mixed-use residential/ commercial building.  It was designed in 1959 by Bertrand Goldberg; an architect who seemed to have an aversion to right angles.  When it was completed in 1964, they were the tallest reinforced concrete structures in the world.

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Trump International Hotel and Tower, named after The Donald, is a condo-hotel designed by Adrian Smith.  At 92 stories (1,389 feet), it is one of the tallest buildings in Chicago.

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The tallest building in Chicago, at 108 stories, is the Willis Tower, formerly known as the “Sears Tower”.  At completion, in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world.  Today, it is ranked 7th.

This is why I enjoy modern downtown skylines:

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See you next at “The Bean”!

May in Washington, D.C. & June in Chicago

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It has been a busy spring:  4 crafts shows; swim meets at Georgia Tech, Geezer (Senior) Games, Greensboro (Nationals), and Athens; Griffin Choral Arts’ season finale concert; train trip to Washington, D.C.; and, a trip to Chicago.  Mix in some contract work, a handful (or two) of community events, and a 100+ miles of swim training, and, it made for a delicious spring that went by in the blink of an eye.  Happy summer, everybody!

Turning 50 in January kicked off what has turned out to be a fantastic year, so far.  So, my best friend, Laura, and I kept things rolling by meeting in Chicago to celebrate her upcoming 50th birthday.  In 42 years of friendship, this was the first time we had met up for a girls-only trip out of town.

Since we both enjoy staying at B&B’s, we decided to rely on our favorite travel website, www.TripAdvisor.com, to recommend one for us in Chicago.  Research led us to Gold Coast Guest House Bed & Breakfast (http://www.bbchicago.com/index.html ), centrally located in downtown Chicago.

So, Laura flew from California and I flew out from Atlanta, meeting up in the airport, to begin our adventure to a city she had visited before, but was new to me and on my bucket list.

Sally greeted us upon arrival at the B&B, a charming row house located on the edge of the Gold Coast, one of the priciest neighborhoods in the country.  It is quite charming and comfortable; just perfect for what we wanted.  And, the location could not be beat!

After settling in and being shown around, Laura and I headed out to enjoy drinks on the 96th floor of the John Hancock building; a short walk away through the lovely streets of downtown.  As we strolled down a small section of the Miracle Mile (Michigan Avenue), we passed by sports commentator, Peter Gammons,; probably in town for the Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox, game taking place that evening.

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Upon arrival, an ear-popping elevator ride took us up to the 96th floor bar, where we gawked at the view, as soon as we stepped out.  But, check this out…  When was the last time you used the restroom facilities anywhere with a view like this?  It brought hand-washing to a whole new level!

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More scenes of downtown, as we made our way to Big Bowl for a tasty dinner of Asian stir-fry.

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Next up:  Winding our way through windy Chicago by boat.  Check back soon!

Sailing the Waterways of the Potomac

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Here’s a bit of trivia for you, compliments of David, sailor extraordinaire:  The Potomac is part of Maryland; every part of it, all the way up to the waters’ edge that meets Virginia.

On Sunday, David and Melody took us sailing on their Pearson 28, their pride and joy named, “Paradiso” (Paradise).  It truly is paradise; especially for David, who has a high-stress, high-level job with the federal government.  Once he is on the water, you can see the stress melt right off his face; pure joy.

Bruce and I felt honored that David would not only take us sailing; he taught us how to sail his boat.  Well, sort of…  David is an excellent teacher, don’t get me wrong.  But, a Pearson 28 isn’t like a Laser or some other little boat that can be handled solo with ease.  It takes a team to get it right; especially if half of us are newbies!

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If you are used to handling a tiller, like I was in the limited experience I had sailing as a kid, handling a wheel is a different story.  Instead of pushing the tiller away from you to get the boat to turn toward you, the wheel turns just as it does in a car; turn to the right and the boat will turn to the right.  But, the wheel on a sailboat isn’t as responsive as a wheel on a car.  There is a bit of a delay, so it is easy to overcorrect; something both Bruce and I did numerous times before we got the hang of it.

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What a blast!  It was a lovely day on the Potomac.  And, as we settled in and enjoyed the sun and breeze, we were informed we were in/at/on Maryland!  Quantico Yacht Club was on the Marine base, in Virginia, however, it becomes Maryland, as soon as you are on or in the water.  So, why not add it to my list of states traveled?  It is, after all, a state I have been to, but never stepped foot on!  That’s gotta be worth somethin’.  Put an * next to it, just like Barry Bonds should have next to his homerun record.

Melody prepared a delicious picnic for our little sailing adventure and we enjoyed it while nestled in a quiet cove. The entire experience kept bringing me back to my childhood, when Dad would take us sailing on our Cal 20.  Mom would pack us up some Hebrew National Salami sandwiches and toss in some fruit, chips, and Shasta sodas.  Remember Shasta?  They were inexpensive and pretty darn good!  Dad’s favorite part of lunch was actually dessert:  Frozen Milky Way bars.

After lunch, dad would take a snooze and my big brother and sister would sail the boat.  I was the youngest (Paul called me, “Motor Mouth” or “Mighty Mouth” back in those days.  Now, he just calls me “Old Fart”, every time he phones me on my birthday.  But, I keep reminding him that he will ALWAYS be 31/2 years older than me…).  As the youngest in the family, I was often pushed aside and told (or yelled at) to, “Get out of the way!”  Therefore, I never learned to sail as good as my brother and sister did.  But, it was fun, anyway.

I don’t remember my biggest sis, Gail, on many (or any?) of those sailing excursions.  She was the smart one, missing out on all that bickering…

Those sure were great memories; bickering and all.  And, being in/at/on Maryland’s Potomac, brought those memories flooding back.

Remember Fresca? I thought that soda was long gone!  My mom used to drink it, along with Tab.  I forgot how tasty that stuff really was, until Melody offered me one on the boat.  Of course, she doctored hers up a bit and added dark rum to the bubbles.  She called it a “Frisky” and it was gooood.  After we returned to Virginia (Quantico Yacht Club, that is…), I had a Frisky, too.  But, wait!  I was technically still in Maryland, because we kicked back on the boat to enjoy some happy hour cocktails, before heading on home.

Before we head out, let me show you something Melody painted- from scratch- in the kiddie room at the yacht club.  She, like David, is quite the talented artist.  And, she has an imagination that is such a joy.  Check it out!  This is sure to bring a smile and warm your heart.

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Remember Turtle Wax?  Check out what those turtles are up to, at the top left side of the painting.  And, how about Elvis?  He’s down in the lower right.  In between, there are all sorts of fun things goin’ on; plenty to keep the kiddies (and their parents) smiling!  Personally, I like the dolphins the best.  Did you notice that it’s a male dolphin chasing after the female?  If I were Flipperette, I would have been chasing after Flipper; no doubt.

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The following day, it was rainy and dreary which was just fine with us.  After having five perfect days of beautiful weather, who could complain?  Besides, we were content with spending the day, relaxing at Melody and Dave’s, not doing much of anything at all.  I had my netbook with me, so Bruce and I took turns catching up on e-mails and surfing the ‘net.

I was ecstatic after reading one of those e-mails in my inbox; a notification from my U.S. Masters Swimming team that a relay I swam on at Athens, in 2011, made 2011 FINA World Top Ten Rankings!  Whaaaat?  For real?  I had to look it up on FINA (world governing organization for swimming, including Olympics), just to make sure.  There it was; we were ranked 9th IN THE WORLD, in our age group!

I knew the day we swam that we had broken a state record.  That alone sent me into a happy dance; high-fives all around. But, then, we learned through another e-mail that we had made the U.S. Masters Swimming Top Ten, placing 4th in the country.  You should have seen me kick up my heels then…  But, this was awesome!  It was great news; especially coming off Nationals, where I didn’t swim my best times, due to a muscle strain that occured one week before the biggest meet of the year.  I still swam well (considering) and had a blast, but I was frustrated.

Nothing like getting great news when you are already happily humming along on a terrific vacation!

The following day, we said our goodbyes and began our rail journey back to Atlanta, traveling aboard the Crescent, once again.  Before we boarded our train, we wandered around Union Station, admiring the beautiful architecture and new renovations.

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Our train ride back was pretty much the same experience as our ride up to D.C., except for our dining companions who were quite the enthusiastic and enjoyable couple.  They just loved being on the train; a new experience for them.  So, it was fun to chat over dinner, comparing travel experiences.

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And, that is where our journey ends; back in Atlanta where it all began.  It was the perfect vacation; visiting great people who we are proud to call our friends, touring our nation’s capitol, enjoying great food, and doing photography; all while enjoying it with my favorite person of all: Bruce.

Thank you for joining us on our journey.  I hope you enjoyed reading my travel tales as much as I enjoyed writing them!

If it’s Saturday, it must be Lithuania… and Poland… and Spain…and…

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For those of you just joining me on our Washington, D.C. travels, please scroll down six posts to, “Riding the Railway to Washington, D.C.”.  The newest post is at the top, so you will have to work your way from there up the page.

Our next Washington, D.C. experience was a rather unique and interesting way to spend the day:  Touring the European Union Embassies, during their open house, as part of Passport D.C.; a month long celebration of international cultural awareness that takes place each May.  Check it out here:  http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/things-do-see/passport-dc .

We took the Metro in from Burke, ending our ride at Dupont Circle and Massachusetts Ave., home of Embassy Row.  Some of the European Union embasies are located in other locations, as well, so free shuttles transported us between them.

Thankfully, we received a valuable tip from an insider, before we made our way to the embassies:  Arrive early and see as much as you can before the huge crowds arrive!  We were thankful we headed that advice, because it was already quite busy when the tours started, at 10:00 AM.

Our journey started on the “Green Shuttle”, taking us to visit three of the embassies on the “Green Route”, on 16th St:  Lithuania, Poland, and Spain.  The description in the brochure/ map, in part, said, “If you cannot make it to Boston for the 14th Lithuanian Folk Festival, come to the Lithuanian Embassy!  You will have a unique chance to be introduced to the history of Lithuanian folk dance and experience our national cuisine.”

Upon arrival, we were greeted by smiling volunteers serving delectable treats from behind the buffet:  A variety of breads, crackers, meats, cookies, and pastries.  And, to drink, we were served Lithuanian beer.  It was a lovely complimentary spread; one I am glad we enjoyed first, as we later heard they completely ran out of food well before the event ended at 4:00 PM.

As we enjoyed our delicious treats (and beer!), we were treated to Lithuanian music, performed by costumed musicians.

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We could have stayed in Lithuania all day, but it was time to move on to Poland, where we enjoyed perogis and bratwurst, along with some Polish beer.  The food, again, was delicious, and I was really starting to enjoy these European beers…

Onward to Spain!  The Spanish embassy was beautiful, but in need of restoration.  Due to the current economic difficulties in Spain, there was no available funds to do all the needed repairs.  So, volunteers from the embassy went out into the community and recruited a few Spanish restaurants to attend the open house and prepare and serve their donated cuisine.  And, the embassy, sold tickets to purchase samples of seafood paella, tapas, and Spanish wine, to be enjoyed while being entertained by Spanish flamenco and contemporary dance.

We weren’t exactly starved, after eating our way through Lithuania and Poland, but how could we pass up paella and empanadas?  I went back to purchase some tickets and we ordered one of each to share and it was fabulous!


 We were quite content as we boarded the shuttle back to the first makeshift depot, but I was determined to see more of the embassies; especially Belgium, where I was sure they would be treating their guests to Belgium chocolate!  So, we boarded the “Blue Shuttle” and made our way past all of the other embassies on the “Blue Route” to the last one on the route; Belgium.  By now, the lines were getting quite long just to get into the embassy.  Fortunately, though, the line moved fast, as they distributed free tickets for Belgian waffle samples and led us upstairs to view exhibits, watch a film, and taste more samples.  After finding the chocolate samples (ohhh yeah!), we watched a film produced by Callebaut, a company who supplies Belgian chocolate to many of our country’s pastry chefs.  We learned how cacao is grown, harvested, and processed, from beginning to end.

The tour continued with beer samples and ended in the courtyard where chefs were preparing Belgian waffes.  Wouldn’t you know it; they ran out of chocolate, just as we made our way to the front of the line.  So, here is Bruce with our chocolate-less samples; still delicious, anyway.

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At this point, we should have probably called it a day.  Bruce was a trouper, trudging from one embassy to the next.  We kept waiting in lines to get into each embassy, only to learn they had run out of food and drink.  If there is ever a next time, I would just plan on visiting a few different embassies in the morning, check them off my list, then visit a few different ones the next time around.  Two couples I met on the Metro back to Virginia do just that.  This year, they focused on France and Germany and even walked away with complimentary t-shirts and cloth tote bags.  Nice!

In all, we visited nine embassies.  In addition to the ones I previously mentioned, we toured Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Slovenia.  Here is the embassy of The Netherlands; a must-see country in April, during tulip season:

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Of the nine countries we visited, I have actually traveled to Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, and The Netherlands.  I also visited Slovakia, located right across the bridge from Slovenia.  That’s a part of the world I would love to return and see more of, for sure.

Nine countries in six hours.  That surely beats, “If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium.”!  By the way, if you haven’t seen that hilarious comedy from the 1960’s, you MUST.  Just be armed with a box of Kleenex; you will need it from laughing so hard you cry.

So, at this point, it was time to drag our weary tails back to Metro to catch our train- along with the thousands of other people who had the same idea in mind.  Our train resembled a can of sardines!

Dupont Circle Metro stop is something to see; an escalator that takes you down 7-9 stories (David couldn’t remember which) to catch the train.  When I reached the bottom, I shot this photo back up:

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Our final blog episode will be written about our day in (on?) Maryland; a state I add to my “States Traveled” with an *, because we never did set foot on land.  Stay tuned…

Stop! Detour!! There’s the Botanic Gardens, and, it’s FREE!

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I will admit that we are frugal; not cheap, just frugal.  When there are 19 fabulous Smithsonian museums available to explore at no charge, why pay to see another museum, if all we have are a few days in D.C.?  I never even considered adding non-Smithsonian venues to our list, because there was no way we would have the time to get to them.

That was then, this was now.  On our way to the American History Museum, we came upon the Botanic Gardens; always an interest to both me and Bruce.  If there is something colorful to photograph, I put on the breaks!  And, for those who know me and how fast I like to walk (Mom?  Bruce??), having me finally STOP is a welcome reprieve.

I was sure there would be an entry fee, though, and we really did intend on revisiting the American History Museum, so we could see the first two floors.  But, I popped in, anyway, just to check.  FREE!  It is a public garden and there was no charge to enter!  “O.K!”, we said; we’ll just pop in for a few minutes and take a quick look around…

Dozens of photos later, we finally left, because there was nothing more to see.  We had covered every exhibit- in detail.  My best photos are on my Fototime site, but I will share some of my favorites with you here:

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Yeah, I know; this isn’t exactly a masterpiece, but it’s a cacao pod !  This is where chocolate comes from!  Seeds are harvested from the pod and left in piles for about one week to ferment.  Afterwards, the seeds are spread out in the sun to dry.  The farmer sells the dried beans to processing companies that roast and crush the beans into paste called chocolate liquor.  This is used to make that heavenly can’t-live-without chocolate.

Cocoa pods make me smile; I can’t pass one by without photographing it.

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Another Day, Another Tour: Our Nation’s Capitol

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I had mixed feelings about visiting the Capitol, as one of the citizens of this country who gives it a dismal approval rating.  But, putting emotions aside, we took advantage of the opportunity and made the best of it.

No regrets!  The Capitol tour, complete with guide and headphones so we could better hear Ellen talk, was fabulous!  We were scheduled for an afternoon tour, but decided to stop by in the morning, after we rode the Metro in to Union Station.  The Capitol was on our way to our other planned destinations, so stopped by the visitor entrance to inquire about their policy.  Would cameras and personal belongings be allowed or was the policy as strict as the White House?  The guard, after hearing we had a scheduled afternoon tour, asked, “That’s several hours from now.  You could go right in now; there is no wait.”  Music to our ears; we were allowed to go in early and give up our afternoon tour reservations for somebody else to take advantage of, later in the day.  What luck!  And, cameras were allowed, too.

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After our tour, we walked through the tunnel to see the Library of Congress.  This is a must-see, when you visit D.C.  Just look at this gorgeous architecture and artwork!  Even the tile mosaic floors were stunning.

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Visiting the Library Congress wasn’t on our priority list, but it was so convenient, being connected to the Capitol by a pedestrian tunnel. We were so glad we saw it; it is fabulous!

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As we made our way to the Washington Mall, we passed by the back side of the Capitol and enjoyed the various views of this massive building.

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Our intention was to make our way back to the American History Museum, to explore what we had previously missed, but we were sidetracked by the Botanic Gardens.  Please visit back shortly, when I post some photos of their gorgeous orchids!

Smithsonian Institution: The World’s Largest Museum Complex

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Nineteen!  That is how many museums make up this phenomenal complex known as the Smithsonian Institution.  And, did you know that each and every one of those 19 museums, as well as the zoo, are all free to the public?

Knowing we couldn’t possibly visit them all- or even half of them- in our limited amount of time in D.C., we settled on visiting them in priority order, with the goal of seeing the entire Renwick Gallery first.

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This is how their website describes the gallery:

“The Renwick Gallery is located steps from the White House in the heart of historic federal Washington. It became the home of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s craft and decorative arts program in 1972.

The Renwick’s Second Empire-style building, a National Historic Landmark, was designed by architect James Renwick Jr. in 1859 and completed in 1874.

The Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, features one of the finest collections of American craft in the United States. Its collections, exhibition program and publications highlight the best craft objects and decorative arts from the 19th century to the present. One-of-a-kind pieces created from clay, fiber, glass, metal, and wood from American Art’s permanent collection of contemporary craft are displayed on a rotating basis in the second-floor galleries. Popular works include Larry Fuente’s Game Fish and Wendell Castle’s Ghost Clock…”

This gallery was right up our alley; we felt like kids in a candy store when we saw all of the art glass, wood, fiber art, and other mediums we enjoy.  Although we do appreciate fine art, it doesn’t excite either of us in the way craft does.  So, The Renwick Gallery topped our list from the moment we learned about it.

Lucky for us, we arrived in time for a docent-led tour of the gallery.  And, even more lucky for us, we were the only ones to take the tour!  We couldn’t have planned it better if we had tried.

I was so inspired by what we saw, I took several photographs of the pieces; even flash photography was allowed.  “Game Fish” and “Ghost Clock” is not to be missed; check out my photos at:  www.ExquisiteCards.Fototime.com .  I have included photos of the description signs; I think you will find the contents quite interesting.  But, as a teaser, I will include this:

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It is NOT as it appears. I would be entertained to no end if the Renwick Gallery would install a video camera and record video of the visitors who walk right by this piece. Who stops to look closer and read the sign? Who walks right by it, like I did, thinking it’s a piece covered in a white sheet, not yet ready for public viewing? Well, doesn’t it look that way? If I had thought otherwise, I would have given it more than just a passing glance. It took Bruce to come after me and ask, “What do you think that piece was that you just passed by?” I replied, “A piece of art in the process of being prepared for viewing. The gallery just set it in place and hasn’t taken the sheet off yet.” Ha! That’s what Bruce thought- until he happened to read the sign. Give up? Hint: It is NOT a sheet; check out my website for more info. and photos.

While you’re at it, check out “Game Fish”; it’s a hoot! Meanwhile, here is another favorite, entitled, “Bureau of Bureaucracy”:

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And, of course, our favorite medium, glass:

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It was a fabulous exhibit and a gallery not to be missed if American craft is your thing.

If you can’t decide which Smithsonian museums to visit, see the Smithsonian Castle first to learn about the museum complex and see small displays from each of the galleries. It is a gorgeous museum and a good way to get an overview of what Smithsonian has to offer.

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The next gallery on our priority list was recommended by David: The American History Museum, located across the Washington Mall from The Castle. This museum is so huge, we knew we couldn’t see it all in the remaining time we had left of the day. So, we, again, set our priorities and high-tailed it straight up to the 3rd floor where we could view an exhibit on First Ladies and present and past Presidents.

On display were several inaugural ball gowns worn by past First Ladies, as well as Michelle Obama. Now, I will be honest in my opinion of the gown worn by our new First Lady on Inauguration Day (and, as it so happens, my birthday). Frankly, I thought it was sort of shapeless and unflattering for such a beautiful and physically fit woman. I am no fashion expert, but she would have looked fabulous in a jewel-toned gown; perhaps in the style of what Juliet Binoche wore in the movie, “Chocolat”; slightly off the shoulder and fitted in the bodice. But, this is what she wore, instead:

This is what Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy wore the night John F. Kennedy was inaugurated:

I am not particularly fond of this gown, either, but Jackie Kennedy looked great in everything she wore, didn’t she?

In addition to inaugural ball gowns, a china set from each of the First Ladies was on exhibit, as well.  I though this one was quite unique:

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This belonged to Lucy Webb Hayes, First Lady from 1877 – 1881.

The next exhibit we viewed was of all the past Presidents, including such items as Bill Clinton’s saxophone, campaign buttons, and:

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Can you guess who wore this hat?  Right!  Abraham Lincoln!

Before we knew it, the time had come to meet back up with David for our drive back to their home, in Burke, Virginia.  It was such a pleasure spending our evenings with David and Melody; either enjoying her fabulous cooking or treating them to two of their favorite restaurants (Italian and Thai).  Conversation was always flowing between us, because we had so much in common.  David even joked that Melody and I must be twin sisters of different mothers.  And, the guys had a lot in common, as well; both left-brained in the working world, but right-brained when enjoying their interests on their own time.  Both are musicians in classic rock bands and both have other artistic interests; David paints and Bruce is a fused glass artist.  We had a wonderful time getting to know each other better and discussing so many different topics.

Next up:  A tour of the Capitol, a visit next door at the Library of Congress, and a stroll through the Botanic Gardens.

Monuments and Memorials: A Walk Through History

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The nice thing about arriving in D.C. by train is that Union Station is in the heart of the city; all accessible on foot.  So, we set out with the idea of walking the Washington Mall to the furthest destination first, then working our way back, as the day wore on and we wore out; a good strategy, considering the lack of sleep we got on the train.  Our other strategy was to see what we most wanted to see first and prioritizing the sights in that order.  Fortunately, as far as monuments and memorials went, we most wanted to see the Lincoln Memorial, as well as the new Martin Luther King Memorial; both located a fair distance away (on foot) from Union Station.

The Washington Mall itself was disappointing, because it was all torn up for refurbishment.  The reflecting pools, instead, were mounds of dirt and concrete; not exactly picturesque.  But, refurbishment is necessary to keep our capitol looking as spiffy as it should be, so we understood.  Besides, it gives us an excuse to go back someday, so we can see it in all its beauty- as well as visit all the Smithsonians we missed this time around!

We have seen plenty of photos of Lincoln Memorial, but no photo does it justice; including the ones I shot:

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 Not until you see it in person do you realize what a magnificent masterpiece this memorial is.  We were in awe.

Before heading over to see the new Martin Luther King Memorial, we visited the World War II Memorial, as well as the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial.  The last one was especially difficult and emotional to view; especially when we saw the thousands of names of soldiers engraved in the granite wall; all lives lost in a war our country had no business being a part of in the first place. 

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We almost missed the Martin Luther King Memorial, because most of it can’t be viewed from the street.  But, once we entered, we were quite impressed with what had been created to honor that great man.  Martin Luther King would have been proud.

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There was a huge curved wall on each side of the entrance with engraved quotes; all inspiring and memorable. This truly was a fabulous memorial.

After a long day and many miles walked, we headed back to Union Station to collect our suitcases and board a VRE (Virginia Railway Express) train to Rolling Road Station, Virginia, where Melody met us and took us back to their lovely home.

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As you can see, Melody is quite the gardener!  Their backyard was a beautiful and serene place to relax, complete with hot tub (located to the right of where I was standing) and numerous feeders to attract an array of beautiful birds.  Between the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels, there was plenty of wildlife to watch; a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle of Washington, D.C.

The following day, David took us in with him to work, so we could catch our 7:30 AM (!!!) tour of the White House.  David is the C.F.O. of the Nationals Institute of Standards and Technology; part of the Department of Commerce, located very close to the White House.

Security at the White House is extremely tight, as you can imagine.  We first had to be put through a background check, before we even received confirmation of our tour date.  For the tour, we could only take in our wallets; no purses or bags allowed.  And, DEFINITELY, no cameras.  Since there is no place at (or near) the White House to lock them up, David had us lock up our belongings in his car while we went on tour, and gave us a key to return for them later.

The tour was self-guided, however, there were security personnel available to ask questions.  The tour led us through a hallway where we could peek into the Library, Vermeil Room, and China Room, before walking through the East Room (used for receptions, ceremonies, press conferences, and other events), Green Room (used for receptions), Blue Room (often used by the President to receive guests), and Red Room (used for small receptions).  Of those rooms, the Blue Room was most unique; oval in shape and a beautiful shade of blue.

The State Dining Room was the last of rooms we viewed.  It can seat 130 guests at dinners and luncheons.  Carved into the fireplace mantel is a quotation from a letter by John Adams:  “I pray Heaven to Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and All that shall hereafter inhabit it.  May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof.”  His prayers were answered during some presidencies, however, definitely not by others (Think: NIXON).

Since the second and third floors are used only by the Obamas and their guests, it was off-limits on our tour.  But, just getting to see any of the White House was a special experience!  And, after visiting the White House Visitors Center (excellent and highly recommended), I insisted on returning later with my camera, so I could photograph the front and back of that majestic mansion; the oldest public building in the District of Columbia:

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“TOURISTS!!!”  Yeah, I know.  Shamelss.  But, there is something special about visiting the presidential home in your native country that makes you want to join in on the spectacle.  All hopes of blending in as you would hope to do while traveling in a foreign country are tossed aside.  All bets are off.  So, we took a gazillion photos of each other with the White House in the background.  And, when we weren’t photographing each other, we were being asked by the other tourists to shoot photos of them with their cameras.  We were just two of thousands of people doing the exact same thing- that day alone.  And, after double and triple-checking that I really did get some decent photos, I mentally crossed the White House off my bucket list of must-see, must-do places to visit.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Next up:  Smithsonian Renwick Gallery

Riding the Railway to Washington, D.C.

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Although I haven’t traveled internationally, since my European river cruise, I had every intention of checking in and posting about a few short domestic getaways.  In January, Bruce and I headed back home to Long Beach, California, to see family and friends, for my 50th birthday.  Mom flew us out and big sis, Gail, threw me a wonderful birthday party!  Check it out on my photo-sharing website; I have included photos of downtown Long Beach, at the waterfront:  www.ExquisiteCards.Fototime.com .

In late April, we drove to Greensboro, North Carolina, so I could compete in United States Masters Swimming Spring Nationals.  After the four-day competition concluded, we finally took the time to drive downtown and check it out, before settling in at the Mellow Mushroom, for a celebratory beer and pizza.  Photos are posted of that trip, as well.

After Nationals, we recovered for a few days, after a very busy and intense April, and then headed up to Washington, D.C.; a destination that had long been on our list of places to visit.  “You have NEVER been to Washington, D.C.?”, you ask, incredulously.  You must be thinking it (right?), because we got asked that question numerous times over the months we planned this trip.  Nobody could believe I had been to 64 countries and 19 states, but had never visited our nation’s capitol!

Yes, it was time to see American history; not just read it in school text books…

So, what better way to travel to D.C. than by rail; the old-fashioned American way.  It had been a long time since we had traveled by train; 1987, to be exact. We rode the Starlight up the entire west coast, disembarking to visit the highlights along the way, and then picking up the train, again, on another day, to continue our journey.  What a fantastic trip that was!  I would recommend it to everybody.

This time, we traveled on the Crescent, from Atlanta to Union Station, in the heart of Washington, D.C.  We had been invited to stay in nearby Burke, Virginia, with our neighbor’s son, David, and his wife, Melody.  Funny how that all came about.  We met them at our neighbor’s party, instantly hitting it off and having more things in common than could possibly be discussed at an afternoon party.  It was uncanny how the four of us just clicked.  By the time we said goodbye, invitations to visit were sincerely delivered- and repeated, almost every time e-mails were sent back and forth between us.  With an offer like that, how would we refuse?  Besides, the timing was right.  We had moved to the east coast, we were closer than ever to the capitol, and I was insistant we go there while Barack Obama was President.  Of course, I knew there was no possible way we would actually see the President or First Lady, while touring the White House; I just had this thing about wanting to be there while the Obama family called it home.  And, there was no way we were going to go to Washington, D.C., without touring the White House!  So, I checked my calendar (twice!) and counted back from our arrival date exactly six months (to the day!), to make sure I contacted our congressman about applying for tickets, as soon as I was eligible.  And, I called that day, as soon as the office opened.  Stephanie told me it was “first come first served”, when she reviewed the ticket policy with me.  I assured her I must have qualified as “first come”.  When she asked the desired date for our tour, she busted out laughing, and, indeed, assured me I was the first to come asking for tickets for that… MONTH.  As a bonus, she also offered tickets for three other tours; the Capitol being the only other tour we actually ended up taking.

So, our journey began on the evening of May 8, aboard Amtrak’s Crescent.

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Since it was an overnight journey, we opted for a “roomette” in the sleeper car; emphasis on “ette”.  Our our micro-mini room was 3’6″ x 6’x6″.  Really.  And, somehow, in that little space, they included two bunk beds, a sink, and a toilet!

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 After settling in and getting briefed by our friendly room attendant (in the first photo, on left), we made our way to the dining car for the first of our two meals included in the cost of our overnight journey.  Due to space limitations, tables were shared, cruise ship style.  And, also like on a cruise ship, we could choose whatever we wanted from the selections on the menu, dessert included.  But, that is where the similarity ended.  Rather than having chefs prepare dinners to order, as they do on cruise ships, as well as on Canadian VIA trains, the food is reheated after being prepared in an offsite kitchen.  The portions were large, though, and the food tasted surprisingly good, considering the circumstances.  I ordered the crabcakes and Bruce had chicken (a very large half of chicken at that).  It was a pleasant experience, actually, dining with a nice elderly couple who frequently travel by train, the old fashioned American Way.

As we watched northeast Atlanta pass by our window, we enjoyed the sunset, followed by the cobalt blue sky turning pitch black.  We exchanged travel stories and compared our train experiences, relaxing to the vibration of the train and the clickety-clack sound it made on the rails.  Nice not having anywhere to rush off to; we just sat back in our booth and relished the experience.

After wandering back to our little roomette, we procrastinated asking our attendant to turn down our beds, knowing it was going to be a bit of a choreographed operation to get us both ready for sleep.  Somehow, we managed, but not without plenty of giggles- and a few bumps (and, later, bruises).

Sleep, as we expected, was often interrupted by the train’s whislte, sounding at every intersection, mandatory by law.  But, we somehow got through the night- and, our preparation for breakfast, the following morning.  That humorous routine involved getting the bottom bunk converted back into seats, so one of us could sit while the other washed up at the sink. Like I said, you have to have a good sense of humor when attempting a feat like that!

You also have to have a good sense of humor when grits arrive with your omelette, instead of the potatoes, as was ordered by Bruce.  Our waitress was way too busy to trouble her for a switch, so I braved a taste of those pasty-looking grits, with the idea of trading them with Bruce for my potatoes.  No can do; they were… AWFUL!  Bruce got half of my potatoes, instead.

Before we knew it, it was time to gather our belongings, tip our room attendent, bid farewell, and disembark in Union Station.  Our plan was to spend the day seeing the sights, before boarding a VRE (Virginia Railway Express) train for the Rolling Road station, close to David and Melody’s house.

Stay tuned for our D.C. adventures; another post will be written shortly…