Category Archives: Domestic Travel

The Art Institute of Chicago: Cool in More Ways Than One

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We happened to be in Chicago during a heat wave; not the best of circumstances, but it sure beat having rain everyday!  The temperature peaked at 96 degrees during one the days and it was 86 degrees the day we took the architectural boat tour and wandered through Millenium Park.  So, The Art Institute of Chicago was a welcome relief, by the time we reached the air conditioned lobby, later in the day.

Rather than browse the entire museum which was huge, we chose a few exhibits to enjoy for a couple of hours, before heading back to our B&B to change clothes for dinner.

Marc Chagall’s American Windows was the first stop on our list.  Inspired by Chagall’s mosaic The Four Seasons ,an installation outside Chicago’s Chase Tower, American Windows was created in response to the enthusiasm Chicagoans had for Chagall’s work.  The windows were designed to commemorate America’s bicentennial and celebrates the country as a place of cultural and religious freedom, detailing the arts of music, painting, literature, theater, and dance.

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After viewing exhibits that included everything from photography to Tiffany glass to Stickley furniture, we found a fascinating exhibit:

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When I brought this photo up on my screen, I asked Bruce what he thought it was.  “Is that your bed and breakfast?”  Well, no, not unless we were only one inch tall!  This is one of 63 exhibited miniature rooms, conceived by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, and constructed between 1932 and 1940 by master craftsmen, according to her specifications.  The rooms, displayed behind glass windows, depict European interiors from the late 13th century to the 1930’s and American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930’s.  The scale of these amazingly detailed miniatures ranges from one inch to one foot.

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By the time we finished viewing the miniature rooms, we were ready to head back to the B&B for a rest and to freshen up for Laura’s birthday dinner at Frontera Grill, a Mexican restaurant owned by chef Rick Bayless.  Best known as Bravo’s Top Chef Master, Bayless has written several cookbooks and has a popular PBS show, “Mexico- One Plate at a Time.”  In addition to being awarded numerous personal awards by the James Beard organization, Frontera Grill won James Beard’s prestigious Outstanding Restaurant award, in 2007.

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Laura and I could definitely see why; their food was outstanding!  After sharing the Fresh Corn Tamales appetizer, as well as the Smoky-Creamy-Spicy Wild Mushrooms appetizer, I savored my favorite Mexican cuisine of all:  Mole.  My Mole Trio consisted of mole poblano enchiladas, lamb in black mole (my favorite mole sauce), and roasted vegetables in Queretano green mole.  It was the best mole I had tasted since Bruce tackled Rick Bayless’ tamales and mole sauce recipes- completely from scratch; an all-day endeavor.

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For dessert, we shared Frontera’s homemade ice cream and sauces, opting for half-and-half, since we wanted to sample it all:  Mexican vanilla bean with Torres brandy ice cream topped with homemade cajeta (goat milk caramel) and Oaxacan chocolate raspberry ice cream with bittersweet hot fudge sauce.  Exquisite!

The following day, we rode the bus out to the northwest part of town to enjoy a couple of neighborhoods:  Wicker Park and Bucktown.  Although it was interesting to see the varied architecture and experience the vibe in both neighborhoods, it was the hottest day of our visit, making our afternoon stroll quite uncomfortable.

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The evening made up for it, though; it was spent with some swimming buddies over a huge pan of deep dish pizza at Lou Malnatti’s!  Michael and Skip (who happen to know each other), both swimmers with U.S. Masters Swimming like I am, are fellow “Forumites” from the U.S.M.S. Discussion Forums.  Although Michael and I finally met up at Spring Nationals, in Mesa, Arizona, in 2011, as well as 2012 Spring Nationals, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Skip and I hadn’t yet met in person.  And, Laura met them for the first time.  It turned out to be a fun evening with the four of us, while I got my deep dish pizza fix.  I wish I had remembered to take some photos, but it completely slipped my mind…

The following day, our last full day in Chicago, is coming up next; check back soon as we visit a wonderful organic farmers market and more!

Have You Been to “The Bean”?

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After disembarking the architectural tour boat, I couldn’t wait to get over to Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate; affectionately known as “The Bean”.  The stroll through downtown was lovely, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw a thick stand of trees, just up ahead.  We were almost there and I couldn’t wait to get my camera out and start clicking away…

Cloud Gate, a huge bean-shaped stainless steel sculpture, designed by Anish Kapoor, was constructed between 2004 and 2006.  It is the centerpiece of Millennium Park; Chicago’s largest rooftop garden that takes up 24 acres of Grant Park.  Millennium Park is a 24-acre rooftop garden, you ask?  Well, yes, because it sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail.  What an amazing use of public space!  And, it has become Chicago’s second-most favored attraction, after Navy Pier.

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I could have easily stayed at The Bean all afternoon and into the evening, thinking of various other ways to photograph that magnificent sculpture.  I could only imagine what fun it would have been capturing the city lights, at night!  But, I tore myself away, so Laura could show me the park’s fountain.  WOW!  How cool is this?

Crown Fountain is a video sculpture named in honor of Chicago’s Crown family and designed by Jaume Plensa.  The fountain is composed of a black granite reflecting pool placed between two transparent glass brick towers that use light-emitting diodes behind the bricks to display digital videos.

Other highlights of the park include Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most amazing band shell I have ever seen:

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Lurie Garden was a lovely addition to Millennium Park.  The 2.5-acre public garden is a combination of perennials, bulbs, grasses, shrubs and trees.  It is the featured natural component of the world’s largest green roof.

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After strolling through the garden, we ended our day at The Art Institute.  Stop by shortly for highlights of the exhibits we enjoyed , before wrapping up the evening with dinner at Frontera Grill!

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.