baltimore and washington DC tourist destinations
one of our favorite art museums on earth is the American Visionary Art Museum, in baltimore. photography is not allowed in the main areas but I'll give you this pic of the boys favorite exhibit, the flatulence post (below). the button on top of the post, once pressed, produces a prerecorded fart sound over a loudspeaker. they could have stayed and pressed that button all day, laughing along with each amplified flatulant.
Fell's Point:
we went to fell's point and found an intersection was blocked off by several police vehicles and the EMS. just like I remember it!
love the fell's point area. very pretty and so many sidewalk cafes and live music places. I do miss living within an easy walk of it.
Smithsonian Museums and National Mall:
T-Rex skeleton at the natural history museum, DC. also saw the hope diamond and that tube/capsule that rescued the chilean miners and... a lot of bones and rocks and such.
Dorothy's ruby slippers from the wizard of oz at the american history museum.
we also saw the star spangled banner, the flag that survived the battle of batltimore 1812 and inspired francis scott key to write the song that became the national anthem. no photography allowed of the flag so you get ruby slippers.
went to the national zoo.
national botanic gardens
Joan Miro sculpture at the Hirshhorn
stopped by to see the president, the White House.
soon as we stepped onto the national mall, #2 son yelled "I gotta go potty". while we looked around to find the nearest restroom, in a panic, he dropped his pants and went right there... now that is freedom.
WWII memorial
4,048 gold stars, one star for each 100 americans who died in WWII. the civil war is the only war to have greater american casualties.
lincoln memorial
it was at the lincoln memorial where I was approached by a group of middle school boys, "hello sir, I like your daughter". she ignored them.
"my idol", president lincoln had made a big impression upon kat before she came to america.
union station
the grotto
national capitol
UB School of Law:
kat went back to her old school, statue of edgar allen poe.
Mount Vernon (Baltimore)
mount vernon area of baltimore, the washington monument/memorial, la fayette monument and the death place (church) of Francis Scott Key (author of the star spangled banner)
Federal Hill and the Cross street market:
EMS was outside cross street market dumping buckets of water on the sidewalk and scrubbing with a broom. I joked, "washing fresh blood off the street!". but it was no joke when we walked closer and saw a wad of bloody paper towels. just about then an empty can of Natty Boh (cheap local beer like PBR) was tossed out of a third story row house window and landed near us.
notice the natty boh can where it came to rest near the rear tire of the baltimore police car.
Baltimore has the oldest continually operating public market system in the nation. cross street market has always been my favorite. we used to buy produce, flowers, seafood and baked goods in this market. one end is devoted to serving up crab cakes and big draft beers, and sushi.
Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival:
Hotels:
we stayed at the monaco kimpton in baltimore, in the old office building of the B&O railroad. the place is beautiful.
free wine and appetizers in the comfortable lounge area from 5-6, don't miss it! you know we didn't.
the sheraton in baltimore was also nice (below). realy comfy beds!
