Second Half of September 2011

Our travels continue ………..

The second half of September finds us just outside of Philadelphia in a rural area … Strasburg Pennsylvania.  Some of the houses in this town were 350 years old.

While in the Philadelphia area, we drove to Gettysburg.  The visitors center, museum, movie and driving tour of the battlefield were incredible.  Most of the day was spent looking at the numerous memorials to those lost in the battle fought here.  Such a dark time in our history with Americans fighting against Americans.

We went on a walking tour of Old Town Philadelphia.  We visited the original Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Thomas Jefferson’s living quarters while writing the Declaration of Independence, the Philadelphia Mint, the tavern where Benjamin Franklin hung out and the spot where Tun Tavern was once located (Tun Tavern was the birthplace of the Marine Corps.)

Next we traveled to Washington D.C.  We picked Pat (Mike’s sister) up at the airport and went directly to the U.S. Capitol Building where we met at one of the
Washington State’s senators offices and from there we were taken on a private tour of the Capitol.  At the end of the tour we were allowed into the House of Representatives.  Unfortunately they weren’t in session and we weren’t allowed to take pictures …. But the room looked just like it does when the President gives the

State of the Union message.   The building was very impressive.

The Capitol has beautiful ceilings and beautiful light fixtures.

The floors in the Capitol are incredible mosaics.  On our second day in Washington D.C. we went back to the Capitol and visited the Senate.  The Senate was in session and we were amazed when all of the senators came in for two different votes.  All of the names you see in the newspapers …. They were there!  John McCain, John Kerry, Orin Hatch, John Thune, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Finestein, Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Joseph Liberman and more.

Next stop was the Library of Congress.  In my opinion, the most beautiful piece of 

architecture in Washington D.C.

Look at those ceilings, AMAZING!!  Built at the turn of the century (around 1900)

The Washington monument………so beautiful and majestic.  Unfortunately, we weren’t
allowed to go up into the monument as there were some structural damages in an
earthquake about a month ago.

The World War II Memorial was very impressive.

The Vietnam Memorial wall was very solemn.  Mike fought in Vietnam –
it was the war of our generation.

The Lincoln Memorial was very impressive and stately.

I learned that the great President Lincoln wasn’t really very popular and that the Union came very close to losing the Civil War.  Surprising isn’t it?

The Korean War memorial was very haunting.  I didn’t realize that we lost over
50 thousand Americans in the Korean War.

The Martin Luther King Memorial is very new and was very popular.

We had tickets to tour the White House.  The rooms we were able to see were large, decorated many years ago and they were very formal.  We weren’t allowed to see any of the West Wing where the President’s offices are located or any of the Presidents private living quarters.  It was awesome to think the President and his family live there.

 Our friend, Neil Peterson works part of the time in Washington D.C.  

We were lucky that Neil was in town for a few days during our stay.  He rented a car and took us for a “Progressive Dinner”  So much fun!  We went to a fish market near the Kennedy Center.  

We went to a Washington D.C. institution – Ben’s Chili Bowl!

So much fun!!

Next we went to two different Book stores that are well known in Washington D.C.

Then the National Cathedral – and some ritzy homes in the Georgetown area.

Georgetown Cupcake – Have you heard of it?  Fabulous cupcakes!  What a great idea.  The line was outside the door and the cupcakes – YUM!!

Arlington Cemetery was even more than I expected.  Rows and rows, acres and acres, hundreds of thousands of white markers.  We visited the grave and the eternal flame of John F. Kennedy’s gravesite.  We also saw Ted and Robert Kennedy’s gravesites.  The tomb of the Unknown Soldier was so solemn and sobering.  It was pouring down rain – the guard never flinched.

The Marine Corps Memorial – the flag raising at Iwo Jima
was also very impressive.  

The National Cathedral was also amazing.  Because this building was also damaged in the recent earthquake, we weren’t allowed to go inside.

Just south of Arlington, Virginia, we visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps.  This museum told an excellent story of the Marine Corps from it’s very beginning.

Another day, we drove to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington.  This was a beautiful home on many acres that has been well taken care of.  Did you know that
Washington had over 300 slaves?  I didn’t know that. 
At his death, he gave them all their freedom.

We went to the Supreme Court.  This building was awesome.  There is so much
power in this place.  I was surprised that the actual courtroom
was rather small and unassuming.

The Holocaust Memorial Museum was depressing and very emotional. 
I would recommend it to every Washington D.C. visitor.
We must never forget.

We went to the Pentagon.  Although we weren’t allowed inside, we were able to go to the Pentagon Memorial.  It was well worth the trip.  It was a moving tribute to those who lost their lives at the Pentagon on 9/11.

We spent a day at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  This museum chronicles air travel from Orville and Wilbur Wright through our
space exploration and moon landings.

We drove to Annapolis to tour the United States Naval Academy. The museums, movies, tour, books …. It was all very regimented.  We thought of our friend
Bob Lucas who was a graduate of Annapolis.

Just like Westpoint, this was an amazing experience.
I can’t believe we have seen so much……. 


The Subway System (Metro) in Washington D.C. is fantastic.  No need for a car - very efficient!

Stay tuned - We still have more to see on this great trip! 

First Half of September 2011

 Our cross country adventure continues ……….

Niagara Falls was so awesome ….so much power, so much water.  Our guide told us that only 50% of the water in the river goes over the falls.  The other 50% is diverted to the power plants in the US and Canada.  This picture is from the Canadian side of the falls.

Niagara Falls is made up of three falls.  Horseshoe Falls (on the Canadian side) is the biggest of the three.  The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are on the American side of the river.  These are the American and Bridal Veil Falls.

We took a boat ride right into the storm part of the falls.  It was amazing!

Horseshoe falls straight ahead with American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the left.  Check out the boat driving into the mist.

After a few days driving, we arrived in Bar Harbor Maine. 
A beautiful little touristy seaport.

I caught this sailing ship heading into port.

This picture was taken at Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park
located on the same island as Bar Harbor.

Next stop – Cape Cod Massachusetts.  This was a typical working lighthouse
located in the National Seashore near Eastham.

We spent our time on Cape Cod with our Indio friends, Dick and Jeanne Morello.

We had a great time touring thru Provincetown, Chatham, Eastham and Hyannis.

Great weather, friends and outstanding food!! 

Dick and Jeanne live on the water and we enjoyed marvelous sunsets every night.

Yes – this is a sunset over Cape Cod Bay.

I snuck up the driveway and took this picture of John Kennedy’s Hyannis home.  

Moving on – New York City!!  Cars, cars, and more cars.

This is the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River. 

Times Square in the Big Apple!  People everywhere.  It was amazing! 
I had to pinch myself to believe I was really there!

This is the New Freedom Tower.  The Freedom Tower will replace the two World Trade Centers lost on 9/11.  The Freedom Tower will be 1776 feet tall and will be the tallest building in the United States when finished. 
In this picture, the tower is about ¾ finished. (80 stories completed)

Ten years has passed but no one will ever forget.
This was the Firemen’s Memorial.  343 Firemen were lost that day.

We drove through the Holland Tunnel over to New Jersey.  This is the New Jersey memorial to 9/11.  In the front is some rubble and the two walls behind them point directly to the World Trade Center buildings site.  On the center of the walls are the names of the over 700 New Jersey residents that lost their lives that day.

We took a ferry to Ellis Island.  A huge island devoted solely to processing the over 12 million immigrants that passed through on their way to a new life in America.  We then caught another ferry to Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty is located.  The people in the front of the picture let you know the size of the statue.  The base and statue are three hundred feet tall.  The New York skyline is in the back of the picture.  The statue of Liberty took my breath away.

The New York City skyline was awesome. 
The Freedom tower is on the far left.

The next day, we toured Westpoint. 
The Army’s United States Military Academy.  

Awesome campus.  Did you know that George Washington fought in
the Revolutionary War right on this spot?

Beautiful chapel.  (one of 7 chapels on campus)

The view looking out at the Hudson River was so beautiful. 
So much rich history at the Academy.

Stay tuned ……..we’re still on the road