Choose Your Own Adventure

Today we got to sleep in a bit because the Smithsonian museums don’t open until 10am. We took the metro down and started at the Air and space museum. We each wanted to take our own pace so we spilt up. I did the short version where I read the highlights and take tons of pictures, Claire moderately read everything, and Laura read most everything and took the longest.    

  

  

  

   

 
  

  

  

  

  

  

  We met for lunch in the cafeteria in the museum at noon. We had McDonalds, not the best but it work for the time. In both the museum and cafeteria there were a TON of school groups.

 
Yup that’s a blog picture of McDonald’s, I love posting food pictures. Don’t care if it’s not exciting! 

After lunch we split again. After a quick stop at the air and space museum gift shop with an odd cashier clerk we moved on.  Laura stayed in the air and museum to finish reading, Claire went to the National Art Museum and I went to the American History Museum. We agreed to meet back at 2:30pm to go tour last stop. 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 I choose to go to the American History museum so I could see the Huey helicopter . That helicopter  was a big part of my childhood. In elementary school it would fly Santa to our recess yard and give us cand and hugs. When it was on its last flight to the Smithsonian it stopped at my elementary school and we got to connect with veterans and say goodbye to our beloved Huey. When I was there I saw Veteran enjoying the exhibit and had tears in his eyes. I will admit the sight of the helicopter made me cry thinking about the hard times and emotional memories the Huey symbolized for so many veterans, but for me and all of my elementary school mates it was a happy part of my childhood it taught us history, brought Santa at Christmas, and gave us a chance to bond with some veterans who actually flew or flew in Huey’s. I managed to pull myself together and got a picture with me and the Huey.   

  

  

  After I got my fill I moved on to a happier exhibit, the First Lady dresses. I love seeing the styles and glamorous outfits. 

   
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  After that I started to rush so I could meet the girls. I saw the original American star spangled banner flag, a Food exhibit with Julia Child’s kitchen in it, some movie props, and got some things from the gift shop. 

   
  

  

  

  

  

  I quickly moved back down the mall and met up with Claire. We walked a block up and over to the Newseum. If you’re in DC and have done the Smithonians you need to hit this one next. It’s current, hands on, has wonderful artifacts, and LOADS to see. We only were able to read about half and moderately see everything. The last two floors we rushed through because we only had 30minutes till closing! It had a cool FBI exhibit where it showed the news involvement in solving, reporting, and disrupting investigations. They have loads of cool short movies but we only got to see a few due to being short on time. They have a big news studio where something’s are filmed and you can watch, the news tower from the World Trade Center, the Pulitzer Prize photos, and so much more!! 

   
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  After losing the museum we headed to dinner ad District of Pi. I have a basil deep dish pizza, Laura had a half and half deep dish with two different house specials, and Claire had the same on flat crust. It was good and filled us up! 

   
 
Now we are in the apartment for one last night and cheering on (a bit too intensely) the national spelling be which is Happening at the Gaylord hotel near by in Washington DC. I am sad our time here is ending but am excited to play tour guide for the next few days in NYC! Talk to you later!!    

 Steps 17,741 steps (8.09 miles) 

We’re Going to the Zoo!

Today we walk for ages again, but it was pleasant since we went to the Smithsonian Zoo! We left about 9am and took the metro one stop up. The zoo is free and we were there from 9:45am-1:30pm. The pandas were awake, the sloth bears were fighting, the river otters were catching/eating live fish, and over all it was a generally good day at the zoo! We kept ahead of the school children and had chicken tenders about midday to keep us fueled and going in the humidity and heat. The orangutan swung above us on its new cross over rope which was cool and Laura got to see the Bright tree frogs she likes. The red pandas (my fave) were off exhibit which was sad, but I’ll get over it. 
   
                                               After sweating through the zoo we stopped at a small dessert shop and got water or lemonade, sorbet and I got a cookies and Cream cake pop. It is called “Baked By Yael”. My cake pop was EXCELLENTLY and the sorbet hit the spot! It’s across from the entrance next to 7-11 and highly recommend stopping in if its a warm day at the zoo. 

   
 
After cooling down we hopped on the metro and got to the Smithonian station which allowed us to see the Bureau of Engraving and Printing as we walked to the Jefferson Monument. 

   
 
The Jefferson monument is not easy to get to, but we walked around the lake over to it then around the lake again to the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial. The FDR memorial is a favorite of mine because it’s so large and has great saying and statues. The MLK one is cool too, but two large groups of school children came at the same time  we did so we moved on quickly. 

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  We moved on and walked back to the same metro station and came back to the apartment. We washed up and went to dinner at the DuPont Italian Kitchen. We spilt garlic bread, Claire had Mussle and clam Linguini, Laura had Mushroom Linguini, and I had Chicken Parmesan. It was all very nice and great to feel clean and eat a meal.

   
  

  

  

  After we waddled home full, we spent time on the roof of the apartment building then came down to relax. Jana left us (generously) a bottle of wine and we had chocolate and wine.    

  

  It’s been another long and great day! Relaxing and heading to bed in a bit (after watch Britains got Talent). Talk to you later! 

Steps: 23,503 steps (10.51 miles) 

Happy Memorial Day! (The Never Ending Parade)

We are all finally together here in Washing DC!! I arrived at Union station at 12:20pm And met up with Claire and Laura right away. We had lunch at Union station(Laura and I had a hotdog and Claire had teriyaki beef) then took the metro to the apartment one of my moms freinds daughter is SOOOO Kindly letting us crash in. 

   
 After unloading we wandered down to the Washington monument where the memorial parade was and it just arrived as we walked up. We got great seats and watched a while!  

   

  

 

  
  

  

  

  

  

 After about an hour we decided to fast forward the parade and we walked up the street. It went on for about 2.5 hours (and there were huge 2 block gaps between parts so it’s amazing we had the patience)  and we stayed for the WHOLE thing baking and sweating in the sun. (We did enjoy ice creams as a snack though). After we wandered up to the White House and took loads of pictures since there not a lot of people there! Since it was so hot we decided to just go back to the apartment and chill. We got cool and hydrated, inspected the sun burns, and decided to head for food.

  
 

 We are Stoney’s (mixture of owners names tony and Steve) which was made famous by their grilled cheese. Claire and I shared a regular grilled cheese and Mac and cheese with corn bread. Laura had the super grilled cheese with no tomato. It was all amazing!! Great gooey cheese with lots of flavor, church but not hard bread, and a nice crumbly corn bread.  

  After dinner we came back and the girls did laundry and we all showered and watched silly YouTube videos. It’s bead time soon for us since we have a long day ahead! Goodnight all and happy Memorial Day! Talk to you later! 

  

14,889 step (6.8miles) 🙂 

Musical Recap and Morning Report

Good Morning everyone and Happy Memorial Day!!  Sorry for not posting about the concert last night until now we were out late! We went to dinner at Fig &Olive which was amazing. I got the prefix with the beef carpaccio for my appetizer, filet minion for my entree, and the apple tart as my dessert. Everything was stellar, but the apple tart was the best I have ever day. Not too sweet, a puffy light crumbly pastry, fresh apples, and a small scoop of fresh vanilla bean ice cream. Spot on perfect!! 

   
                 We walked to Carnagie hall after the amazing dinner. The concert started at 8:30pm and was a performance of Verdi Requiem. There was a large main choir on the stage, and two choirs on each side of the balcony seats. Sune was listen first on the singers program AND was named as Director of the Danish choir. He even got to come Down on stage when the concert finished. 

   
       Overall it was a powerful and beautiful concert. The strings were the best I’ve ever heard and the choir was amazingly powerful. I’m so happy I got the chance to come watch Sune and see Carnegie Hall!! After the concert the Danes and my family went to the bar across the street. Mom had a manhattan and it actually was very good! 

   
         

22,270steps (10.16 miles) 

This morning I left the hotel about 8am to get to Penn Station to catch the 9:05am train to Washington DC. It’s a comfy train and it’s fun to get to see parts of the country I hadn’t seen before. 🙂 I should be in Washington DC about 12:30pm today! It will be exciting to see the city buzzing for Memorial Day! There is a parade at 2pm that we may go see or we might head to the zoo! I’ll let you all know in my post tonight. Now nap time on the train. Talk to you later!  

      

Great photo bomb by mom as I took a selfie on the train!