Journey's End! That's right, we are finally home.
October 2005 Archives
On the road again! We're off to pick up our poodle, Lacy, who's been staying with Grannie.
We' re on the ground in Memphis. Still taxiing (?) to the gate.
We had a bit of a wait to catch the $1 shuttle from Georgetown over to the Foggy Bottom Metro. Eventually, we were on our way back to our hotel in Crystal City...
Wow, in the middle of Georgetown, we found a huge 3 story indoor shopping mall...
Well, we walked all the way to Georgetown (where we quickly discovered there is a $1 shuttle from the Metro!).
Now we've settled down at Old Glory BBQ (this will be interesting).
Oh, on the way, we did stop by the Old Stone House: the oldest standing structure left is D.C., circa 1760.
Heading toward the light at the Dupont Circle Metro station...and, of course, the Krispy Kreme store conveniently located just to the left of the escalator (the tallest we seen yet, by the way).
Tonight's meal: Takeout from Corner Bakery Cafe, another of the Crystal City Shops. Concensus opinion is that it is very good...and we are very tired.
While at the Udvar-Hazy Center, we did find the Wall of Honor, which is located out in front of the museum.
The names are all engraved on the elevators of airplanes. Here are some pictures...
More waiting...we are out of time at the museum, even though there is more to see. We're supposed to be loading, but instead we are waiting. (Check out the sweatshirt.)
Okay, this place is amazing! So here are a few pictures while we wait for Nat to ride one of the simulators...
For the rest of the busride, I'm listening to some of my current audiobook: Freakonomics.
Just a quick editorial note, while I have some time on the bus(!): I am sure there are numerous typos, along with the often questionable grammar and awkward punctuation in these posts. I apologize.
I am posting and uploading the photos in realtime, directly from my phone--a Treo 650. All the posts are typed using it's thumb keyboard: so, really, I'm surprised there arwn' more.
With minutes to spare, we reached Air A Space; just in time to purchase 12 o,clock tickets to the shuttle that takes you to the Udvar-Hazy Center.
It's supposed to be four times the size of the museum on the mall, and includes the Concorde, a Blackbird (spy plane), the Space Shuttle Enterprise, and a couple hundred other aircraft!
Now, we're on the way: it'll take approximately 50 minutes to get there...
After the trip to the top of the Washington Monument, we started a quick walk down the mall toward the Air & Space Museum, shopping along the way for that one special souvenir sweatshirt. Hmmmm, which one could it be?
@ the Washington Monument...
Our tickets are for 10 a.m.
Earlier start today. We got to experience the Metro during "rush hour" (it was PACKED), including a train breakdown that stranded our train inside the tunnel for an extra 20 minutes or so!
Breakfast was "on the run" as we rushed over to the Washington Monument ticket office...
Tonight's dinner was at Hamburger Hamlet. It's one of several restaurants in the Crystal City Shops (an above/below ground shopping mall).
After the BEP (Bureau of Engraving & Printing), we returned to the Air & Space Museum. This time, we actually toured the many exhibits. And then we sought out the nearest Starbucks (a block away, natch)...
Yes, we have gotten a late start today. Thanks for noticing. Right now, we're waiting to switch trains on our way to the Bureau of Engraving & Printing...
I know that everybody else is on the road or in the air, but we walked over to the 24-hour Deluxe Dinner on South 23rd Street (behind our hotel). We had breakfast for dinner (and Nutz spiced his up with a little Tabasco!)
Well, the buses are back on the road. A few of us "staylaters" headed off by Metro back to Crystal City. Thanks to the always-helpful Gladneys, we were able to get our own bags transported to our new hotel. They, too, then said their farewells, and we were "officially" alone.
Air & Space: Where you can see "history in the making." (Not that you cannot see it in every discipline, but you might have to observe more closely.)
It's 1:30! Time for the big hand-off...
We saw the Hope Diamond, a bunch of other gems and minerals and a few other things that the girls found progressively less interesting...
Did I mention that the museum is also known as the "Home of the $4 Hippo Cupcake"? Well, it is...
Lunch @ the Natural History Museum...
First stop: First things...the National Archive...
Loading up before we spend the final "school" day touring the various museums of the Smithsonian Institution...
We're finally back at the hotel, and most of the kids have beelined for the pool. Of course, they still have to pack because when the buses pull out in the morning (at a reasonable 9 a.m.!), they won't see the hotel again.
Dinner is over.
We dropped back by the White House again to shoot a quick group photo and now we are headed for dinner...
Iwo Jima...
Our class officers participated in a wreathlaying ceremony...
While waiting for the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns...
Wrapping up @ the Cathederal...
We're busy marveling at the Washington National Cathederal...
Lunch @ Ronald Reagan Int' Trade Center...(and I guess sushi seemed appropriate).
More Capitol Building photos...
We're in the middle of our tour of the Capitol Building...and the early start is already starting to show!
Finally through with our White House tour. Sorry, no photos allowed.
Good Morning! (and that's 4:31 back home!)
We're supposed to load the buses @ 6:30 a.m. tomorrow!
Goodnight.
We're finally finished with the tour, and just loaded up the buses to return to the hotel...
Hey, what about some of the 'rents?
Time for a quick group photo before we begin our "Candlelight Tour" of Old Town Alexandria...
Tonight's dinner is at Bugsy's Pizzaria in Old Town Alexandria...
Post-Mt. Vernon wind down...
Do they look different somehow? They should, because they just displayed remarkable poise and courtesy by offering their bench seats to an older couple behind them in line. As the lady declined, she commented that the girls must be from the South. "Why?," they asked. "Because you showed us such respect," she replied.
Way to go, girls!
These enterprising explorers attempted to slip in the back door of the main house...
@ Mt.Vernon: Standing in line to tour the main house...
Waiting to enter Mt. Vernon...
Then it's back on the bus...
Lunch is "Food Court Choice" at the Fashion Centre in Pentagon City.
Wow, I'm getting behind...after Ford's Theatre, we toured the Holocaust Memorial Museum...
Catching up on the news on the way to our first stop, Ford's Theater
And we are off for Day 2!
Check In!
There's a rumor we are finally headed for the hotel!
The Great Man...
Jefferson!
WWII...Monumental!
Every member of the Class of 2010 was given a journal in which to record their thoughts and impressions during the trip.
A final few monuments...
Memorials & Monuments...
Old Post Office Building...for dinner!?!?
Spying apparently wears you out...
Spies like us!
A few parents had dinner @ Cafe Atlantico last night. It's just around the corner from today's first stop: the International Spy Museum
On the bus--time to start the sightseeing...
Natalie Ford Coppola frames a scene...
A quick lunch in the Union Station food court....
Attack of the momarazzi!
The buses have arrived!
Waiting for the buses @ Union Station...
Safely in our (second) room.
Apparently, three days of rain can cause leaks--who knew?
First stop in Washington...
Nutz enjoyed the flight!
Delayed by some mechanical issue...still waiting to take off.
waiting to take off!
This is the "official" first placeholder post entry as I set up an "On the Road" blog for SBEC's Class of 2010 8th Grade Washington DC Trip!
