Afternoon all! I'm BAAAAAACK!
I tried to post this morning but it wouldn't let me!
Anyway we had a nice time. I am still tired though (still on east coast time a bit!)
Anyway I wish I could say that I was pain free and had a super time but that was not the case. I was hurting pretty bad and then we ended up walking EVERYWHERE and that plus the humidity made it pretty tough to have a good time but I muddled through for the sake of Shane and the girls and it really was very interesting and beautiful. I don't regret going but was very sad that I couldn't enjoy it more. There was some days where I hurt so bad I couldn't wait to just get back to the hotel and rest.
But anyway here is a synopsis of what we did.
On wed we got up bright and early and left as I said and we had pretty decent flights to both Denver and then on to Baltimore. We had a nice layover in Denver where we had a nice meal and relaxed a bit before our next flight and then when we arrived in Baltimore we got our first real experience with all the public transit. We used the Marc train to get to D.C. and that worked very well for us. It is inexpensive and very convenient. We got in to Union Station which is REALLY a neat place (great architecture and lots of cool shops and restaurants etc) and then we headed out. We did make a small boo boo though and went the WRONG direction. We got to see the capitol though right away as we walked in all the heat and with ALL our bags right past it! But then we finally figured out we were wrong and walked ALL the way back and found our hotel which LATER we discovered was VERY close to the train station! OOPS!!!
Anyway then after stowing our gear we headed out for a little walk and just looked over the capitol again and looked up the mall a bit towards the Washington Monument. The Marine Corps band was playing on the steps of the capitol and it was really neat to see all the people just hanging out enjoying the summer evening!
Then first thing Thur we got up and headed out and went to the air and space museum. We REALLY enjoyed that and then we saw the castle which is kind of an information center for the smithsonian and it LOOKS like a castle. VERY cool and right now they have a whole exhibit on Night at the Museum 2. We then figured that the Washington Monument didn't look that far so decided to walk to it. Well it was a lot farther than it looked and we walked even farther past that to the Lincoln Memorial which is at the other end of the reflecting pool. It was neat to see those though and they were beautiful. We also saw the Korean and Vietnam memorials.
This is a pic of us at Lincoln.
And here is one with the Washington Monument.
That night we just walked around town a bit and found a little Mexican place for dinner and we were absolutely DEAD by the time we got back to the room. We probably walked several miles!
Then BRIGHT and early Friday morning we got up and walked to Union Station and caught the train and headed to NY. We passed through Baltimore, Delaware, Philadelphia and New Jersey before getting to NY. We arrived and realized the station wouldn't hold our bags so we bought one of those bus tours to take us to our hotel and it also was good for our entire trip. (by the way we did a nighttime one in D.C. our first day and it was really neat!). So we rode the bus and got all the highlights like Empire State, Greenwhich Village, Soho etc till we got down to Battery Park which was where we were staying. We hopped off and walked to our room.
Our room was VERY nice and in a nice area RIGHT on the water! We had a GREAT view from our room!!
We dumped off our stuff and after a little break we headed back out and caught the bus again to finish the loop. We saw Rockefeller Plaza and Central Park, the UN etc etc. All the big highlights. We got off in Times Square and walked around a bit and then just decided to head back to our room to eat and relax.
Here is Shane and the girls in Times Square.
Anyway then on Saturday we woke up bright and early once again and headed to the ferry for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Both were VERY educational and fun. We had lunch at Ellis and saw the lovely Manhatten Skyline in the background! It was a nice day!
Here is a pic of us at Lady Liberty!
Then we got back and went to the Southstreet Seaport and bought tickets for Phantom that evening. We had dinner at a nice place on the water and then took the subway up to the Majestic and saw Phantom. It was AWESOME!! LOVE that show!
Then on Sunday we were up once again and took the bus and checked out some last minute things like the Plaza hotel, some of Central Park and a cool club called the Jekyl and Hyde but it was closed! Then we got on our train and just headed back to D.C. Once we got back we just had dinner and relaxed that night.
Monday we hit the Bureau of engraving first thing to see how they make money and then were off to the American History Museum. We actually got done fairly early so Shane decided we should do the Natural History Museum too. That was a LOT in one day! I was DEAD! It was hard doing ALL those big museums in one day let me tell you!!
Then on Tuesday we hit the Archives first thing because that place ALWAYS has a line (that is from National Treasure, Dec of Ind, Constitution etc) and then we got on the metro and went to Arlington. Also a very neat experience to see. Once we were done at Arlington we were beat so we just had dinner and crashed.
We had pretty much done everything we had planned to do although there is SO much more and the girls were pretty much museumed out so we decided for Wed to go to the National Zoo. So wed once again we took the Metro to Adams Morgan and went to the Zoo. It is a beautiful zoo and we had a lot of fun although by those last few days I was REALLY hurting bad. Between everything that was ALREADY going on and then the walking and the heat I was REALLY having a tough time! I was ready to go!
Then yesterday we just got up and packed and headed to the airport. We were in the B group and we did get an ok place for the first flight but it was late and we BARELY made our connection in Phoenix. Our plane got in at 4 and our other flight LEFT at 4. They were holding our plane and we had to run ALL the way from terminal B to D!!!
We all had to sit by ourselves in middle seats and were scrunched it was NOT pleasant and it was HOT. YUCK!
I am just glad to be home!!
I had to work today but I am going to call my doc on Monday and see what I can do cuz this is getting ridiculous. I have GOT to get these issues fixed or I won't be able to enjoy our oct trip!!
But anyway I hope everyone was well while I was away! I just glanced back but I am glad to be back and can't wait to catch up!
Thanks for all the support and well wishes from everyone. It means a lot to me.
our monthly costco trips.
I know only too well the torture one can feel waiting for results. By the way, how did you know you had a nodule on your thyroid? 
Welcome back!! I was just thinking about you yesterday and wondering how you trip was going. 
