MY ADVENTURES by Disney "Spirit of America" Sept 2009 trip report (w/pics & video)

[tchrrx]

Will you be giving live updates while you are gone or will we have to wait until you return? I am living vicariously through you, you know!

 

[knewton64]

Will you be giving live updates while you are gone or will we have to wait until you return? I am living vicariously through you, you know!

....charging everything up..... from my two I-pods, portable dvd player and.............................

*** MY LAPTOP ******

Ok -...ya convinced me. I am going to try something new here -



*** LIVE UPDATES ***


Normally, I keep a daily journal (while on vacation & then complete when home) but hey...why not do one & just put into my trip report via the internet? DUH!

Ok..I'm in. keep yer fingers crossed cuz I have never done a live report b 4. Hey..1st time 4 everything ya know! I need to ask the hotels info on their wireless & AA on their 'rules" for transporting computer batteries. If after getting off the phone with AA on Tuesday, I feel comfortable trusting them with all my electronic gizmos and gadgets, I'm in.
If not, I will ask the hotels for the whereabouts 4 their business center. I mean hey, I am used to getting 3-4 hrs sleep on my vacations....always on the go doin' stuff.

Oh.... those TSA people are just gonna love me when I come through DFW airport...he he he......here I am munching on a cheese steak sandwhich while I am going to DFW, etc....

Ok... been real!

Until next time -

 

[nenner1]

Almost time to go! Very exciting!!!

 

[knewton64]

......I called American Airlines this morning as well as Adventres by Disney. AA said (per the laptop usuage question) that I am more than welcome to credit card bill my laptop time.
ABD said that the 1st hotel (Hyatt at Penns landing; Philly) and the 3rd hotel (Great Wolfe Lodge; Williamsburg) has internet capabilities in each room but did not say if there is a daily usuage charge.
So...since I am at the 11th hour here, I am choosing to go the route of seeing if the hotels have a business center that .....has complimentary usuage of a computer - ahhhhhhh - I love that word.....
** complimentary **
...and chill out late at night doing some typing; updating my trip report . Just me and my 30 ga-zillion cups of Dr. Pepper. ....now that's MY secret (that and Chex-mix) that keeps me going,going,going on my trips.
rest assured - I love doing trip reports as I use this medium as a way for scrap booking purposes.
Pics, video & an updated trip report forthcoming
.





*** T-MINUS 36 HOURS AND COUNTING..... *****


P.s. Now whom DOES that secret lie with??? hhmm.....guess I will find that out shortly.

 

[clarabelle]

I just wanted to tell you to have a good trip.
I know you have been looking forward to this for so long!

 

[Icemann]

Wolf lodge had wi-fi in lobby and had to pay for business center internet.Penn and Mayflower also charged.Have a great time and enjoy and don't forget to breathe

 

[sayhello]

Have a great time!

Sayhello

 

[knewton64]

I just wanted to tell you to have a good trip.
I know you have been looking forward to this for so long!

.....THANKS!. Yes, I love all things Disney and just in a few hours, the fun begins!

 

[knewton64]

Wolf lodge had wi-fi in lobby and had to pay for business center internet.Penn and Mayflower also charged.Have a great time and enjoy and don't forget to breathe

....your unofficial nickname is "Jiminy -


"Jiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" (Italian: Il Grillo Parlante), a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his classic novel Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Walt Disney in 1940. Originally an unnamed, minor character in Collodi's novel, he was translated in the Disney version into a comical and wise partner who accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures, having been appointed by the Blue Fairy to serve as the official conscience for Pinocchio. "



.....I think what triggers my Tigger-ish behaviors is all that Dr. Pepper.

Anywho - yyeess... u r right.....slow down and drink in all what u c ......
.....including the Dr. Pepper.



I promise. I am very thankful & appreciative of u since u have given me a lot of help for this trip. ** THANKS!** u have also been there 4 me to say "RELAX" & yes...will do.


P.S. I am meeting the 2 ABD guides @ 3pm Thursday - can't wait!

 

[knewton64]

.....it all unfolds now in just a few hours.

Today, I am heading out to a local Cracker Barrel 4 some breakfast (gonna feel nice to NOT have to cook for the next 10 days).
From there, I am heading out to Dave & Busters for some localized version of Disney Quest (downtown Disney). Oh...and ya can't forgeta your chcolate milkshake while at D&B... YYUUMMM!

After that, Ladybug gets "checked into her hotel," then I head back home for some much needed ZZZZZZZZZZZ's cuz........

I am up at 2am on Thursday 2 head out 2 DFW airport.



UNTIL NEXT TIME -


T.T.F.N.


P.S. Now.....just WHO is this Charlotte and what "secret" does she hold?? HHHmmmmm....I think I will be finding out about her on or about this Saturday.


UP NEXT:

ok....just how much fun did I have on the "Tippler's Tour" (Thursday at 5:30pm)??

 

[nenner1]

Every vacation we take starts with a meal at Cracker Barrel!

Have a great time!!!

 

[knewton64]

(photo shot while on Wash Dc part of this trip; Sept 2009)


.....ok....I have got to be insane .....but I am up. But.....one rule to thumb to keep in mind is that when you run with me on Disney vacations......expect the unexpected .
*
Today was spent just a chilling out over some much needed pancakes, scrambled eggs & sausage links (sorry.....no food pics...j-u-s-t yet) and multiple glasses of OJ. After I began to feel wired due to the OJ, it was off to Dave & Busters .
**** Now...THAT'S A FUN PLACE ****
Was soooo much fun playing video games, shootin' pool & such - and a few rounds of shuffle board. BUT......I couldn't forget about my Buddy....Ladybug.
So back home I went....made sure she finished packing "her suitcase".....took her only 10 minutes! ** NOW WAIT A MINUTE!!! ** It took me 2 1/2 hours to finish getting my suitcase packed but it only took her 10 minutes????
OK.....thares somethin' wrong here with this picture! .

Now for the funny part. The "general manager" of the "hotel" that she was checking into, got the biggest kick out of reading Ladybug's "letter" that she asked me if she could make a copy of it.
..and when she saw where I was going to per my vacation, she began to ask me questions . I tell ya, I am such the walking billboard for all things Disney...and that don't bother me a bit. WHY?
Simple..... when in regards to all things Disney...........

"Either ya get it or you don't....and if ya don't....well....don't ask." .
- Anywho -

YYEEAA!!!!! No tearfull goodbyes from either side as Ladybug disappeared behind the doors & was off to her hotel room/ courtyard and her new surroundings. But..I did tell her that I don't wanna hear about her throwing wild parties while I am gone NOR be calling up the Beagle Boys to come on over for some margaritas!

So, back home & went again and headed off to ZZZZZZZZ land .
But before I headed off into that direction, I called Rachel @ ABD. She was very glad I called, (guess she needed to check me off the list that I am going or what not), and replied that there seems to be a small contigent of people who want to check out "all things cheese steak."
So, I did reconfirm with her the directions to Genos cuz that also one place I wanna check out.

So after that, it was off to Neverland and some much needed zzzzzzz's.


BUT...............at 9pm.....I awoke . Tried to head back to get a few more winks but....no dice . Thoughts of Philadelphia filled my head so what did I do? Turned on my cd player...popped in the 20 songs of patriotic music I have burned into a cd (from Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Lee Greenwood to the Voices of Liberty, etc.) and chilled out walking upstairs and into the master bedroom bathroom.

Got ready, threw my OnE sUiTcAsE (& my duffle bag) in the trunk of my Toyota Corolla and....


So....now I am off to a late night movie followed by going straight onto DFW airport
Now what will I have to nibble on while at the movie?? Well ----- some popcorn and.....some Dr. Pepper of course! .

********** ALERT **********

this blog will be continued as -



UP NEXT:

Meeting the 2 ABD guides and learning those songs while out on my Tippler's Tour -

T.T.F.N.

 

[knewton64]

6:15 am flight (flight 1776 how appropriate) left DFW with no issues until we got into Philly as we ended it with the ride being a little bumpy due to partly cloudy skies. temps cudnt be any better with a high of 71 degrees. tho I do say, the stewards really got a kick outta me when they ask "Can I get you anything?" & I responded:

" Yes... 3 Dr Peppers please."

(He literally did a double take but said "Coming right up!"

Had fun during the flight watching (on my portable dvd player) the National Geographic's dvd on the White House. What a wonderful way to kick off this adventure and I would highly recommend doing this.

Anywho -


Arrived at the Hyatt in style (11:30am)- a limo . I never expected this. that was a nice touch by ABD. I was met at the airport by this very nice young lady as she escorted me to the limo. She had no idea it was me on that name card she was holding up - thus she was pleasently surprised by me taking her pic (I asked first) THEN saying, "Are you ready?" Anywho, here is her pic:

My hotel during this part of the trip is the Hyatt at Penn's Landing - very cool hotel...you will not be disappointed:

(exterior shot of the hotel)

Just part of my view from the window of my hotel room:

...and an interior shot of my room:

So, after getting checked into the hotel, I was off to see the sights. I exited the hotel, walked 1 street up and turned right and there (after a few streets) was Penn's Landing:

and....

...Market Street was pretty fun to see as well:

Initially, should you have a little trouble orienting yourself to the area, there's plenty of help around to assist:

From 11:30 - 1:30pm: Ate lunch at Campos (I HAD THE "HEATER" WOW!! - IT TASTED GREAT!) and toured the Liberty Bell / Colonial Philly area.
********* WOW *********

Here are a few pics from the exterior of Campos:

While walking aroung colonial Philly, I can tell it really helps to have watched HBO's miniseries "John Adams and to have watched the Disney Film "National Treasure" cuz just like going to WDW, it pays to pay attention & know exactly where what is when u go there and not be confused when you arrived. But, when I saw this building, I reacted the same way to seeing it in the same way when I first saw Cinderella's Castle.... I cried.

(Pic of Constitution Hall; Philadelphia)


- Anywho -

From 1:30pm to 2:45pm; spend unpacking my OnE sUiTcAsE. WOW! Great view of the city from the 20th floor. Great view also of the Delaware river.
At three pm: I went downstairs to meet the 2 ABD guides but we had a scheduling problem so I will meet them Friday pm.
3:30pm to 5pm: Saw more of Colonial Philly.

One really neat place to check out is the Independence Living Center (the place where you first meet for the beginning of the Tipplers Tour). There, I got a chance to see some of the artifacts they have been able to find in and around colonial Philly:

this is what is first brought to them (look in the foreground):

and they in turn, turn it into:

I also had fun there learning about our great seals on our US currency. From above the eagle, there are 13 stars in the constellation to 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum (and even which way the eagle is facing), it sure was fun getting my fill of "I didn't know that."

From there, it was on to my Tippler's tour.


5-8 pm - "Tippler's Tour."
Now the question has been raised of "Just what in the heck is a Tippler's Tour? Ok....the name Tippler's have to do with ale and how (careful....information overload.......)
anywho -

You visit 4 Taverns and learn more about Colonial customs, Ale toasts, songs and what not from the period...all while downing some spirits and munching on some food.

TIPPLER'S TOUR REVIEW:

This was a fun way to kick off my trip and I highly recommend it.

Now....back to the fun.
Ok ...this was a blast cuz I was with 3 ladies (part of out group) who work for a Federal magistrate judge and oh my!! The stories they cud tell! Esp about one of them receiving the 911 call from Mrs. Dupont's wife explaining that John had killed someone. WHOAH! ..and the person heading up the tour? totally hilarious! Esp when I replied to him that I am from the republic of Texas....he looked at me a little funny....then I replied that it's "just a little left of the Georgia's".....then he smiled and nodded as if he understood.



Here are some pics from the Tippler's Tour:


"Our Tippler's Tour Guide"

(My Tippler's Tour comprades)

We nibbled on our fair share of:

and downed our fair share of:

Though, I hadn't had anything to eat since 11am that morning so the effect of my 2 beers per stop really had it's effect but I managed without acting too Goofy.

8-10pm: Went swimming at the Hyatt pool. beautiful view of the skyline.

yes...they do also have a sauna (steamroom as some of you may call it) and it is just Fantastic!



From there, I went back to my room, took a wonderul hot bubblebath (I am in with housekeeping and they are keeping me WELL STOCKED WITH SUPPLIES)
& finally went off to Nerverland around 11m to catch some much dererved zzzzzzz's.


UP NEXT:

Got yer walking shoes on?? Cuz from the Betsy Ross house (tour the inside of her house) and to Franklin Square (to play putt-putt golf) ....I am heading off to Genos this afternoon to catch me a CHEESESTEAK! YYUUMM

 

[knewton64]

FRIDAY 09-18-09

OK.... why in the world am I up at 3:30am?? OK..... watched the Disney channel 4 a while. I made it a point while on vacation...NO taking in of the news nor reading of news.

3:45am-4:3oam: Walked the halls of the hotel for a while....to work off some of yesterdays cheesesteaks and ale. Ok...the Ale (beer) at the City Tavern (Tippler's Tour) was just wonderful!! "Bill" recommends ordering a Shrunk with RUM! YUMMY !

....just be aware that while you are out walking, the hotel's carpeting may drive you "Goofy" if you are into "Hidden Mickeys:"

AND HOW MANY DID YOU COUNT JUST IN THAT PIC???


ANYWHO -

4:30-5am: Took a hot hot bubblebath; using 3 containers of the hotel shampoo and conditioner each. After the bath - I smelled sweeter than Thomas Jefferson sweet potato biscuits (they were wonderful to eat by the way at City Tavern). And yes...it pays in be "in" with housekeeping.

*** BATH PRODUCTS REVIEW BY 'BILL" & "MR CONDUCTOR" ****

In all three hotels....ya won't be disapointed! They give all three hotels "2 thumbs up" as here they are posing in front of some of the products offered at the Hyatt:

PIC:


6am to 8am: Walked to the Betsy Ross House and Franklin square.....once to get some excercise & once (at 9am) to see her house and to play putt-putt golf. Playing golf was a fun and relaxing way to chill out and enjoy more of colonial Philly. I highly recommend this. Here are some of the pics I took while out at Franklin Square while playing putt-putt golf:

and....

Took some more pics of Colonial Philly; WOW! The architecture is quite outstanding! Some of the things I saw are as follows:

The Betsy Ross house (very small but the woodworking is beautiful)

I also saw the Presidents House (it is located just to the right of the Liberty Bell and is currently being partially reconstructed):

There were other places I saw as well - like Carpenters Hall, the bank Mr. Hamilton set up (will be turned into a place for the underground railroad fairly shortly) Alfreds Alley, etc. But there are plenty of choices on where to go - go pick and choose and enjoy.


After this, I was off to 9th street and Passyunk...home of Genos Cheesesteaks. Ok...I will admit this was a walk...but hey....what a wonderful way to "work off said Cheesesteak and fries" than by going out of a nice walk before and after.

There is a BUT.....but juuuusssttt remember H-O-W to order WHEN you get there for it was quite funny trying to order food while at Genos.

After I arrived at Genos, I surveyed the area and only noticed that they only serve cheesesteaks along with optional cheesefries (or "Freedom Fries").
So, child of grace me walks up to "a" counter and says,



"What kind of sandwhiches you serve?"

....the lady behind the counter looked at me as if I was from another planet!.



She responded to me saying, "Look...I am only the french fry lady! You want a sandwhich? Ya gotta (pointing rather gruffily) go to da sandwhich window! .

Now realizing she's a cool lady and I didn't wanna "tick her off anymore (I love fries), I mozzied on over to the "sandwhich window and proceeded to watch quite a funny /interesting sight.

people were walking up to the window and (IMO) barking out their order in only 3 words or less! So....taking their que, I "stalked" (??) up to the window and barked out:

Provolone!

His response:

"Onions"?

My response:

"NO"!

His response:

8 bucks!

My response:

tanks!
I tell you what, that conversation was not only the funniest I have ever had but also the shortest!


From there, it was off the the nice French fry lady (fer some Freedom Fries) and a big cup of ice cold Coke.


1pm: Got done with Genos but it wasnt without an argument coming from "Bill." he was upset that I didnt take any pics of the food before he took a few bites! . So without any further adeiu... here are some pics of Genos:

FYI: Ok....in "BIll's" opinion....... Genos Cheesesteaks....not bad......

Campos Deli Cheesesteaks..... WOW!!!!!! Esp the "HEater."


1:45pm: Arrived back at the hotel & met Maria (I will be meeting up with Milca later). We had fun talking for a bit. ** By the way.....the two guides....very kind, personable and wonderful to be around.

2-4pm: Took quick nap back at my hotel room.

4:30-6:30pm: 3rd fllor of hotel: HAd ABD "Meet & Greet." WOW! I saw no issues with any bonding as we all hit it off very quickly....Per se, I saw no one Breaking off into clicks (spelling?) and such.

Pic of the table of snacks and drink at our "ABD Meet and Greet"

and....

a pic of our two guides; Maria and Milca:

6:30-9:30pm: Dinner at City Tavern. Had soup, bread, pot pie and Apple cobbler. Talking with Tomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin was a riot. Really enjoyed my time there. BUT.......

"Bill" jumped into the middle of our conversation and tasted the pot pie before I had a chance to! Anywho - he gives 2 thumbs up of the food; esp the pot pie:

here we are in the back area of the city Tavern just a "shootin' the breeze" while our meal is being served:

10pm: back at the hotel.. took a rreeaally hot bubblebath &

11pm: called it a day and b 4 I knew it, the sandman caught me in no time.


UP NEXT:

"LET FREEDOM RING," tearing it up at King of Prussia Mall (Saturday) & watching some very beautiful fireworks at Penns landing.

 

[knewton64]

(photo shot while at the Great Wolfe Lodge; Williamsburg Va)

.......having a fab time. Getting acess to internet is proving to be rather challenging while on this trip. We are deaprting today (from Williamsburg, VA) to go back home. BUT ....

I really do stress that this has been a wonderful trip and I highly recommend this trip to anyone.


Will write more as the days progress (including pics & video) as the days progress as I am also using this as a way to let my fellow ABD friends know that this has truely been a trip that I will never forget.

.


p.s. oNE THING IS FOR SURE.....I MISS MY DR. PEPPER.......AND LAdybug.

 

[tchrrx]

I am so glad that you are having a great trip. I am very much looking forward to reading your entire report. Have a safe trip home!

 

[knewton64]

Saturday 09-19-09 Temp: highs in the mid 70's sunny skies.

3:3o-4:30am ish: up again and out and about getting some excersice to work off last nights food.. Food was just fantastic but wow! Be careful or you will "put on a few pounds!" I tell you what, I must be nuts fer getting up so early but.....it feels so nice to be in a quiet atmsophere and it also gives you the ability to gather yourself and get ready for that day's adventure..

Here is a pic of what I saw walking around the city:

4:30am-5am: took hot relaxing bubblebath (to get my feet ready) and got ready for the day. Got yer walking shoes on again??? yes....one thing about this trip, it is fun and very rewarding BUT.....get yer walking shoes on.....or in this case....just pretend that u r in Disney World .

5am: Got ready.

6am: Took me an hour but - chilled out and listened to radio Disney. Listening to Disney music to me is really a must cuz it helps you to put u in the right frame of mind and I highly recommend that you bring some on your I-Pod of what not.

6:30am-8:30am: Breakfast time at the lobby of the hotel. FYI:

"Bill"'s recommendation of the breakfast at the Hyatt is..........



.... order off the menu. Now if you are really into food, food and food..... then order the buffet. Some pics from the breakfast area...just check out the view outside the window:

8:30am-11:30am: Took trolley tour of Philly and walked a bit as well. Our tour guide was just a riot and here isa pic of her (Kate I believe is her name). Kay was a delight to be around as she kept us all laughing. I loved her outfit and here are some pics of what we did and where:


"Trolley Guide Kay"

Kay while we are on the trolley:

...and while on our trolley tour, we stopped off at many places; one of which was Constitution Hall:

(just double click on the video & it will play)



Pretty neat place. I didn't know it served as the building where law was carried out also (the other side of the building).

Another place we saw was also the Philly Museum of Art:

Me at the top of the "Rocky steps" (ME....RUN THOSE STEPS???? NNNOOOOOOO WWWWWAAAYYYYY):

1:30pm-7pm: Frances & Jennifer (fellow ABD adventurer) were nice enuf to invite me out for some shopping at King of Prussia mall (15-20 min away).....I opted to skip the ABD "scavenger hunt" but to me that is a nice thing to do if you have kids. --anywho -

...we just tore up that Mall! with the three of us doing some assorted shopping with us stopping off (of course) at the Disney Store.

7pm-8:30pm: Dinner one last time at Genos! . Loved people watching while I was munching on a cheesesteak.

8:50pm: back at the hotel for some wonderful fireworks and the fireworks just took my breath away.
** Just double click on your mouse over the below video & it will play **




9:30pm: took bubblebath to relax and to also get ready for Sunday.

11pm: LIGHTS OUT .



HIGHLIGHTS FROM SATURDAY:

Enjoying the scenic walks around colonial Philly and also the wonderful conversations with the other people on this trip . Just remember...it really pays to have a basic idea of where stuff is while around Philly so you dont waste time. That and a basic understanding of US Colonial history.



UP NEXT:

Shedding a tear while seeing the Washington DC memorials and W-H-A-T! I haven't had any Dr. Pepper (only Pepsi) while on this trip???? WHAT'S UP WITH THAT??????


STAY TUNED as "On the Wheels of Liberty" is the next installment and the "secret of Charlotte" will finally be revealed.


TTFN

 

[knewton64]

I am so glad that you are having a great trip. I am very much looking forward to reading your entire report. Have a safe trip home!

As I am slowly decompressing from this trip, I am having total fun slowly working on this trip report. I feel and believe that this is a trip that will impact you in a certain (both emotionally and logically) way as you will have memories that will change you as well.
Example, To me - the "Star Spangled Banner" is well.....a song.

That is....until you see Mary's flag at the Smithsonian. When you see it, it will really move you emotionally.

Below is a video of how Mary's flag is being displayed. I rreeaallyy do stress to always during this trip to ask permission to either take pics (flash or no flash) and or video. As in this case, I asked a Smithsonian Guard for permission to take the following video....take note at the very end you can barely see her flag. It is because it is located in a temperature controlled room as the room is also darkened. Yes, her flag is clearly visible to the eye...it's just it doesn't show up very well on video:


(just double click on the below video and it will play)



I am also very appreciative of what our founding Fathers /Mothers / slaves / housekeepers / inn keepers, etc.... did to help frame the United States into what it is today. yes, it does really pay to have a basic knowledge of the places you will go and see as my suggestion is to hop on the internet and look up a few things like:


1) Map of Historic Philadelphia. Jumping outside the rhealm of Disney is ok....check out the Tippler's tour and or Lights and Liberty, etc. You won't be disappointed.

2) Map of Washington Dc (then circle where your hotel is and then you can see where other things are in relation to your hotel). Ours was the Mayflower hotel. The only issue on this part of the trip is if you wanna see the Jefferson Memorial - I would suggest to cab it.
I saw the Watergate.....very impressive as it give me a whole new perspective on what occured 35 yrs ago with Woodward and Bernstein.
Ebbits Grill - WONDERFUL! And to think, the boar was shot by Hamilton and the rest (I think) were shot by Jefferson (ok...someone correct me here about that Jefferson remark if I am wrong).
Another Suggestion is to see the Monuments at night. this is also an optional tour and can be set up through the Mayflower's concierge desk.

3) Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg VA. If you are into saunas or whirlpools, they have them there as they are located on the far right hand side of the indoor swimming playground. I literally stayed in that area of the waterpark for what seemed like a long time and loved it! But....be sure and check out other areas of the waterpark as well


Rest assured, you will be meeting wonderful ADB people as well as your guides. I didn't see anything issue that put a dent into my trip. Just please be aware to take in all what you see in SMALL DOSES. I promise you there were too occassions that I said to myself (mentally):

WHOAH! INFORMATION OVERLOAD .

Example: the statues while in the Wash DC part of the trip (now which direction do they face in relation to the White House??)... though I do find it quite interesting how we came up with the phrases:

1) "saved by the bell".
2) "earmarked".
3) "marked for life".
4)

these phrases you will find out more on when in colonial Williamsburg.

lastly, I feel that you may be surprised to see the gaps in the times of what I did and where. Well.....there was a lot to do and see and the walking part is what took up the biggest chunk (which I didn't mind) of the gap in between the things I saw.

More to Come I promise.

T.T.F.N.

 

[knewton64]

Here are some more pics from this segment of the trip:


Me in front of the Liberty Bell:

video from the back side of Constitution Hall - just double click on the video & it will play.



NOW.....ONLY IF WE HAD THIS ORDINANCE IN DALLAS, TEXAS:

pic#4

etc....

 

[knewton64]

(One of the many flags I saw while in Colonial Philadelphia)

9-20-09 SUNDAY with yet once again just beautiful weather with partly sunny skies with highs in the mid 70's.
GOOD GRIEF:! Up again at 3am....hmmmm gotta work on getting more sleep but hey...with all this wonderful food, ya gotta work some of it off so I was off to walk around the hotel and outside the hotel for a bit. the temps for the day just couldn't be more perfect; highs again in the mid 70's with sunny skies .

3-4:30am: Walked around the Penn landing's pier (after I walked the hotel floors for a while). Sure was nice to walk around the pier, very quiet and sureen.

4:30-5am: Watched the Disney channel for a bit (FYI: THERE IS NO DISNEY CHANNEL WHEN U R IN WASH DC....BOOOOO!!!!!!).

5-6:15am: Got ready and offically started my day....but NOT until I had my bubblebath....which let me tell ya........pack some additional bathtub stuff and ya won't be disappointed as some bubblebath and bathwash (I bought mine at a local Walmart) will rreeaalllyyy help you get the day started as well as help to finish the day with a bang ).

6:30am - 8:30am: nibbled one last time on the Hyatt's breakfast buffet. Maria (one of the ABD guides) and I met again for what was to become a ritual for us; breakfast and wonderful converions....until the room began to fill up. There was one time Milca (our other ABD guide) came down early but for the most part it was Maria and it was just a sheer delight to see all things Disney from her point of view. That and I loved her accent.
Then again, I bet she enjoyed listening to my Texan accent .
I also made it a point to get my luggage re-packed as it was time for it to magically "disappear" in about an hour and then reappear in my Washington DC hotel; the Mayflower.


*** FOOD REVIEW BY 'BILL" ********
In Bills opinion, if you have the choice to have the buffet or order off the breakfast menu.....order off the menu.......



8:45am-noon: Before I knew it, breakfast /conversions with all of our fellow DISsers (I made it a point to converse with everyone) was over and it was time to boogy on down to Washington DC . Fred, (the MOTORCOACH driver) was just fantastic! HE KNOWS how to drive that behemoth and was fun to be around. I am very appreciative of him..

Anywho -


The secret that Charlotte has been holding was finally revealed as we all watched the Disney movie, "National Treasure." If you haven't seen the movie, I would highly recommend seeing it BEFORE you go on this trip for many reasons; one of which is a primer so you can actually SEE where what is in realtion of colonial Philly and Washington Dc.

*** SPOILER ALERT ****
example, NO.......the National Archives document room ISN'T brightly lit up like in "the movie" (it's very cool temp in the room and somewhat darkened becuz of the age of the documents u will c) like it was shown in the movie. There is ONE discrepency in the movie and it has to do with total distance traveled by one of the the actors (hint.....it occured during a chase scene). Can you spot it?? If so, send me a reply.




T.B.C.