Just popping in here which a much delayed reply post for an update on our trip for those interested.
Marie and I both want to thank everyone here for all the very valuable input, ideas and suggestions. It did help make for a good trip.
The trip started off with a somewhat shaky and unplanned beginning. We were planning on departing Saturday morning, June 19th for the first leg of the long drive, heading to Akron, OH. We were hit with a very powerful summer thunderstorm (we have had more than our share this year) with some super winds on Friday afternoon. We were in the midst of packing when the lights went out. I started up our backup generator and hoped for the best. As it turned out, much of the city was without power, and that is a lot of homes and businesses.
We were hoping for a short outage. As the day turned to night, the news (we had, among things running off the generator, our TV) was grim, saying total power for all the area could be out for some until as late as Wednesday. The last time we had a similar storm, two years ago, we were without for 4 days. So we were on edge to say the least, regarding leaving. In any case, we completed our packing for our auto trip, whenever it might be. And with no A/C, in the middle of a hot week (like most of the country, it has been super hot here in Chicago this year), it was gritty.
I did email, using my Blackberry, DIS'er Towncrier (John), whom with him, his wife, Sue, and DIS'er Tuffcookie (Cindy) we were planning on having dinner Saturday night in Ohio, letting him know of the hiccup in our schedule and probably canceling out of that. We were not going to leave home with the power out.
So the waiting game began. Friday became Saturday, Saturday dragged into Sunday. Sunday afternoon, ComEd said our area was planned to come back up on Tuesday. I also was altering our hotel reservations, one day at a time as we entered each new day with no power. We were seriously doubting the trip at all now, including the wedding the following weekend, which was the original reason for going east in the first place. Well, not too long after that update, late Sunday, the lights came back on, two days ahead of schedule.
We looked at each other and said, now what? When do we leave? Marie was very intent on seeing the White House. Our time to see that was Tuesday morning. That meant no two day drive, leaving Monday morning, but rather a revision in plans, flying.
Not that we were against flying, but first, we were all set to drive and had no reservations for the plane or a rental car in Washington, for the Annapolis part of the trip. And, we were packed for a drive, not a flight. No restraints or what have you on packing, especially for Marie were her stuff she was bringing for the wedding.
Well, I headed to the computer, went online, and worked for a time getting what turned out to be great airfares on AirTran with one day notice. The Monday flight was 7PM, giving us downtime to repack on Monday during the day; too exhausted to do it on Sunday. Also a great rental from Alamo for at the end of the DC leg, for going to Annapolis.
Monday we headed to the airport, had an uneventful evening flight to DC, and arrived about 10PM eastern. It was hot in Chicago when we left; it was broiling in DC when we arrived there. Terrible heat wave. Cab to the hotel, Westin Washington DC City Center, checked in and crashed.
So, with arriving late on Monday, we missed our reserved Capitol tour, scheduled for Monday. But we were up and at em early for the reserved White House tour Tuesday AM. We walked the roughly five blocks to the White House, did the necessary pre-tour security stuff and enjoyed the tour a lot. About 90 minutes I would say, move at your own pace. It was good. We walked back to the hotel, stopping at a Corner Bakery on the way, enjoyed a really relaxing breakfast. Seemed like the first time we stopped for a moment since the power went out the previous Friday.
A bit later we cabbed to the Holocaust Museum (too hot to walk or wait for any other transportation. We arrived there about 1 PM, planned to be there about two hours. We were there till closing, 5:30 PM. It was probably the most sobering experience either of us has ever been through with any type of public exhibit. I would truly suggest everybody to experience it.
We cabbed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner, with Snoopy (Judi). We cabbed again (cabs are good in DC, and not expensive) to the restaurant, Old Ebbitt Grill, a true DC landmark eatery. I described Judi to Marie, and about 10 minutes after we arrived, Marie said, Hey, there she is now, coming in the door. Sure enough, Judi!! Introduced Marie and Judi, talked for a few minutes and were seated. Well, those two Italians hit it off and talked like they have known each other a lifetime. I certainly did my share of talking too, LOL, but was happy to see them so good with each other. It was great seeing Judi again; have not for a number of years, caught up on a lot. Meal was wonderful. We left about 9:30 or so I guess, Judi driving us back to the hotel. Thanks for sharing dinner and our evening with us, Judi.
We had a good rest that evening. Hotel was super. We got up for our Wednesdays day of sightseeing, picked up at the hotel by the Old Town Trolley Tour shuttle, bringing up to the trolley station at the Mall. It was brutally hot, oppressive heat and humidity. We were almost exhausted before the day started. We switched from the shuttle to the trolley and start up, or down the Mall. We saw the Capitol that we would miss seeing from the inside, and just so many other famous buildings, one after another. We stayed on the trolley all the way over to the Jefferson Memorial. We got off there; felt we were going to collapse by the time we walked over to the beautiful edifice. It was heat/humidity like we had never experienced. After spending some time there, we got back on a trolley and on over to the Lincoln Memorial area. We walked along and viewed the Korean War Memorial, then over to the Viet-Nam War Memorial. Both were so inspiring. A reverence comes over you as you view them. We wanted to walk over to the World War II Memorial, but felt we would probably die walking there in the heat. It looked like maybe 4 or so blocks of a walk, but seriously, we were dying. We struggled to the Lincoln Memorial, spent time there. Seeing these four memorials took probably close to 3 hours. We walked slowly.
We boarded a trolley over to Arlington Cemetery. Took a tram to see Tomb of the Unknown and changing of the guard and the Kennedy gravesite. Two of the most inspiring sites of our trip. And the crosses and the markers as you travel the cemetery
.one appreciated the thousands and thousands of life sacrifices for our freedom.
We had been planning on taking the trolley back and doing a scheduled and reserved tour at the Bureau of Engraving. However, we were so totally and completely exhausted at this point we took a cab from Arlington back to the hotel. And crashed. We cleaned up, had a very, very relaxing and pleasant meal at the hotels top flight restaurant.
Next morning, Thursday, I took the Metro over to Union Station to pick up our rental car from Alamo. My first Metro experience was a good one, much better than Chicagos. We had planned to do Mount Vernon in the morning, the Dulles area National Air and Space Smithsonian and National Cathedral in the afternoon. With the heat as bad as it was, and looking at much outside walking, we dispensed with Mount Vernon. We headed to the National Cathedral. It is stunningly beautiful. We took a tour and saw much of the makings of the magnificent structure.
Upon leaving, we were walking outside, going from what turned out to be a sidewalk with a curb stepdown to a driveway. I did not see the curb, and went down, hard, full force, landing on one knee and my hands, then flat on my front, lying in the driveway. I wound up with a nasty cut on one knee and two finger tips. Bled like a stuck pig. Marie thought I was seriously injured, I guess I did too, not knowing if anything broke. Nothing was. We went back in and staff called security with a first aid kit. We spent about an hour there, cleaning wounds, bandaging, etc. The staff and security asked if I wanted paramedics, I said no. Marie said I survived because of the holy place I fell.
Patched up, we headed out from the Cathedral to the Dulles National Air and Space Smithsonian Museum. Among the many hundreds of air and space items on display are the Enola Gay B-29 bomber, the Enterprise Space Shuttle, an SR-71 Blackbird, a prototype Boeing 707, and so many others. We were there for quite a few hours.
A drive back to the hotel, a good rest overnight, sore hands and knees and overall body. Up on Friday, a drive to Annapolis. We relaxed there, had dinner, retired for the night. A beautiful wedding on Saturday at the historic St. Johns College. Marie and I toured Annapolis on Sunday, taking a boat tour of the harbor area along with just generally taking in the sites, along with a great lunch at Chick and Ruths Deli. And the heat and humidity continued, blistering hot.
Monday found us again relaxing at the hotel, too hot to tour, and heading to the BWI airport for an early evening flight home. All in all, a good trip. We saw a lot, though missed some of what we planned on seeing, due to the power outage late start and the high heat, humidity. Marie and Judi were able to finally meet, one of the many nice highlights of our trip also.
This is a much too long wrap up of our DC trip, but I know several asked me to report back and I did want to again thank everybody here for the good ideas and tips, very helpful and useful on our trip. I am sure we will return some day to see more of the things we missed, and there were many. It will not be in the hot months though.
Sheeesh, that was like a regular trip report.
I stayed at the Westin last Nov. for an NEA conference-great hotel and great location! Glad you had a good time. There is so much to see in D.C. 
Really nice to 'see' you.
