US HOLIDAY (Part 2)

(Hopefully I will not be stymied by Blogger regarding the number of photos I upload.)

On the evening of Independence Day we joined Gordon, Diana and many others on the roof of their block of flats to watch the fireworks. The photo shows one of scores of rockets (and Washington Monument to the left) that were on view at any given time across the horizon. Although they were some distance away the sheer scale of activity was amazing. The ones set off on the White House lawn were closer at hand but we could not hear the accompanying orchestral music.


On another day we took the metro to the Zoo station and did a green walk around three sides of Georgetown, starting at Rock Creek Park and continuing along the C&O Canal.


We also walked round the houses of the rich and famous who have lived there. The photo shows a house that was once an Inn that Thomas Jefferson used to stay in - it looks very much the shape of an old English pub. Georgetown was a thriving port long before DC was built and its affluence is reflected in the number of large but old houses. Its feel reminded us of an upmarket version of Balmain in Sydney. You know you have made it when you can buy a place in Georgetown. That is why they have not troubled to have a Metro station, with some inconvenience to tourists, chauffeurs and others.

This picture shows some small and twee-looking terraced housing which was once the accommodation of freed slaves. One doubts very much that they looked anything like this for its original occupants. Still, in our local paper a converted barn was recently advertised for £1 m. Hold on to an old shack, do it up and you never know what it will be worth in due course.


As always it was good to see Gordon and Diana again and enjoy their urban lifestyle for a couple of weeks. We ate out more than over the rest of the year combined and this is a pleasure given the quality and cheapness of the food. It was so hot that I always wore shorts during the day time (sorry no pics). DC is very walkable and public transport is cheap and good in the inner core. We had a very varied visit this time and even after this fifth one we have not yet visited all the sites. And we only hit the Mall on two occasions, to extend our wardrobes and Barbara's shoe collection.

Here's to the next one!
(The photos here are mine and on Part 1 largely Gordon and Barbara's.)

US HOLIDAY (Part 1)

Guess where we went on our recent holiday - here is a clue:


The visit was to celebrate Gordon's birthday and to experience 4th July celebrations. We also spent a lot of time walking round the city in the high 90s F and feel we have a good idea of our way round the centre, Georgetown and areas west.

All Gordon wanted for a present was an iPhone and it went on sale at 4pm on his birthday. How could the 2 events be conjoined? First by a strategy to work out where the shop queues would be shortest on a Friday evening preceding a holiday weekend; then queuing for over two hours with similarly inspired ...ummm...fana...umm...enthusiasts. But then shock, horror it would not work, help-lines were permanently engaged, memories of broken toys at Christmas came to mind... Anyway three days later and all was well.



Our Ross Noble CD was received with more circumspection.


The 4th July parade was quite an international affair featuring school and military bands, batten twirlers, dancers from central american countries and even what looked like 17th century British soldiers (!?!), and not to mention a reminder that the girls all like men in be-medalled uniforms. Having seen arrangements for security for London parades those for DC seemed incredibly lax. No barriers between pavement and road, and leisure cyclists riding back and fro beside the paraders. And this in the military HQ of the US.








































Gordon later took a shine to this vehicle but was not impressed at the offered trade in value of his *Ph*ne for part exchange. OOps, Blogger is playing up. The caption should read "This photo was taken with the *Ph*n*."


The following weekend we weaved our way through the byways of Maryland past Sugarloaf Mountain and on to Harpers Ferry. We stayed at a retro B&B that was very well done up in Victorian style:



HF is a former industrial town at the confluence of the rivers Potomac and Shenandoah at which an ill fated uprising took place which historians believe sparked the Revolution. It is now a museum town run as a National Park with lovely scenery and interesting re-enactments.














We assumed that this house had incorporated a smaller one (unpainted shape) which extended further to the side where there is a low stone wall:


(Part 2 to follow)