On Wednesday we started our day of Government Buildings by touring the Library of Congress. The building is so beautiful and full of amazing artifacts. We saw Thomas Jefferson’s actual draft of the Decloration of Independence, MLK’s “I Have a Dream” script, and actual paintings we have only seen in text books. From there we walked toward the stunning Capitol Building. We were able to take a guided tour through the building, but because both the House and Senate were in session, we could not go into the actual Chambers. It was neat being around all of the Political buzz…hearing people talk and catching a quick glimpse of our country’s leaders.

After the tour we walked a few blocks to Union Station to take in the architecture and a bite to eat. As we walked around we came up on a stand selling tickets for a night tour of the monuments. We had heard great things about the tour before we even got to DC and from other tourists we met along our journey. Obviously, we could not pass up the opportunity. BUT…we had 4 hours before the tour, and a lot to do still on our agenda for the day.

We hopped on the Metro and made our way to the Smithsonian. We did a whirl wind tour of the 3 must see museums in a little over 3 hours. We saw the bones and diamonds at the Natural History Museum, the diVinci’s, Monets, and Van Gough’s at the Museum of Fine Art, and the planes and space ships at the Air and Space Museum. We were mad men on a mission!

After our cultural experience at the museums, it was back to being tourists. We got on the open air trolley for our night tour, and I gotta say…it lived up to its hype. We saw all the major monuments at night, and even went over to Arlington to see the Iwo Jima statue and the Eternal Flame at the National Cemetery. We did pass the White House on the tour…and I have to say it was not as moving or grand as I made it out to be in my mind. I thought I would feel moved or in awe when I saw it…but really it is just a big, white house with clolums.

After 14 hours away from our hotel room we headed back to rest up for our last full day in our Nation’s Capitol.

We enjoyed the last couple of nights in NYC and packed a lot in to our last full day. On Saturday night we met up with our friend Kate who was in New York looking for a place to live…she is moving there in August. Though we thought about taking in the FREE Bon Jovi concert in Central Park, we decided that camping out for 2 days to see him wasn’t worth it. So we found a FANTASTIC Mexican restaurant where we could hear “Shot to the Heart” clearly in the distance. The ‘ritas were just right and the food was great. It was fun being out on the town on a Saturday night with someone that knew the places to check out.

Sunday we woke up and made our way to Chelsea Market and walked ALL around…to Union Square, around SoHo, and discovered some great pockets of the city.

Eating NY Bagels in Chelsea Market

Outside Chelsea Market

That night we met up with my aunt for a wonderful Italian meal. We were able to sit outside and enjoy our food, wine, and great company al fresco. After dinner we thought it would be neat to see the city lit up from the top of the Empire State building. We weaved our way there, up the escalator, and through security…to find out the wait would be an hour before we could go up. So, we turned around and headed out…hey, at least we can say we were inside the Empire State Building. We decided to jump into a cab and head to the swanky W Hotel in Times Square for a swanky drink. It was a great way to end our visit to the big city. In the morning we packed up and boarded a train headed for the Nation’s Capital.

After arriving in DC we checked in to our hotel and started checking out the city. We took a test run on their Metro system and landed in China town. (oh yeah, Megan just reminded me about running in to Al Frankin in the hotel elevator.) After dinner in China Town we made it back to our hotel and had a low key evening after a day of traveling.

Our first full day was a major tourist run through the Mall, starting at the Lincoln memorial and working our way through the Holocaust Museum for the first half of the day. The museum was such a tribute to the people and families that suffered. We can’t do it the justice it deserves in this short blog, but in one word I’d describe it as powerful.

Lincoln Memorial

After the 3 hour tour of the Holocaust Museum we needed some food so we asked one of the guards for a place to catch a quick bite to eat. She directed us to the cafeteria at the US Dept of Agriculture. We made it in just as they were closing down, but we found a way to get a couple slices of Pizza before they put them away. A little out of the ordinary, but it got us going for the rest of the Mall walking we took on. We saw the Lincoln Memorial , Reflecting Pool, WWII Memorial, Washington Monument, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

WWII Memorial

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

FDR Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

We also got a little sidetracked and headed in to one of the Smithsonian Museums to cool down and we found the Jim Henson Exhibit was on display. What a great thing to just happen to run into. We saw some great drawings from the creations of Kermit, Bert & Ernie, Big Bird and many more. They even had a little section for Fraggle Rock.

After 8 hours and walking a few miles we made it back to our Hotel for a quick cool down, then went for a great dinner at a bar next to the hotel.

We have a big day planned for the Capitol and the White House on our second day. It’s supposed to be 91 and high humidity tomorrow, with it getting hotter and more humid as the week goes on.

Look REALLY close...Rascal Flats (and Matt Laurer) are on the stage

She shook my hand, and called me Beautiful...I LOVE HER!

After that we walked around and headed towards Time Square. We walked all around and ended up at Macy’s. It is SO huge, that I think we only saw about 1/100 of the store. But, we met up with my aunt and took off downtown. We spent hours walking around the botiques of Greenwich Village and Canel Street, we ate New York Style pizza, and we went to Ground Zero. It was a humbling experience and brought chills to those in the awe of it all. After a dinner of cart food on the street, the 3 of us headed west towards the water and took a two hour boat tour around the southern part of Manhattan Island. It was beautiful, amazing vantage, and really informative. The highlights were the Statue of Liberty, the waterfalls art installation, and the Brooklyn Bridge. By the end of the tour, the sun was setting behind the New Jersey skyline…and we were tired! We walked back towards our hotel and said good-night.

Times Square

Today has been just as packed. We took the subway over to Brooklyn first thing this morning and walked across the bridge. The view were great, and the breeze helped cool us off. From the city side of the bridge we weaved our way to the Financial District. We came across Saint Paul’s Church, which we tried to get into yesterday but there was a wedding, and went inside…let’s just say it waz life-changing. The location of the church is RIGHT across the street from Ground Zero, and is the church we saw on TV covered with flyers of families looking for loved ones and it was also headquarters for those working at the site. Inside the church are various displays and artifacts from 9/11. It was very moving. From there we went to the NYSE building, we found the Bull, and we made our way to Grand Central Station. After taking in some lunch, we went to the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, St. Patricks Cathedral, and back to our hotel.
Needless to say, we have walked ALL over the city, our feet are starting to show a week of being a tourist, and even though it is Saturday night, it is taking all we have to rally an meet up with our friend Kate for dinner.
With all we have done, there are a couple of things left on our list for tomorrow…then on Monday we head down to DC…hope our feet will keep on truckin’ with us!

On to the good stuff. Brian and I left Boston this morning around 11:20 ON A TRAIN. It was neat seeing Rhode Island and Connecticut though the train window. The ride was just over three hours, but went quickly. When we arrived we cabbed it to our hotel in Times Square. It was beautiful and busy with action. When we got to the counter to check in we found out that we were actually registered at the Sheraton ACROSS the street. No big deal…we make our way. Upon walking in we knew things would be different…there was no buzz…and no beauty…construction zone would be a better description. But we thought we were going to be living large when they told us our room had a balcony. In Times Square? WOW! We get to our floor and open our door and are greeted with a strange smell and a balcony that was more like a concreate cubicle with 20 foot high walls, green indoor-outdoor carpet, and bird poop covered chairs. AND, NO VIEW! Needless to say it did not meet my high half-Jewish Girl standards. I quickly called the fancy Shareton across the street and begged for a room. With our Prefered Member Status we were offered a room at the same bad hotel rate on the 41st floor with a good view of the Square! This half-Jew is happy and she has an impressed husband…I just told him being nice and asking for what you want gets you a long way.

Our "balcony"

Our "view" of Times Square standing on a chair, holding the camera above our heads

Now you get Brian’s update on our evening with Nancy. That’s right Megan’s Aunt is also in New York and we met up with her to go on an adventurous walk through Central Park. How beautiful it was, and busy. It felt like Greenlake on a hot August day times 100. After walking through about a third of the park we stopped by to check out were John Lennon died, then back across the park to Madison and work our way back to Times Square. Of course we had to stop by the Grand Central Station to have a cocktail at the Oyster Bar.

We’re working our way through the tremendous Subway system without too many problems. It shouldn’t take too long to get into it, but it’s quite the change from Boston.

It’s time to call it a night so we can get a full day in tomorrow. We’re looking to start out with the TODAY Show if we get a chance. Then off to Greenwich Village to wander with Nancy.

An entrance to Harvard "ENTER to Grow in Wisdom"

Harvard's Student Union...SWANKY

After a stroll through Brattle Street we headed back towards the T, stopped by the Harvard COOP along the way and then back to our Hotel to relax by the pool before we head out for dinner on our last night in Boston. 

Of course I wore the bib

Brian's dinner was trying to escape

By the way, this is my (Brian) first blog of the trip, probably obvious, but thought I’d let you know just in case.

Today’s forecast was going to kill us as soon as we heard it…high in the mid-90′s, with extreme humidity!  YIKES! Decked out in wicking shirts, shorts, and flowing dresses, we hit the streets. They were right, it is a hot one today!  I spoke with our friend Andy in Seattle today, and he put it all into perspective.  “It is like you are exercising and traveling…all in one.”  He was right. But (sadly) we are getting used to feeling sticky and sweating at all hours of the day.  God Bless air conditioning!

Today though, we chose to roam around Faneuil Hall and Marketplace. Boston’s (much smaller) version of Pike’s Place. We picked up some postcards, an ornament, and I had to pick up some books for school.  At the market, we started talking to one of the vendors who recommended some great local places for food (King Fish Restaurant) and sights (we have been told to take a tour of the observation deck of the Port House) The historical significance of the area was abounding…many sights related to the Revolutionary War and the founding of our country…but the whole place is crawling with such sites. 

After the marketplace, we followed the Freedom Trail towards the North End, Boston’s Little Italy.  Along the way we say Paul Revere’s House, beautiful churches, and a historical graveyard.  The headstones were so old they were cracked, sinking, and lying at an angle.  But still, very interesting to walk around and just look at the names and dates…some as far back as the 1600′s!!

We made our way North and discovered quaint parts of Italian heritage. The smell of garlic and fresh bread filled the air.  It was delightful.  I layed my eyes on a bakery that had the most beautiful pastries in the window, I just HAD to go in. The woman behind the counter was so nice, and dealt with our tourist naivete.  I had to admit to her, and Brian that I had never had a Canoli. You would have thought I told the woman her first born was dead.  Her jaw dropped, and she quickly spun around and presented me with a spoonful of creamy white goodness. I asked what it was and she told me it was the Ricotta filling in the Canolis.  I tasted it and was sold.  It was one of the best things I have had here.  I quickly ordered a large (of course!) canoli and enjoyed EVERY bite of it. 

Our plans for the night are VERY exciting…we are going to be taking in a Red Sox game!!  We have been trying to get tickets for MONTHS, and finally broke down and called Stub Hub this afternoon.  Though we are paying much more than face value, we have seat at Fenway Park.  Even I am excited to see the game.  I am not sure if you will get me in any Red Sox gear, but I will cheer them on, and drink my way through the game!    (On our Bike Tour yesterday, our guide told us that on average a game-goer drinks 3-4 beers…good thing we won’t be walking home!) 

On tomorrow’s agenda: Harvard and Cambridge…along with a Lobster dinner (we still haven’t had seafood since we have been here…can you believe it?!?!?)

As we were driving through the city we were AMAZED by the emence amount of history surrounded by modern technology.  Parts of Boston are stuck in time with BEAUTIFUL brownstone building, clock towers, and historical monuments that outnumber people.  I was (and still am) in awe! 

After we settled into our Hotel (in the Prudential District) we decided to walk around and try and find something to eat.  As we walked, again we were amazed by the architecture around us (Brian is reliving his college days of studying buildings and how they are built).

Our first stop was the BEAUTIFUL Church of Christian Science (Not to be confused with the Church of Scientiology…but that didn’t stop me from looking for TomKat while I was there ) It has an enormous reflecting pools, its own publication house (for the Christian Science Monitor), and an underground parking lot.

We also stumbled into one of Boston’s many “squares” (though they aren’t square in shape by any means) and were looking at the FIRST Public Library ever built (God Bless Ben Franklin). The exterior was beautiful; because it was Sunday around 6:30pm, it was closed…so we have yet to see the inside.

When we turned around, we were awe-struck by the breathtaking Trinity Church. The first Episcopal Church in the country.  Being a good granddaughter of a devote Episcopalian, I called my grandma in Eureka, California immediately.  She was SO happy that I called her, and remembered that “the Mother Ship” was in Boston. I will have to make sure I send her a picture of me trying to open the gigantic door.   

We continued to walk around the area (which is only a few blocks from our hotel) and came upon Newbury Street.  The best way to describe it is a brown-stoned lined street filled with outdoor cafes, posh boutiques, and varied galleries.  It was SO fun to walk around, people watch, and look at all of the shops.  The buildings are “multi-use” (a Brian term) with what look like adorable, but small, apartments on the upper floors, and shops/restaurants on the lower floors.  By now it was after 7pm, and we were STARVING (considering we woke up at 2am Seattle time, and wanted to get our bodies used to this East Coast time idea). We decided on a quiante Indian restaurant with great outdoor seating right on the corner.  We dined on wonderful food, then realized that the restaurant was also a Huka Bar (we almost called my brother for tips, but decided not to risk it on our first night in town) 

After dinner we strolled back to the Hotel, at 9pm the streets were still a buzz for a Sunday…a shocker to Brian. But it lent itself to some great people watching and comfort as we figured out a way around town.

This morning we woke up again, bright and early (7:30…but it felt like 4:30 to us) to make our way towards Boston University to a bike shop.  There we signed up for a 13 mile, 3 hour bike tour of the city.  Can I say, it was worth EVERY penny we spent on it.  Our tour guide, Sam, was very knowledgeable in the sights and history of Boston.  Some of the places he took us too, we explored last night (churches and the library) but then we went through some gorgeous neighborhood (Brookline to be specific) with park-like common areas, and European imported fountains.  We made our way towards Fenway park…it is much smaller than I imagined, but still cool to be in its “presence.”  We also saw North End (Boston’s Little Italy), Boston Harbor, the waterfront (known for its HUGE 4thof July celebration with the Boston Pops), the location where the Boston Massacre took place, Paul Revere’s House, the John Hancock Building, the MFA (Museum of Fine Art), and the Boston Garden (home of the Celtics).  We learned that Boston was built on a landfill (who knew!) and over the years the city took over more and more of the waterfront building neighborhoods and the downtown areas slowly over time.  The tour was GREAT and showed us parts of the city we are already planning on going back to.

It is now almost 4pm, and we have showered from our bike ride and are ready to hit the streets again.  We are planning on going into the Library and into Trinity Church.  Both are just a couple block walk from the hotel.  The weather is good, more muggy than the NW (obviously) but not super hot.  Tomorrow and Wednesday though, are a different story…high in the upper 90′s and HUMID!  argh!  But we will survive!

Tomorrow we are going to TRY and take in a Red Sox game…though tickets are a premium and when you can find them they cost a pretty penny. We want to find the Faneuil Hall Marketplace and of course pick up a few postcards and souvenirs along the way!    Stay Tuned…

But, I have to say the look in Sadie’s eyes when we left, the whimper in her voice as we walked away, and the fact that she wasn’t here when we got home pulled at my heart strings the hardest they have ever been tugged. Brian and I keep reassuring ourselves that she will have a GREAT time, and will be fine…but man, I got to tell you…it was HARD leaving her at someone else’s house. 

So all of you with kids…I now know why you don’t want to leave them and go on a trip, or why you are anxious to get home from an afternoon out…and I apologize for being insentive to that…from now on I will understand!  I may not have children myself…but Sadie sure feels like a child to me.  (She will be okay, right??)

I decided earlier in the week to keep clothes in a laundry basket that I was planning on taking. I figured if it would all fit in the basket, it would all fit into my luggage. The time came this morning to test my theory.  To my delight, it all fit.  I didn’t even use Brian’s help to make sure everything was “Tetris-ized” (a term I coined for Brian’s knack to get a room full of “stuff” into a one foot square box.  It truely is a talent!)  To my delight I showed Brian my work.  He was please with my result, but then had to ask me, “Where are all of your toiletries going to go?”  I looked behind me at the heap of cosmetics, hair “supplies”, creams, gels, and lotions. CRAPOLA!  Taking his advise, I started to fold things in half, making small spaces to fit things. I think I finally got it!  Then came the shoes.  For those that know me, shoes are my “thing,” I gotta have ‘em, and I usually take a lot of ‘em.  But I reminded myself I only get ONE carry-on size bag…so 3 pairs it is.  I discovered a thin outter pocket that both pairs slip into nicely (I will be wearing one…so that solved that problem).  I have to say, I am VERY proud of myself and my own Tetris-izing.

2 weeks in one small bag...

And then it was Brian’s turn.  He gave me the choice between 2 of his backpacks…I, of course, chose the bigger of the 2.  He demonstrated its depth by putting his entire arm and most of his shoulder in it. “Perfect!” I thought, “the more room he has, the better chance he can carry a couple of my things if I can’t do this again on our trip.”  As he filled it up, I watched him delicately choose which compartment would hold which things, and moving items around continually until he had it right. The bag ended up being 3/4 full, with enough room to sneak it a few souvigners if need be…and there will be a need!    He reminded me that he was not going to be lugging around a 500 pound bag full of things we really don’t need. But we will see how he feels once we actually get there.

His piles before he starts

Shoving it all in

Our flight leaves at 5:15am on Sunday the 6th…which is only 8 1/2 hours from now.  The alarm is set for 2:15am (OH MY GOSH!) which will give us time to get ready, drive to our friends house to drop off the car, jump in the cab and make it to the airport in time to check in and get to the gate.  I wonder if the coffee stands are open at 4:30 in the morning??  Knowing my luck they aren’t.  We are off on our trip, and can’t be more excited!

Keep checking back for updates…we will try and post at least every other day, if not everyday!

Seattle Friends: Jen and Ryan

                                        Mom and Dad enjoying the party

Amy and Erin: The P-Town Ladies