The following is a quick blog to catch you up on out travels. Since we left Vancouver, we have had a lovely East Coast tour. First, we had a great time with Bob’s brother and his family and girlfriend in Alexandria, Virginia, before doing a quick 1.5 day tour of Newark, New Jersey to get our 44th state visited. We are now in Brooklyn to start a quick 5 day house sit for two cats before heading back across the pond.
Below are some photo highlights of our travels.
District of Columbia
Bob’s brother Eric’s girlfriend Kym works for the Library of Congress and gave us a great private tour of this gorgeous building after we went through the exhibit on presidential inaugurations. The exhibit presented some of the Library’s items from past inaugurations, including photos, clothing and jewelry, as well as agendas and menus. Best of all staff were on hand to answer questions and provide additional information.
The Jefferson Building, the main building of the LoC. Jefferson sold his collection of 6,000+ books to restore the library after the collection burnt in the Capitol fire during the War of 1812.One of the beautiful halls. The original building was completed in 1897 and was restored in 1997.Overlooking the main Reading Room. The eight semi-circular stained-glass windows are decorated with the seals of the 45 US states and 3 territories when the original building was completed.A small section of the beautiful Great Hall.The stained-glass ceiling of the Great HallSome of the arches and paintings in the mezzanineOutside of the Supreme Court a few hours before the announcement of Trump’s pick for Supreme Court Justice
Alexandria
Bob’s brother Eric lives in Alexandria. we explored a bit of the area while we were there, and I took advantage of one of the many hiking/biking paths in the area to get some runs in.
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial grounds and buildingPlastic critters being used to keep non-plastic critters (?) off of the grounds of the Masonic memorialA helpful display at the National Inventors Hall of Fame in the Madison Building on the campus of the US Patent and Trademark OfficeThe need/process to file for patents is included in the Constitution, and many individuals have taken advantage. Under Obama’s term, the US moved to conform with most of the rest of the world where the patent owner is the “first to file” instead of the “first to invent.”One of many historical buildings in Old Town Alexandria, though I’m thinking that Washington participated in all of his birthdays!The blue house is a “spite” house — built in the alleyway between two existing houses to keep people from using or hanging out in the alley.Fairfax, VA
Our nephew, Nathan, is currently a freshman at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. He gave Bob and I a tour of the campus while we were there. Usually abbreviated to “Mason,” it is the largest public research university in Virginia.Each freshman class signs a board with the year of their anticipated graduation. No pressure Nathan!Bob and Nathan standing by the statue of George Mason for whom the school is named. The esteemed Mr. Mason was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention but was one of only three delegates not to sign the constitution. His objections formed the basis for the US Bill of Rights.Bob found a big head on campus to pose with
Newark, NJ
Bob and I had a quick trip to NJ to earn our 44th US state. That will mean more to some than others, but I’ll spare the rest of you the TMI.
Bob and I took a Greyhound from Union Station in DC to Penn Station in Newark. Easy, inexpensive four hour ride (though no wifi, we did enjoy the Sunday edition of the Washington Post).While in Newark, we slept with (dead) presidents. Sort of, but a surprisingly nice hotel, given that we are always looking for a bargain.Our hotel was near the NJ Performing Art Center. We didn’t catch a show but thought the building was attractive.Oh, oh, oh Stayin’ Alive on the NJ Walk of FameBob by the Big Head of Justice outside of the federal courthouse buildingThe main administrative building on the NJ Institute of Technology campusThe outside of the main public library buildingInside the public libraryCrossing the Passaic River into Harrison, NJA 9/11 Memorial in Harrison made from some of the beams from the Twin TowersAnother bridge across the Passaic River
Brooklyn, NY
We are now at our house sit in Brooklyn looking after two cats below and a lovely apartment/condo in a town home building. More on the house sit later. Both cats are larger than the 2 dogs we just sat for in Vancouver! This is Boomer who can take or leave humans but does like to curl up on the bed and our soft-sided suitcase. He also likes plastic, so we need to watch out for that.This is the curious, cuddly (you will attend to me!) Alf who actually slept on my head last night.
I am finishing this in the midst of a winter storm that is to bring 8-12″ of snow — after having reached a high of 61 yesterday!
Peckish Travels 