Washington DC, Day 4

Today Peggy took the afternoon off and we cruised down the river for visit to Mount Vernon, George Washington's Plantation.  It was a gorgeous bit of property (and by 'bit', I mean 8000 acres).  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the mansion, so you'll just have to Google them.

We came back to the hotel for a rest while Peggy attended an evening lecture, then had a late Birthday supper for Klara at the steakhouse.  It was fabulous and Klara chowed down a 24oz. porterhouse!

Across the bowling Green in front of the Mansion

Washington's Tomb

Peggy and Friends

Exploring some of Washington's out-buildings

Klara rescues a kid

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Washington DC, Day 3

Today we ditched Peggy again and went on an all day tour of DC.  We hit most of the best spots.  It was a long day, but very educational.  We'll have to come back for more in-depth tours of the White House and Capitol building.

Capitol Building

World War II Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

Martin Luther King Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

White House

Old Post Office

Air Force Memorial

Marine Corps Memorial

Tomb of the Unknowns

John  F. Kennedy's Grave

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Washington DC, Day 2

Today while Peggy was in class the girls and I took a water taxi across the Potomac River to Alexandria, Virginia.  Alexandria used to be part of the District of Columbia until it was returned to VA by congress in 1847.

We wandered around the old part of town, read historical markers, shopped and ate lunch.  It threatened to rain the whole time, but I guess the clouds rained themselves out earlier in the day.

Water Taxi ride, Alexandria in the background

Big flag!

We went to the Temple!  ( The George Washington Masonic Memorial, actually)

I love George and that quote!

Waiting for the water taxi to take us back.

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Washington DC!

We're in DC for a Vet conference and brought the kids along to check out some of our nation's history.  We arrived yesterday afternoon, checked into the hotel then walked around National Harbor.  We had supper at a fun restaurant called Ketchup, then walked down to the riverfront to enjoy the sunset.

Peggy and Ketchup

Charlotte and her huge burger

Peeps Store!

The atrium inside our hotel

Night view of our hotel

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First time skiers

Yesterday we had a family outing to Sunrise Park for a day of spring snow skiing.  It was Klara and Charlotte's first time, so we put them in ski school in the morning.  They came out with the basics and had a blast the rest of the day.  I think they're pretty stoked to go again.
I forgot to take pictures, but here's a snap of Charlotte finishing up at ski school.

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Leap Day Adventures

We did some Geocaching on Leap Day to try and help set a new global record for Leap Day finds logged.  Since Peggy had to work, it was sundown before we got started.  By 8:00pm we had made 4 finds and were suddenly greeted by the Payson Police while looking for #5.  They had us surrounded!

We were in a wooded area within the city on public land.  Apparently some Nervous Nellies with homes nearby saw us walking around with flash lights and thought we were bad guys.  Don't they know if bad guys are sneaking up on you in the dark they won't all have flashlights turned on and be talking loudly? DUH!

We had a nice talk and a laugh with the cops.  They were using some $18,000 military night vision goggles and let us have a look. Those things are ridiculously awesome!  The contrast was so good I could see things better than in daylight!  I looked at a hilltop a half mile away and could make out every tree and rock.

I totally want some of those, so if you'd like to donate to the "Buy Ron some completely awesome military style night vision goggles" fund just let me know and I'll tell you where to send the $$.

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25th Anniversary Trip, Day 9

After we disembarked our ship and went through customs we checked in at our hotel and then spent the afternoon walking around Old San Juan.  We had lunch at a nice restaurant, The Parrot Club, that we found years ago when we were in Puerto Rico.

Supper was at a funky little restaurant called Dragonfly.  One description we read described the decor as a cross between an old San Francisco bordello and a Chinese opium den.  They were right on the money, but it was cozy and fun.  The restaurant features Asian-Latin fusion cuisine.  We enjoyed Peking Duck Nachos, Crispy Fried Baso Sweet & Sour (fish) and Tempura Dragon Roll.  We finished up with an Asian flavored creme brulee and a lemon-infused white chocolate napoleon.  So yummy!!

Fountain near El Morro

Some of the Southern wall of El Morro

Nice street in Old San Juan

A protest blocked the path back to our hotel.  They were against a new gas pipeline.

More pretty Buildings

Uggh!  The toilet in our hotel room is right up against the leg of the wash stand.  It digs into your hip while seated.  This and a few other reasons will prevent us from returning to The Hotel Sofo Casablanca.

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25th Anniversary Trip, Day 8

Today was a sea day so we just hung around on the ship eating, checking out shows, playing games and watching movies next to the pool.  We also sat in on a cooking demonstration by the Head Chef and the Maitre d'Hotel and took a galley tour.  We had a nice dinner (again) and came back to the room to get our bags packed and put out before 11:00pm.

Our dining room

The Galley

All made from food

My sweetbreads in puff pastry.  Dee-lish!

New York strip

Baked Alaska (sorry, American night...no chocolate-hazelnut dessert)

Our waiters, Hemant and Edward

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25th Anniversary Trip, Day 7

Having never been to Aruba, the tour company thought it would be a great idea to put me behind the wheel of a Land Rover Discovery loaded with tourists.  Okay, you caught me, I asked (or more appropriately...begged, politely)!  I highly recommend this tour for any of my brothers or brothers-in-law that come to Aruba - or my sisters, for that matter!

We had a great drive round the island including cruising the city, traversing the island, stopping at a natural bridge, checking out an old gold smelter, a wild donkey sanctuary and having a snorkel on the windward (dangerous!) side of the island.  The best part, however, is that most of it took place in a national park which is also a fun ORV park!  Yay for off-roading!

We spent the afternoon having a great local lunch and doing some shopping.  After boarding the ship we dressed for our second formal night and enjoyed escargots, lobster and shrimp for dinner.  Excellent!  Every evening has been a chocolate-hazelnut-fueled rocket ride and tonight was no exception.  My dessert was a chocolate hazelnut souffle with hot whiskey sauce.  It's three hours since dinner and I'm still smiling.  The pastry chef must be my soul mate.  I wonder if I can talk Peggy into another wife?

Haha!  Behind the wheel with 6 tourists along for the ride!

Anyone recognize the sign in the sand?

Natural Bridge

Gold smelter made to look like a fort to scare off pirates

Donkeys getting the best of Peggy

This seemed like a safe place to snorkel, so we did!

Down by the beach on the windward side.

Climbing back up from the beach

Our guide blew a tire on his rig (yes, I helped fix it).

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