Girl's Spring Break Part 3

We got up and got ready on Friday morning, and after dropping Anson at the sitter's we drove up to NYC, and easy and pleasant drive with good company.  Our first stop was the Cloisters.  Felt like I was back in France. 

After the Cloisters we drove clear to the tip of the island and deposited the car at a parking garage for the weekend (spot hero app was great at finding us cheap parking.  Sometimes phones and apps are the worst, sometimes they are the best).  We stayed at a place called Sonder, a SF startup akin to airbnb, but designed to get around city laws that outlaw such places.  It was so inexpensive and besides needing to be vacuumed was super great.  New, nice, great location right next to the stock exchange.  So anyway, we walked from the garage to Sonder and left our bags and went for a walkabout.  We walked over to the 9/11 memorial area and ate the MOST scrummy dinner at Eataly. That place is a must visit.  All groceries and food Italian to be found there. 

As we were right by the 9/11 museum and it didn't close for a few hours we bought tickets and went.  It was powerful, moving, sobering, and really incredibly well done.  The location is under the memorial in the foot print of the World Trade Center.  The scale of it all is really brought home as you wander through the massive foundations.

After the museum we meandered the few blocks home, and said goodnight to Fearless Girl outside the stock exchange. 

Girl's Spring Break Part 2

Thursday was Clara's actual birthday and a beautiful day.  It was still very early spring so slightly still Mordoresque, but we went to Sky Meadows for a wee hike.  It was lovely.  Anson was awesome.  Really into the hiking thing.  There were some somewhat aggressive chickens that flocked to us when we had a potty stop, but alls well that ends well. 

 After Sky Meadows we drove to Warrenton past all our old haunts.  Weird that we ever lived there.  Clara had no memories of it.  Lucy of course does.  We had some yummy treats at Red Truck Bakery and then drove to Gainesville for some mighty delicious barbeque and a stroll around Wegman's.

 We stopped briefly at the Manassas Battlefield (Battle of Bull Run).

 Clara requested Whoopie pie's and Courtney delivered. 

Girl's Spring Break Part 1

Clara and I flew out to DC via Denver where we had LOTS of time and walked and walked.  Clara is a big Malala fan so we had to get a pic, even if it was sort of embarrassing.  Lots of things are embarrassing when you are her age. 

Court picked us up from the airport and we went back to the Homer's where Lucy was waiting. Also tacos were waiting.  Yum.   The next morning we drove first thing to Georgetown where we picked up lots of treats to sample: Georgetown Cupcakes, Baked and Wired, La Duree Macarons, and another not as good macaron place.  Priorities!

Next we toured Lu's dorm room and then the Foggy Bottom campus.  We ate a yummy lunch at one of L's regular places, & Pizza.  We hit up the bookstore, and also saw the Norman Rockwell exhibit about the Four Freedoms (which we have yet to achieve in our nation).

Next we parked by the mall, ate our goodies (or looked for rocks, acorns, and sticks if we were under the age of two), and then did a big loop of the monuments.  Spring was just on the cusp.  Signs of things to come were everywhere.  My favorite.  Our votes for best cupcakes were evenly split.  I personally vote B&W.

Vietnam Memorial

Lincoln.  A man who has withstood the test of time. Still a fangirl. 

Clara recently studied MLK's I Have A Dream Speech, so she was pleased to stand in the spot. 

Korean War Memorial

On our way to the MLK memorial 3 helicopters passed over head.  Rumor is the presidents entourage flied in 3's.  So perhaps the orange menace flew overhead.  Somehow not as exciting as when Obama's did. 

Lucy got emotional and upset as the juxtaposition of brain dead southern high school kid's in MAGA hats and an African American family admired the MLK memorial.  These are not the best of times in our country, that is for sure.  

The cherry blossoms were about a week away from popping at the Tidal Basin.

The Jefferson is a lovely memorial.  His word's have stood the test of history, his actions not as much.  He's a very hypocritical and interesting person when judged by our more "woke" standards.  Fascinating. 

The Washington is under construction and so the WWII was next.  I like this one because it feels vintage 1940's to me.  Also this spot was made for us.  Not sure you can tell but Hawaii is next to DC.  And to make the story better let's say Nevada is left of Utah. 

Anson was a very very good sport considering the lack of nap.  There were just enough rocks and sticks to make him very happy.  Dinner was mall Japanese back in Fall's Church.  Such a fun fun day with the loveliest ladies and little man I know.