Spring Break ,Cherry Blossoms and Tourists

When I made plans with daughter Holly and her husband Ryne to visit us the last week in March- I had no idea that the activity level in the area would explode, seemingly overnight.  During the fall and winter months, the museums have been easy to access and relatively uncrowded.  Since this is our first year here, every month and season provides a new education in living in the DC Metro area.

Their visit coincided with the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Spring Break school trips.  I began to get an inkling of the busy-ness of Cherry Blossom week while having my hair done a few days before their arrival.  My stylist was describing her husband's dread of the impending crowds around the National Mall since he works for the National Park Police.   Ugh, I began to get an uneasy feeling while we talked.  I am not a fan of huge crowds-enough said.

Everyday was action packed and we saw a remarkable amount of monuments, museums and other curiosities. H and R had made a wish list of things they would like to see and many, but not all objectives were achieved.

View from the Lee House at Arlington Cemetery

The kids arrived  on a Monday morning after an all nighter red-eye flight with a layover.  They were tired and the first day was devoted to rest and recuperation from the flight and the previous day's work. That night, Tom drove us to downtown DC and we saw the Vietnam Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. Believe it or not, I hadn't had a close-up look at the Lincoln Memorial and it was truly awe inspiring.  The few groups of school kids present were respectful and well behaved,  but as the week went by the behavior and demeanor of the tweens and middle school kids deteriorated at a steady rate!

On Tuesday we took the Metro to Arlington Cemetery and we broke out the mittens and hats.  I had just packed them up the week prior, but we were having a cold snap- darn it! 

That night we returned downtown on the Metro to have dinner at Old Ebbit Grill after Tom and Ryne explored the International Spy Museum. The restaurant is a five minute walk to a spectacular view of the back of the White House and it is always fun to see it at different times of the day and year and speculate what is going on inside.

On Wednesday morning,
I cracked the whip and we hustled down to the Metro station for a day of fun downtown via the Old Town Trolley Tours.  We got a two day pass and took the first informative loop around the mall.  I had never seen the trolleys so busy and we were hard pressed to find a seat at several stops. We were just across the street from Fords Theatre and were in the right place at the right time for the next tour group in the museum. I hadn't seen the museum portion of the theatre which is operated by the National Park Services. The museum is a must see and free to the public.

After the tour we had lunch at the Lincoln Waffle House across the street. It was a fun little greasy spoon and the food was acceptable.

Not Zagat rated, but they take debit cards!

We enjoyed the Madame Tussuad's Wax Museum- a great deal (of fun)with the help of Groupons!

We headed to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  Holly and I were pooped, so we took an extended break at the food court while Ryne explored the exhibits. The museum was crowded, but doable since we went later in the day for the special extended hours.

We headed home in anticipation of the next day's outing and a second day on the Trolley Tour.

H and R took the green-line trolley to Georgetown to see The National Cathedral and pick up their on-line order from Georgetown (DC) Cupcakes. 

Holly was in Nirvana and thrilled to see the famed cupcake store in person.  We later had lunch at Ollie's Trolley- and guess what. cash only...... I have found that many casual dining places in the downtown area accept cash only- perhaps something to do with the beef about the District of Columbia's tax debate?

After a hearty lunch and our sugar fix- we headed to The National Museum of Natural History and The National Museum of American History  http://www.mnh.si.edu/.

The trolley loop took forever and we decided to stop at the Jefferson Memorial.  It was raining  and later the rain turned to freezing rain....The memorial was crammed full of shrieking wound- up middle school kids that had clamored off of the six Peter Pan buses parked outside the memorial.  My pictures are not good due to the darkness of the day and the darkening of my mood. By this time, it was Thursday and  probably the 4th of 5th day of the school kid's tours. The kids had lost it and apparently their chaperone's had given up. I was appalled at the lack of respect displayed at the beautiful venue. These kids nowadays....

We finally made it to The American History and Natural History museums which are adjacent to one another.  Holly and I made a bee-line to the First Ladies Inaugural Gowns and we stopped dead in our tracks when we saw the lines. The darn tour buses were one step ahead of us, so we just had to grin and bear it. I have to confess I went home before Holly and Ryne, as I was fading fast and getting a bit of sensory overload.  It gave me the opportunity to make a delicious (if I do say so) vegetarian Indian meal that I learned to cook in a great class from the good old Plum Center last month.

 It was fun to see Holly and Ryne experience everything and I took note that Holly was very interested in the human experience of the exhibits and Ryne more typically interested in the artifacts.   Holly has a tender heart and I know she was touched  by the Holocaust museum and exhibits on slavery. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War and it is a great time to be here- right in the heart of the matter.  I am looking forward to touring battlefields and see more of the Virginia and Pennsylvania countryside.

On Friday, I took the day off to catch up on laundry and rest. We had been going full tilt for days and I just couldn't take one more day downtown with the hoards.  Tom took the afternoon off and joined Ryne for a tour of The Bureau of Printing and Engraving, while Holly toured the Holocaust Museum.

Saturday was Mom and daughter day.  I traded Holly a massage for a color and cut. We walked to the handy nail salon and got French manicures and pedicures. Tom and Ryne toured the NRA museum and enjoyed the Hollywood weapons display. To each his own. 

Our last day together was spent at my favorite, Mount Vernon Estate.  Every time I go I get the chance to see more of the museum exhibits and this was my third time to tour the mansion. The weather was greatly improved and it was a beautiful day to walk around the grounds near the Potomac river. Tom had to join us a little later in the day when the parking lots cleared out. Unfortunately, Mt. Vernon is not easily accessible by public transportation- until the tour mobile from Arlington Cemetery start in May. 

I never get tired of George's place and we will have Easter Brunch there with Kari and JR. 

It was a busy week with lots of good food, fun and family time.  The weather was pretty obnoxious except for a day or two, but in spite of that, a good time was had by all. 

Holly and Ryne- it was great to have you here, love you guys!