Gettysburg to Harrisburg, PA - Monday, July 6, 2009

Gettysburg to Harrisburg, PA - Monday, July 6, 2009

Tomorrow, will be two weeks that we left and yesterday was 3 weeks to the day we will arrive in Miami. We aren't halfway done yet!!!! WOW! This is exhausting. The kids are driving us crazy. Alissa is behaving like a little nut who is completely out of control. She is defiant and just nutty. When we got to the hotel she laid on the bed and said "Mom, watch me make snow angels" and then proceeded to move her arms to make a snow angel on the sheets at speed of 20 mph minimum. It was so funny. She spills at least one thing everyday, if not more, and especially in the car. She is obsessed with the Washington Nationals. She holds the baseball cards she got at the game (in the program) and doesn't let them go. Earlier today she told me she wants to play baseball for the Nationals team. Although yesterday she couldn't remember their name. She asked me at east 15 times what the name of the team was.

Everytime we arrive anywhere, we are noticed...either because we are super loud, obnoxious or just too much.  Today, we left Arlington, VA around 11:00 am. and drove to Pennsylvania.

We stopped for lunch at Moe's on the way, and continued to Gettysburg.

  Gettysburg, is another place that is so evocative.

Quoting Alex, "Our fore-fathers rocked. They had amazing vision." To think that these people before us did so much and gave up their lives so that we could have better lives is amazing.   Yet it's also very disappointing to know that we are driving this country into the ground because some of the leaders we've had have not known how to make good decisions and do things in the best interest of all its people.

Our fore-fathers and veterans gave so freely yet due to selfishness and greed in more recent times, our citizens are now struggling and suffering.

 The battlefield was impressive. It covers a huge area. We did the auto tour, got off a million times for pictures and then went to the museum and store. I lost the kids in the store at least 3 times. I was looking for books to read to them so they could learn the story, I bought several picture books and coloring books about the Civil War, the generals, the Gettysburg Address and an explanation of the Gettysburg Address.  In addition we bought a postcard and a magnet of Pennsylvania. We decided we are going to start a states magnet collection so we can display our travels year-round. We also bought the movie Gettysburg so we can watch it together and learn more.

We arrived in Harrisburg, Pa (our next "home base' destination) around 8 pm. We are staying at a Residence Inn.  It looks fairly new, very clean and is very comfortable.  The neighborhood is nice and there are several restaurants close by.  We have a kitchenette and breakfast is included with the room so expenses should be kept manageable.  We decided to run to Target and pick up some necessary items. I bought a scale because the eating is out of control, even though we were going to eat super healthy and exercise on this trip. I have gained a few pounds. I will be on a diet as of July 10th!!!!!!!!!! I bought some things to cook because we have a tiny kitchen in the unit. We had pasta with chicken and shrimp.We were starving so we ate a million things as we waited for dinner. Tomorrow we will probably go to Lancaster.



Until tomorrow...

Washington Nationals baseball game at Nationals Park and drive-by the White House - Sunday, July 5, 2009

Sunday, July 5, 2009

This visit with our friends and the city have gotten me thinking a lot.  Dad made breakfast in the morning and the adults ate in the screened patio while the children played in the yard. It was beautiful as the yard is full of huge oak trees. This whole trip seems out of a novel. The scenes are perfect. First, we have the little towns with their epicenters of quaint stores and restaurants. Then, we have farms and fields of beautifully growing crops and animals. Now in the city, you have the best of both worlds. You have the hustle and bustle of the big city yet, also the tranquil setting of suburbia. The picture perfect house, with the beautiful yard, the happy, healthy, well-rounded children....it's a dream come true.

One of the B-N kids woke up sick and she had a fever.  The rest of the B-N girls stayed home selling lemonade from a Lemonade Stand and the rest of us went to Nationals Park to see the Washington Nationals play the Atlanta Braves. The game was very exciting. They kids had many enjoyable moments and their favorite was the mascots (which are all past presidents) running a race on the field.  However, the most memorable moment, was when the kids ran the bases on the field after the game! They really enjoyed that.
We went on a short sight seeing trip because A wanted to see the White House. We drove down Pennysylvania Avenue and saw the mall, the Smithsonian, several museums and the White House with the snipers on the roof, which really got her attention.   After, we went back to the house and M  made a delicious dinner of pasta, sauteed varieties of squash with garlic in olive oil. She added a bit of milk, salt, pepper, fresh basil, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. It was spectacular. We had wine and fruit as we laughed and talked about the the last few days.  We have had the best time!

We took the children out to light the sparklers M bought them for 4th of July, but we never got to use them. They had great fun with that and then they ran around catching fireflies.  It was a perfect evening and a wonderful ending to a perfect visit to Arlington, VA.

Arlington, Rock Creek, and firework lookout from Iwo Jima Memorial - Saturday, July 4, 2009

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy Fourth of July!  We are excited again to be back near our nation's capital.  This time, we are staying in Virginia and we know it's going to be a great day.

We had a very good night sleep at the B-N home. They bought their house three years ago and have added quite a few new rooms to it. They just finished construction and the house is amazing!!! They invited us to stay with them and it was a very generous offer. We took them up on the offer so we could spend time together and it would give us a break from staying at hotels. We have the entire basement to ourselves. It's above ground so they made a guest room, large playroom, a sitting area and a bathroom. It's very comfortable and private.  It also has doors that lead out to the backyard.  The house sits on a hill with a view of the woods.  

We went to bed a little after midnight last night, yet the children all woke up relatively early. By 8:15 a.m., Alissa had managed to try to wake me up at least 5 or 6 times. Dad went out to run with D, so she had carteblanche to try to wake me up. Slowly, the B-N kids eventually made it down and the kids all played and watched T.V. in the playroom.
When D and Dad returned, most of the girls drove to the Farmer's market by the courthouse in Arlington. It was great and it made me feel guilty that I don't take advantage and go to the Farmer's Market in Pinecrest. I made myself a promise that I would start going upon my return to Miami.  It wasn't very large, but they had beautiful and delicious fruits, vegetables, orchids, flowers, breads, desserts, etc.  I like spending time with M because I am reminded that we should be more "green," should eat more fruits and veggies and less sugar and junk.  Also, she cooks well and usually makes delicious meals. I still make the eggplant parmigiana that she made us at their former house over 8 years ago!

At the Farmer's Market I sampled a fresh Corn Zucchini Torte from Willow Restaurant at 4301 North Fairfax Dr. in Arlington.  The torte was delicious. I would love to make it when I return to Miami. I am including the recipe because I don't want to lose it:

Fresh Corn Zucchini Torte

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3 ears corn (kernels off cob)
1 cup whole milk
1 shallot finely diced
1 lg Max tyson zucchini (shredded on grater)
6 leaves fresh basil chiffonade
4 tbsp melted butter
2 large eggs poly face

Directions:  Cook Corn in milk over low heat until tender. Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. Mix the corn milk mixture with the grated zucchini, butter, eggs. Stir by hand the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Scoop into buttered 4 oz. ramekins. Bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with sauteed cherry tomatoes.

Sweet Orange Cherry Tomatoes

1 pint sweet orange cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup Endless summer basil
4 cloves slice blanched garlic
3 tbsp EVOO
kosher salt
black pepper to taste

Directions:  Cut the tomatoes in half. heat a saute pan until moderately hot, add the oil and garlic, brown slightly, add the tomatoes saute quickly, toss with basil, season with salt and pepper.

This is a fabulous dish. I hope my children like it when I make it. We returned from the market and D had whipped up homemade waffles.  We had them with fruit, whipped cream and/or syrup. After breakfast, the kids played in the yard for a bit and the adults hung out.

For the afternoon, we decided to go to Rock Creek Park to hike and see the waterfall. The children had a wonderful time hiking and rock-climbing. The park has a Virginia side and a Maryland side. We went on the Virginia side. We also saw people climbing the rocks and kayaking down below in the river.

We were starving when we left. We had lunch at Amoo's Kabob in McLean, VA.  This was a Persian restaurant and the entrees were delicious. All of us were thrilled with our selection. The chicken and fillet were both very good. I think the rice with raspberries was my favorite. We ate so much we were ready for naps when we left. Unfortunately, there was no time for napping. We quickly got our things together and left for the Iwo Jima Memorial where we were planning to see the fireworks. We drove around for a long time looking for parking. We finally parked in a garage about 10 blocks away.

We met friends of the B-Ns there. We found a great spot on a hill with a view of DC and the Washington Monument. The children had a fabulous time, as did the adults. We talked, walked through Arlington Cemetery, snacked, played catch with rackets with suction cups, caught fireflies, and Dad led the kids in a game of Simon Says. The folks behind us were also very entertaining. We had a funny commentary going on throughout the fireworks display. It was a memorable night. When we got back to the house three of the five kids were sleeping. We took advantage and got ready for bed early. Again, Happy 4th!!!!

Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown Battlefield, Virginia - Friday, July 3, 2009

Friday, July 3, 2009

We woke up a bit late and took a long time to get ready and leave. We finally got on the road to Williamsburg around 11:00 AM. We decided to stop along the way and do the area in chronological order and went to the Jamestown settlement first.   When Dad and I came to Williamsburg 14 years ago, we never made it to Jamestown. We enjoyed the museum very much as they had clear fiberglass planks on the floor of the building where you could see the original foundation from the settlement circa 1600s. We walked through the museum and saw many artifacts, such as earthenware, utensils for cooking and eating, tools, locks, keys, etc.  We even saw remnants of a leather shoe.

The settlement was in a gorgeous location by the river with scenic views.  Then the settlers arrived, they were told to decide wisely on the place for the settlement. It had to be safe from Spanish attacks, a good place to farm and be able to provide all necessities for living. We had lunch there on the river.  The highlight was chili in a bread bowl.  We also got to see a statue of Pocahontas as this is where she was from.

After Jameston, we went to Colonial Williamsburg.  We didn't have much time there, but we did walk around for a little while, saw the shopping district, the historical area, the palace and some of the houses and other buildings.   After, we stopped at Yorktown Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War.

Driving on these small country roads is very nice. You get to see farms, barns, animals, fields of crops and many corn fields. Every now and then, we would pull over to take a picture of houses on a hillside and one had a groundhog or prairie dog peeking from its hole.  We took pictures of it just before it snuck back into his hole.  As we were running late, we were a bit embarrassed because we were staying with the B-Ns tonight and we are super late.  It's 8:18 p.m. and we are still 77 miles away (about 1 hour 30 minutes to go).  We are anxious to get to Arlington, Virginia and visit with our friends.

NOTE:  Before we left, Dad made a playlist and some of the most memorable songs from this trip are: I Got a Feeling (Tonight's gonna be a good, good night) by Black-Eyed Peas, The Climb by Miley Cyrus, Pink songs, other Black Eyed peas songs, Lady Gaga's Poker Face, and Right Round by FloRida.

Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake Bay, Virginia - Thursday, July 2, 2009

Thursday, July 2, 2009

We checked into the Townplace Suites by Marriott on Cleveland Street.  We then went with our friends (the Ws) to Norfolk, VA. Its a downtown area with nice buildings and a waterfront scene. It's similar to the Bayfront area in Miami. We had lunch at Granby's Deli across from C's office.  After, we walked around a bit and went to an Arcade. It's a place where artists have small studios and exhibit their art for all to enjoy. C met us there for a bit and then went back to work.

During this time, there was a Harborfest on the Elizabeth River and they were setting up for it. We saw the large ornate ships that came in for the event and they appeared to be the same ones that were in Charleston that we saw on the way to Fort Sumter.  We walked around and then watched the kids run though the fountain and get soaked.  Then we walked to the Nauticus Museum and the impressive Battleship Wisconsin docked there. We saw jellyfish swimming right off the bridge by the entrance of the museum.

On the way back to W's house, we went to Chesapeake Bay and crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It was amazing and is the largest estuary in the U.S.  Dad had been looking forward to seeing it for a few days.

Note:  There was a toll when we arrived at the bridge. Dad was shocked to hear that the toll was $12.00. He kept asking the woman, "Are you sure?" She was annoyed by Dad's response to the cost of the toll. Then to annoy her further, he asked if he had to pay another $12.00 on the way back. She was horrified.  Alex was even more horrified as he claimed that it was going to cost $24.00 to cross this bridge. " In the end, he thought it was work the $24 although it is very pricey when you just want to go across and back within 15 minutes.
We went back to W's house as they were having a BBQ in our honor (at least I think it was).  It was great as they invite some family and neighbor friends.  There were lots of kids for our kids, so they had a great time.  C grilled and A made the corn and cole slaw. Everything was delicious and the company was fantastic. We had a wonderful time. A neighbor made Mojitos and we had great conversation as  the girls put on a "show" and the boys played football. When it was time to say goodbye, the boys exchanged email addresses and wanted to keep in touch.

While talking, A and I discovered that she knew L and V from St. Theresa. They also told us to try to go to Charlottesville and Monticello (the home of Thomas Jefferson). They also encouraged us to take a scenic drive through the mountains in West Virginia. We mentioned that we weren't sure if we'd stop in Williamsburg. They thought it would be great to stop and see it.

As we said our goodbyes, we thank them for their hospitality and generosity. Hasta la proxima we said along with a big hug for all.  These trips are extra special when you get to visit family or friends.  This was a highlight of the trip.

Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills, Wright Brothers, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore Park - Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

We woke up the earliest ever and we were on the road by 8:00 a,m. We drove on highway 17 to highway 64 to the Outer Banks. We frist drove to Kill Devil Hills and this is where the Wright Brothers National Memorial is and the site of their first attempts and successes at flying. We stood in the field where their first flight took off. It was remarkable and well worth the visit. One of the best places we've been to so far on this trip.  

After three hours there, we drove to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Park. There were enormous, impressive sand dunes. It was a beautiful drive.  We drove south to the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. The wooden beach homes are reminiscent of the homes on Cape Cod. There are simliar homes all along the east coast of Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina. These homes are bigger and more beautiful than any others. The drive was very beautiful. We arrived at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and attempted to buy tickets to climb the 244 steps in the 93 degree temperature inside the structure. We were informed we wouldn't be able to buy tickets because there had been a medical emergency inside and they weren't allowing anyone else in. We waited a bit and then just went through the museum, read about and saw pictures of the $2 million relocation of the lighthouse to this new spot. They had to move it because there was a lot of erosion and the land was wearing away. After waiting about 30 minutes, we decided to leave. We think the emergency was that an older woman either fell and hit her head or it got too hot and she felt sick.

Then, we drove to the beach and the kids played on the shore. They ran around jumping in and out and over the waves. They enjoyed it very much.  We even collected some seashells and then went to play, run, and roll down the sand dunes. We had take-out dinner from the Atlantic Coast Cafe on 25150 NC Highway 12 in Waves, NC.  Check out the link to their web site.  They are only open from April to October.  They had great gourmet burgers and were fast.  There were two large families eating inside and they all seemed to be having a great time.  We drove out of Cape Hatteras National Park and then back through the Outer Banks and up to Virginia. We stayed in Virginia Beach and will soon visit with the Ws.

New Bern, the birthplace of Pepsi, and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina - Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

New Bern, North Carolina...here we are!!! The Cubans have arrived with their loud voices and car alarms!  Al stayed behind working and we drove to Middle Street.  Middle Street is a small street with shops and restaurants. We had breakfast at a little coffee shop. It was so cute. We walked down to the end of the street and went into the "Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola." Caleb Bradham invented it in his drugstore and he originally called it "Brad's drink." The same site now is the home of a Pepsi-Cola museum and an authentic soda fountain. We went back a second time and had Pepsi with Dad. We drove around following a trolley tour and saw some of the famous homes.

When we had nothing left to explore in New Bern, we decided to go to Atlantic Beach by the coast. We drove over 40 minutes to get there. It was enjoyable. The kids loved the waves and had a great time.   We went back to the hotel around 8:00 p.m., ordered pizza and had a picnic by the pool next to the marina.  It was a nice way to cap the evening.