This morning was our first morning in The Big Apple and for breakfast we grabbed beagles from H&H Beagles. From there we walked to Central Park and ate our beagles. No need to slam Einstein Bros. but the beagles I had today were a million times better.
After we sat in Central Park, we went to The Museum of National History. Once we got to the museum. I insisted we see a show at the planetarium. I had seen on T/V that Whoopi Gulberg was narrating a show called “Journey to The Stars”. In the show we learned how everything in our universe started with Dark Matter, including all the stars, our Sun and along with The Sun our planet. Then we journeyed further into The Sun, where we learned about sun spots and solar winds. Solar winds make Erora Borialis in the North and South Poles.
After the museum we finally found Angelo’s Pizza, the best pizza in the world but it’s not the cheapest no food on the West Coast is. I had wanted to eat at Angelo’s but no one in New York (including every cab driver) knew of Angelo’s. I began to think I was crazy. We found Angelo’s Pizza to blocks from the LOVE statue.
Then we rode the Staten Island Ferry. At the ferry we met Rose Daniel of Rose Daniels Design, AKA the designer of the AIDAAN.org website. She was very nice and she helped me get in a spot that was perfect for picture taking.
After the ferry later that night we went to the Lion King on Broadway. It was one of the most beautiful Broadway shows I had ever seen, everything from the costumes to the music. The Lion King was translated wonderfully from movie to musical. I would like to say thank you to Jeanks and Genny for getting us such great seats.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Day 5 (Washington D.C. to New York, then more New York July 29)
Today we rode the train Union Station in D.C. to Penn Station in New York. Union Station in Washington D.C. was much more impressive than Penn Station. Along the way from D.C. to New York we made a few stops.
The first stop was in Baltimore and it looked exactly like it does in the movie Hairspray. When we stop in Baltimore the first thing that came to mind was the song “Good Morning Baltimore”. After that the train stopped in Wilmington, where ever that is, then Philadelphia, more familiar. Then Trenton apparently part of New Jersey. Penultimately we stopped Newark then New York our destination.
After unpacking at our hotel the Warwick we met up for dinner with our cousins. We ate dinner at a restaurant near Washington Square Park called “Peanut Butter and Company”. At the restaurant everything is made with their homemade peanut butters. Peanut Butter and Company also serves shakes, hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and thing like that more American food. At our small table of six my cousin Jeanks ate an Elvis with bacon which is a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich. Genny his wife ate a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich and my dad ate a P.B.B.L.T. A P.B.B. L.T. is a B.L. T. with peanut butter. My mom was not sure what to get so she decided to get the Peanut Butter Sampler, thinking it was a little bit of everything the restaurant served but instead the peanut butter sampler was a plate with crackers, carrots and celery and all the types of the restaurants homemade peanut butter ranging from smooth and crunchy to peanut butter with cyan pepper. Nate ate a burger claiming to hate peanut butter which if you barely even know Nate is not true. For my peanut butter dinner I had a Jerry Seinfeld Comedy Hour which is a toasted plain bagel with peanut butter honey and cinnamon.
After dinner it began to drizzle and we decided to go for a walk assuming it would not rain any harder but were we ever wrong. It started to pour so we ran across Washington Square Park where we stood under the arch disrupting a touche by laughing not stop. Once we got back to our hotel, the Warwick we were soaked it was awesome.
The first stop was in Baltimore and it looked exactly like it does in the movie Hairspray. When we stop in Baltimore the first thing that came to mind was the song “Good Morning Baltimore”. After that the train stopped in Wilmington, where ever that is, then Philadelphia, more familiar. Then Trenton apparently part of New Jersey. Penultimately we stopped Newark then New York our destination.
After unpacking at our hotel the Warwick we met up for dinner with our cousins. We ate dinner at a restaurant near Washington Square Park called “Peanut Butter and Company”. At the restaurant everything is made with their homemade peanut butters. Peanut Butter and Company also serves shakes, hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and thing like that more American food. At our small table of six my cousin Jeanks ate an Elvis with bacon which is a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich. Genny his wife ate a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich and my dad ate a P.B.B.L.T. A P.B.B. L.T. is a B.L. T. with peanut butter. My mom was not sure what to get so she decided to get the Peanut Butter Sampler, thinking it was a little bit of everything the restaurant served but instead the peanut butter sampler was a plate with crackers, carrots and celery and all the types of the restaurants homemade peanut butter ranging from smooth and crunchy to peanut butter with cyan pepper. Nate ate a burger claiming to hate peanut butter which if you barely even know Nate is not true. For my peanut butter dinner I had a Jerry Seinfeld Comedy Hour which is a toasted plain bagel with peanut butter honey and cinnamon.
After dinner it began to drizzle and we decided to go for a walk assuming it would not rain any harder but were we ever wrong. It started to pour so we ran across Washington Square Park where we stood under the arch disrupting a touche by laughing not stop. Once we got back to our hotel, the Warwick we were soaked it was awesome.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 4 (Washington D.C. July 28)
Today was our Capital tour and later on the tour of the White House. Back to the tour of our nation’s Capital. We started by going to the House of Office building where at the entrance the whole family was wanded by security. From there we took the elevator down to the basement so we could grab a quick bite to eat. Since congress is in session it was very busy, ranging from tourists to interns and men in suits.
After eating half a Chicken Caesar Wrap I was off with my family back up the elevator to the fifth floor where we were suppose to meet our Representative, Culberson. Once we got to his office we had a little photo session and gave Culberson an AIDAAN.org wrist halo. Then we went with his co-worker, Katie and she gave us the grand tour.
The tour started with a walk through the tunnel that leads to the Capital building. The tunnel was lined with art by high school students from all across America. When we finally reached our destination, The Capital we went to the check-in area checked in bypassing all the tourists coming to the capital on their own instead of through there representative. We were off to see a short film before we saw any rooms in the Capital. The short film was beautifully done and summarized our nation’s history. Then everything really began.
Katie started by showing us the crept a room that was built with a star in the middle signifying the center of Washington D.C. The original intent of the room and why it was given its name is because George Washington’s body was suppose to be buried beneath the star but George Washington believed that no one man should be the center of the nation much less the center of a city. So George was not buried beneath the star but there still is an empty crept. Katie informed us that it was said to be good luck to rub your foot on the marble star so I figured “Why not” I’ll take all the luck I can get. Then Katie began to lead us to the rotunda of The Capital.
Half way to the rotunda we were stopped and told the room we needed to get through was blocked off. The room is called “The Statue Hall” and a new statue was being unveiled. Determined, Katie was going to get us to the rotunda and she did. The Capital’s rotunda was beautiful. The rotunda was covered in paintings starting at the bottom there were eight of some of the most important events in our nation’s history. Then above that there was one painting across the whole rotunda of our nations evolvement, the painting was done by three different artists. At the very top of The Capitals rotunda there was a picture that first appeared to be of Greek Gods but when I looked closer it wasn’t Zeus it was George Washington. It turns out the only gods in the painting were Hermes (the messenger god) and Apollo (the god of healing).
Later that night we went to the White House and it was a bit of a walk but indescribable in the end. We met Mr. Kennedy, our tour guide also special assistant to the president at around 8:00pm. After Mr. Kennedy helped us through secret service we went in to the west wing. Where in the foyer there were four pictures and Mr. Kennedy told us, every day the presidents special photographer takes 400 pictures a day and they are framed and rotated around the White House. The tour started outside the west wing in the Eisenhower Executive office building where we saw what president Nixon used as his office instead of the Oval Office. Once we were back in the west wing Mr. Kennedy showed us to The Cabinet Meeting Room and in the room the middle seat was higher than all the others (The Presidents Seat).
Then we were shown the Oval Office which was the most pleasing part of the tour. Mr. Kennedy asked Nate what the difference between the eagle on the ceiling and the one on the desk that uses to be the desk of President Roosevelt and it was used by John F. Kennedy. Nate got the answer right away there are no arrows signifying war in the eagle on the ceiling (The newer eagle). We were also told that President Obama kept all of President Bush’s furniture. Looking at the Oval Office I thought there was something missing and I realized it was the paint color. I thought it would be a pale blue but it was butterscotch, which was the color Barack Obama had picked. Another thing we were told (by the secret service outside the Oval Office) was that President Obama eats an entire bowl of apples every day the bowl is in his office.
Then we saw the press room it was tiny and I got to sit in the CNN seat. Even though the press room was tiny believe it or not it use to be smaller and an indoor pool. After that we saw the Rose Garden it was magnificent but sadly no pictures were allowed. At the end of everything we took pictures and Nate posed in front of the west wing. What a great way to spend our last night in Washington D.C. !
After eating half a Chicken Caesar Wrap I was off with my family back up the elevator to the fifth floor where we were suppose to meet our Representative, Culberson. Once we got to his office we had a little photo session and gave Culberson an AIDAAN.org wrist halo. Then we went with his co-worker, Katie and she gave us the grand tour.
The tour started with a walk through the tunnel that leads to the Capital building. The tunnel was lined with art by high school students from all across America. When we finally reached our destination, The Capital we went to the check-in area checked in bypassing all the tourists coming to the capital on their own instead of through there representative. We were off to see a short film before we saw any rooms in the Capital. The short film was beautifully done and summarized our nation’s history. Then everything really began.
Katie started by showing us the crept a room that was built with a star in the middle signifying the center of Washington D.C. The original intent of the room and why it was given its name is because George Washington’s body was suppose to be buried beneath the star but George Washington believed that no one man should be the center of the nation much less the center of a city. So George was not buried beneath the star but there still is an empty crept. Katie informed us that it was said to be good luck to rub your foot on the marble star so I figured “Why not” I’ll take all the luck I can get. Then Katie began to lead us to the rotunda of The Capital.
Half way to the rotunda we were stopped and told the room we needed to get through was blocked off. The room is called “The Statue Hall” and a new statue was being unveiled. Determined, Katie was going to get us to the rotunda and she did. The Capital’s rotunda was beautiful. The rotunda was covered in paintings starting at the bottom there were eight of some of the most important events in our nation’s history. Then above that there was one painting across the whole rotunda of our nations evolvement, the painting was done by three different artists. At the very top of The Capitals rotunda there was a picture that first appeared to be of Greek Gods but when I looked closer it wasn’t Zeus it was George Washington. It turns out the only gods in the painting were Hermes (the messenger god) and Apollo (the god of healing).
Later that night we went to the White House and it was a bit of a walk but indescribable in the end. We met Mr. Kennedy, our tour guide also special assistant to the president at around 8:00pm. After Mr. Kennedy helped us through secret service we went in to the west wing. Where in the foyer there were four pictures and Mr. Kennedy told us, every day the presidents special photographer takes 400 pictures a day and they are framed and rotated around the White House. The tour started outside the west wing in the Eisenhower Executive office building where we saw what president Nixon used as his office instead of the Oval Office. Once we were back in the west wing Mr. Kennedy showed us to The Cabinet Meeting Room and in the room the middle seat was higher than all the others (The Presidents Seat).
Then we were shown the Oval Office which was the most pleasing part of the tour. Mr. Kennedy asked Nate what the difference between the eagle on the ceiling and the one on the desk that uses to be the desk of President Roosevelt and it was used by John F. Kennedy. Nate got the answer right away there are no arrows signifying war in the eagle on the ceiling (The newer eagle). We were also told that President Obama kept all of President Bush’s furniture. Looking at the Oval Office I thought there was something missing and I realized it was the paint color. I thought it would be a pale blue but it was butterscotch, which was the color Barack Obama had picked. Another thing we were told (by the secret service outside the Oval Office) was that President Obama eats an entire bowl of apples every day the bowl is in his office.
Then we saw the press room it was tiny and I got to sit in the CNN seat. Even though the press room was tiny believe it or not it use to be smaller and an indoor pool. After that we saw the Rose Garden it was magnificent but sadly no pictures were allowed. At the end of everything we took pictures and Nate posed in front of the west wing. What a great way to spend our last night in Washington D.C. !
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day 3 (Washington D.C.July 27)
I rode the subway for the second time and as if I had'nt got on and off the subway all day yesterday. The subway doors bagan to close on me. It was avious to everyone in the subway that I was not a "native". That is how I started my day with my family.
We took the subway to the Smithsonian area, there was a cool breezeand the tempurature was around 70 degrees. We planned to go to The Air and Space Museum and a fraction of The National Gallery. I was trilled and now that I have been their it is something I could not have gone without. As we walked to The Air and Space Museum, we saw The Castle which is a red brick building between The Mall, The Smithsonian Museums and The Capital.
We came up to a modern gray building and my dad announced it was The Air and Space Museum. Inside their were all types of planes and satillites hanging from the ceilling it was awsome, the way the museum was set up is perfect for pictures.
My dad and I went inside a room called "The Golden Years of Flying" and some of the prepelairs my great grandfather work on were there. Seeing the prepelairs was very neat. There is a completelly different egine for the prepelairs. I found it facinating. While Nate an my mom were going on a very long flite simulation (which I heard did not go so well) I had Dog Tags made for Nate. After my mom and Nate came back I gave them to him and he loved the Dog Tags.Then we went to the National Gallery and we saw the only Divinchi in America. The painting was magnificient. Guess what? People were taking pictures of the Divinchi painting and other paintings. Apearantlly you are allowed to take pictures as long as they are taken without a flash. I did not have the heart to take a picture of the Divinchi but I did take a picture withthe famous Self Portrait of Van Gogh.
For dinner we went to 1789 a restuarant in Georgetown. This was not just any dinner it was the best dinner I have ever had and I'm not exajerating. 1789 is set in an old home that is over 100 years old and there is not one main dining room. There are an asortment of rooms, I guess what use to be the bedrooms. I had a delightful three course meal and dessert. The first course was a beat salad but the dressing was not heavy it was more of a beat vinegrette. The second course I shared with my mom. I was not so sure about this course it was escargo in puffpaistry. Then for the main course I had rack of lamb. It was great, especially the blueberry crumble dessert. So worth putting on a suit.
Time with Couch Part 2
Day 3, Monday was all about the Smithsonian. We started the day at the Air and Space Museum with about 300 other people who were also waiting for the museum to open. We could have stayed there all day. It was mind blowing the progress in aviation over the years. Nate and I decided it would be a good idea to do a flight simulator - we quickly regretted our decision as we were literally spinning upside down and had to hit the emergency red button! We then opted for a more sedate simulator where we sat and looked at the 3D images. My favorite part was seeing the X1 plane that Chuck Yeager flew when he broke the sound barrier at 700 MPH. Seeing the actual 1903 Wright Brothers' plane the Wright Flyer was not something I expected to see preserved in such amazing condition. Learning that Lindbergh's kept his head out of the plane window in the cold air to keep awake during his solo flight to Paris. He stayed awake for over 50 hours straight. All of these scientists and inventors who came before us just so that we could take a Southwest plane to take vacations - and send man into space too!
We had lunch in the National Gallery in the Garden Cafe and it was a traditional Spanish buffet. They had a really neat game for the kids to find the art throughout the museum. So, Nate lead us through the galleries and we were able to see so much beautiful art it was overwhelming. It was impossible to see it all. We were taken aback by the fact that they allowed people to take pictures of the art. Even though it was without a flash - we just couldn't believe it. But of course we jumped right in and took pictures too. Architecturally speaking, the National Gallery is truly the most beautiful museum I have ever seen.
After 6 hours on the mall we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner at 1789 in Georgetown. The restaurant started in 1962 and is in a home over 100 years old. The guys had to wear their blazers. The service was spectacular and the food divine. One of the best meals ever!
Tomorrow we are off to the Capitol, White House and maybe the Museum of Natural History....
Monday, July 27, 2009
Nate's Awsome Amazonia Adventure
We were at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and Nate was starting to become a very tired little boy. We were near Amazonia a part of the zoo wear small animals and reptiles are kept. I gave Nate my camera and he was off through Amazonia asking "Are there snakes? Are there snakes? I'm afraid of snakes." Then he continued rushing through Amazonia taking pictures of anything that interested him. Nate was disgusted by the tarantula and all the other creepy critters. After he had searched the in tier floor, Nate wanted to see more so he ran down the steps in to a more rain forest like part of the exhibition he saw what he described as bad butterflies, spiders and cockroaches. There were signs that said stay five feet away there are monkeys in trees. Bats! Bats! Bats! Nate started to yell. I saw no bats but could see the flash of a camera and Nate saying chiching as he took a picture of a strawberry poison frog. Then he looked in a microscope and was disappointed in the next few rooms until he found some bone models. Nate went back to the frogs expressing that they are his favorite, then headed for the EXIT.
Nate's Snapshots from Amazonia:
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Time with Couch Part 1
We are so excited to be here! I can't believe all that we have seen already. We navigated the airports and made it to the hotel. Our room is great and the hotel has cookies every evening. Nate is in charge of getting cookies.
The Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials were not at all what I expected. The Lincoln Memorial is huge and so beautiful-we had a great breeze coming off the Potomac. The Vietnam Memorial took me by surprise;so many names of those who fought for our country. It was the annual day when soldiers who were MIA or POWs are remembered by their families. There is a cross by the name of all who who MIAs or POWs. A woman in her 80's was there with a special framed collage of her brother's life who was MIA. She comes every year to his name and leaves a different token of her love. By the way we got a snack before the Mall at a funny German restaurant called Mozart's and had fondue - which Aidan aptly named "fundue."
Today was the National Zoo and we took the Metro - wheelchair and all. We got to the zoo early and it puts the Houston Zoo to shame. The pandas were walking around and were just amazing. The habitat where they live is so large and plush. DC is in general even greener than Houston. We also saw the baby gorilla - a little girl just born a few months ago. The big silver back was bossing everyone around while at the same time the baby was practicing standing up. So human. The orangutans have large distances of metal cable attached to 40 foot towers all connected through the zoo. And throughout the day they swing across the cable overhead while you walk down the zoo paths.
They say the zoo is massive and how right they are...Aidan would not have been able to make it without his wheelchair. Needless to say we are all tired and "our dogs are barking." Walking into the zoo is over a mile downhill and back up feels like six miles uphill. The zoo was such a treat and the conservation work amazing. We loved it!!
More from the Couch later...as in Hallie Couch.
The Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials were not at all what I expected. The Lincoln Memorial is huge and so beautiful-we had a great breeze coming off the Potomac. The Vietnam Memorial took me by surprise;so many names of those who fought for our country. It was the annual day when soldiers who were MIA or POWs are remembered by their families. There is a cross by the name of all who who MIAs or POWs. A woman in her 80's was there with a special framed collage of her brother's life who was MIA. She comes every year to his name and leaves a different token of her love. By the way we got a snack before the Mall at a funny German restaurant called Mozart's and had fondue - which Aidan aptly named "fundue."
Today was the National Zoo and we took the Metro - wheelchair and all. We got to the zoo early and it puts the Houston Zoo to shame. The pandas were walking around and were just amazing. The habitat where they live is so large and plush. DC is in general even greener than Houston. We also saw the baby gorilla - a little girl just born a few months ago. The big silver back was bossing everyone around while at the same time the baby was practicing standing up. So human. The orangutans have large distances of metal cable attached to 40 foot towers all connected through the zoo. And throughout the day they swing across the cable overhead while you walk down the zoo paths.
They say the zoo is massive and how right they are...Aidan would not have been able to make it without his wheelchair. Needless to say we are all tired and "our dogs are barking." Walking into the zoo is over a mile downhill and back up feels like six miles uphill. The zoo was such a treat and the conservation work amazing. We loved it!!
More from the Couch later...as in Hallie Couch.
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