On Vacation: Saturday

We're almost there . . . .

• We were up and ready to go early, which the kids weren't too keen on. They were sad that the vacation was drawing to a close, even sad to be saying goodbye to the hotel. And the Washington Monument! We drove past the Iwo Jima Memorial one last time--it was very close to our hotel--and I giggled recalling an earlier conversation with Sis. She wanted to know who "Ima Jima" was. And I explained, as I had several times, that it was an island where a battle was fought and the soldiers were raising the flag to show that they'd won. She seemed disappointed to learn it wasn't a woman because then she said, "I want to name my first baby Ima Jima." Or would that be "Imogema"?
• National Aquarium in Baltimore was the only thing on our itinerary and about an hour away. It's located in the Inner Harbor, somewhat akin, in spirit at least, to the River Walk in San Antonio. Lucky we were there just when it opened because the line just to buy tickets was incredibly long by the time we left--it is a very popular place. And no wonder! There are sharks, a dolphin show, stingrays, a leatherback turtle with missing flipper, colorful coral reefs, a rainforest exhibit with a hiding marmoset, and the Australia exhibit with rainbow lorikeet and guldalian finch (I think). But the best part, arguably? Riding all the escalators up and down through the multi-level space. The kids loved the dolphin show--the flipping in the air and splashing. Bud had even asked one of the volunteers near the tank beforehand why the dolphins jump out of the water--and Pop, the woman gave your answer (though not word for word): "because they're loving life!" Bud laughed to realize that animals could do things for fun too. (Note: during the show, it was also explained that scientists think the jumping might also be to look for food, remove parasites from their bodies, or to communicate. But they just don't know.) Bud also asked one of the trainers after what his suit was made of. And I asked whether the dolphins we see (or are they porpoise--apparently the "rostrum" is different) in the Gulf are the same North Atlantic Dolphins; could be, he said. Maybe we can check this summer! Sis didn't like the sharks so much so we let Bud and Mama explore them on their own. She did like all the coral reef tanks and helped Mama take pictures. Mama especially like photographing the colorful birds in the Australia area. I liked watching the rays glide through their huge tank. And everybody liked the jellyfish. Their favorites were what we now call "bumping jellies" because they tended to run into each other a lot. Bud and Sis stood in front of that tank bumping into each other and laughing hysterically. I'm gonna start calling them "bumping jellies!"
• Then we had our long drive home through MD, DE, NJ, NY, and CT. Nothing special to do or see, just stopping for input and output. But to our great amazement and relief, the kids slept through all the states but the last two and so we made it in record time (as Mama and I crossed our legs so as not to have to stop and wake them up!)
• After dinner at babysitter's restaurant in CT (which was better than trying to find a place to eat somewhere off the highway in NY), we finally arrived home . . . .though, it didn't feel like home completely until we picked up our kitties at "kitty kamp" today.

And a few random things I forgot:

• Starting at the welcome center in PA, we picked up a lot of travel brochures along the way. Bud's favorite was the one advertising Medieval Times, the dinner show. He really wants to do that next time!
• Did I mention that Mama has National Parks passports for everyone? But because we never made it to any actual memorials, we only got the stamps at Gettysburg. We'll have them for next time.
• I didn't mention souvenirs much, if only to downplay the "gimme" aspect of the trip. But we did bring home the stuff. Mama gets a patch or pin anywhere she goes. I tend towards t-shirts or mugs or magnets. We both like books and now have several from Gettysburg (on civilians during the war, Civil War-era recipes, etc) and the American Indian museum (folktales and an explanatory introduction). The kids decided they wanted to collect stuffed snakes--each got one. Great.
• Because, see, I don't like snakes and usually they're pretty good at warning me about and protecting me from snakes on view, like at the Aquarium.
• Food-wise, this was a great trip for Mama and I, with new foods at Gettysburg (that incredible peanut soup), 2Amys, Mitsitam at NMAI, the Lebanese place, and even Whole Foods. Sis, however, really wasn't in her element and found very little pleasing--"where are our regular restaurants?" I think her favorite meal was the last one, in CT. Bud vacillated between fruit cups, Gorilla Crunch cereal, and whatever there was on offer. They're gonna have to get with it though, because Mama and I like to eat.

Whew. That's it--our first big family vacation (where family weren't at our destination)! And I think we'll be doing more soon (either around Philly or Boston, that is, after Texas early in the summer).