I could not sit still for my last weekend in Maryland. So what did I do? I left...and headed to Pennsylvania. Charlie drove up and accompanied me across the Mason Dixon line to Gettysburg National Military Park. Once again I was reminded how I learned what I needed to know about history to make a good grade in school but never truly retained the information. I suppose now I have a greater appreciation for the history of our nation and as a result it has much more meaning to me. I was disappointed that the Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting was being restored and would not be open until September. We managed to drive through the 6,000 acre park listening to our self-guided audio tour and stopped for some of the 1,328 monuments and memorials that are placed all along the route. It was hot and we got to see some of America's finest families. By America's finest, I mean red-neck. We were taken back in time to July 1, 1863 when the Union attempted to hold off the Confederate advance at McPherson Ridge. We ended our tour on July 4, 1863 at High Water Mark, where the climatic end of the war took place with Lee and his soldiers retreating back to Virginia. It was amazing to think that we stood in the exact location where the largest battle ever fought in the U.S. took place and also where so many casualties occurred. Of course we learned tons of little tid-bits of information along the way and even ran into some soldiers. Ghosts? Nope. Just a group of men from across the U.S. who have a passion for teaching others about the war. We even met a cute little elderly man (who of course I connected with) and learned that he had four ancestors that fought in the war. We completed our day with a brief tour of the Gettysburg National Cemetery and stood in the spot where it is believed that Lincoln delivered that famous speech we all know as the Gettysburg Address. I really enjoyed our day and was once again satisfied that I got to experience another piece of history.
So now I have one week left in Baltimore before I head home. I am ready for a vacation but I suddenly feel sad about leaving the city. While I know that I could never live in the city for the rest of my life, it has been fun. I've mention before the hustle and bustle of the city and how I enjoy watching it on my way to work. I have even become fond of the homeless guy on the corner having an in depth conversation with himself. I will miss my afternoon runs to the harbor and running up and down the steps at Federal Hill. I will not miss the traffic or the endless sirens which have become unnoticed background noise. I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, meeting my new niece or nephew, or relaxing!
13 July, 2008
05 July, 2008
Fireworks, Crypts, History and Portraits
It has been a while since I have written, so I will have to reach back into my memory to recount all that I have done. Working in a Jewish hospital, I have really learned about the culture associated with the Jewish faith and it fascinates me. I decided to visit the Jewish Museum to expand my knowledge. I made some Matzo Ball soup (which I really like), and headed to the museum. I learned about local Jewish history, their traditions, and their immigration experience. I took tours of two synogoues, one which was built in 1845 (one of the oldest synogogues in the U.S.) and the other built in 1876. The older of the two has a matzo oven, a mikvah (for ritual baths), and a classroom where the first Hebrew school got its start.
The 4th of July was questionable with the threat of looming rain. The plan was to sit in our lawn chairs, enjoy some wine and a picnic and listen to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra while fireworks exploded in the sky. Not a drop had fallen from the sky all day until we arrived at Oregon Ridge. Then it started, forcing me and my friends to partake of our picnic inside the car. Not wanting to be defeated by the rain, we grabbed our gear and joined the large crowd of people hidden underneath their umbrellas and ponchos. The rain did eventually stop momentarily and the orchestra played all the traditional patriotic songs. Fireworks were coordinated nicely with "Stars and Stripes Forever". Despite the rain, we had a great time. (Thanks Carolyn and Kimberly for the invite. Kimberly the food was great!!!)
Saturday I attended a photography class on how to take portraits. Photography has become a passion of mine and I want to learn as much as possible. My hope is that one day changing the shutter speed, exposure, etc. will become second nature to me and that possibly it will be a side job. The class was very informative as we learned how to measure exposure, select backgrounds,and pose people to achieve the perfect portrait. I also learned that I need a lot of money to buy all the equipment that I will need to run a business. I sure didn't pick a cheap hobby. The class was held at Brookside Gardens and I decided to walk around after the class and explore. The garden encompasses 50 acres surrounding conservatories, growing greenhouses, a Labyrinth and multiple gardens. It had rained that morning leaving the landscape lush and green. I also visited the butterfly exhibit. Upon entering the conservatory, I was suddenly surrounded by beautiful butterflies. They were every where. Occasionally one would land on my shirt and snag a ride along the paths. There was an Asian moth up on the ceiling that was massive (its wing span a little less than a foot). I felt very whimsical walking through the exhibit.
Sunday, I toured the Baltimore Basicila, America's first cathedral. It was the first cathedral built in America after the adoption of the Constitution. Construction started in 1806 and rivaled the Capitol in size and sophistication. It wasn't the dark, ornate cathedral that I expected, but as the docent explained to me, the Catholic people had worshiped underground up until this time because the British denied this freedom. They didn't want anything that resembled the dark, gothic architecture in Europe during the Dark Ages. As a result, the cathedral is bright, with clear glass and natural light illuminating the building. It was restored and renovated beginning in 2004. It is absolutely beautiful. You can't help but feel holy. The crypts underneath the cathedral were even more impressive. The arches and floors made of red brick hold the tombs of some of the great giants of catholicism. I am glad that I visited this historic site. It made me reflect on my faith and reminded me that religion is a freedom.
Two weeks and counting. I am looking forward to coming home for a visit!
The 4th of July was questionable with the threat of looming rain. The plan was to sit in our lawn chairs, enjoy some wine and a picnic and listen to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra while fireworks exploded in the sky. Not a drop had fallen from the sky all day until we arrived at Oregon Ridge. Then it started, forcing me and my friends to partake of our picnic inside the car. Not wanting to be defeated by the rain, we grabbed our gear and joined the large crowd of people hidden underneath their umbrellas and ponchos. The rain did eventually stop momentarily and the orchestra played all the traditional patriotic songs. Fireworks were coordinated nicely with "Stars and Stripes Forever". Despite the rain, we had a great time. (Thanks Carolyn and Kimberly for the invite. Kimberly the food was great!!!)
Saturday I attended a photography class on how to take portraits. Photography has become a passion of mine and I want to learn as much as possible. My hope is that one day changing the shutter speed, exposure, etc. will become second nature to me and that possibly it will be a side job. The class was very informative as we learned how to measure exposure, select backgrounds,and pose people to achieve the perfect portrait. I also learned that I need a lot of money to buy all the equipment that I will need to run a business. I sure didn't pick a cheap hobby. The class was held at Brookside Gardens and I decided to walk around after the class and explore. The garden encompasses 50 acres surrounding conservatories, growing greenhouses, a Labyrinth and multiple gardens. It had rained that morning leaving the landscape lush and green. I also visited the butterfly exhibit. Upon entering the conservatory, I was suddenly surrounded by beautiful butterflies. They were every where. Occasionally one would land on my shirt and snag a ride along the paths. There was an Asian moth up on the ceiling that was massive (its wing span a little less than a foot). I felt very whimsical walking through the exhibit.
Sunday, I toured the Baltimore Basicila, America's first cathedral. It was the first cathedral built in America after the adoption of the Constitution. Construction started in 1806 and rivaled the Capitol in size and sophistication. It wasn't the dark, ornate cathedral that I expected, but as the docent explained to me, the Catholic people had worshiped underground up until this time because the British denied this freedom. They didn't want anything that resembled the dark, gothic architecture in Europe during the Dark Ages. As a result, the cathedral is bright, with clear glass and natural light illuminating the building. It was restored and renovated beginning in 2004. It is absolutely beautiful. You can't help but feel holy. The crypts underneath the cathedral were even more impressive. The arches and floors made of red brick hold the tombs of some of the great giants of catholicism. I am glad that I visited this historic site. It made me reflect on my faith and reminded me that religion is a freedom.
Two weeks and counting. I am looking forward to coming home for a visit!
15 June, 2008
How ya doin' Hon?
Now that I have spent some time in Baltimore, I am learning more about its history. Apparently there is a whole dialect referred to as "Balmerese" which originates from the 1960's. Baltimore was pronounced "Balmer" and many words such as wash were pronounced with an additional "r" and sounded like "warsh". If you will think back to movies like Hairspray and Cry Baby which were based on Baltimore, you will recall beehive hairdos, spandex and a lot of blue eyeshadow. This past weekend, I felt as if I had taken a ride in a time machine to that era. Charlie and I attended Hon Fest. Hon is a "Balmer" term of endearment, short for honey, and Hon Fest is a festival dedicated to honoring the historic working women in Baltimore during the 1960's. Pretty much anything that appears tacky is appropriate. We saw foot tall beehives, gold spandex, leopard prints, curlers, big belts and earrings and heard the words "Hey Hon" resonating throughout the street. While the festival was a bit over-rated in my opinion, it was worth satisfying my curiosity.
Charlie and I also visited another vineyard out in the country. It was quaint, with good wine and a colorful host. In a brief 30 minutes, we knew pretty much her whole history. We left the vineyard and drove on back roads not knowing where we were going but enjoying the beautiful scenery. Maryland really is a pretty state once you get away from the sky scrapers. I have really enjoyed my time in the big city. I love driving to work in the mornings and observing the hustle and bustle of men and women walking to work. Men are in suits carrying their brief cases and the women are in their dresses and tennis shoes just destined to end up in the back of a magazine on the "don't" list of how to dress. An occasional homeless person is sitting in a window seal asleep, oblivious to new day surrounding them. Oh yes, the constant sirens, horns honking, yelling, trains...these things are just background noises to me now. In the city, you pass people from every walk of life. The stench of urine hits your nose well before you see the homeless guy sitting at the bus stop. The site of yellow tape surrounding a crime scene viewed from my apartment window makes me uneasy but none-the-less, I refused to be held hostage because of fear. It would appear that I will have a little longer to enjoy or be annoyed by these things. I will be extending a few extra weeks before I take a very needed month off. I am looking forward to seeing family and friends and eagerly waiting the birth of my new niece or nephew.
Charlie and I also visited another vineyard out in the country. It was quaint, with good wine and a colorful host. In a brief 30 minutes, we knew pretty much her whole history. We left the vineyard and drove on back roads not knowing where we were going but enjoying the beautiful scenery. Maryland really is a pretty state once you get away from the sky scrapers. I have really enjoyed my time in the big city. I love driving to work in the mornings and observing the hustle and bustle of men and women walking to work. Men are in suits carrying their brief cases and the women are in their dresses and tennis shoes just destined to end up in the back of a magazine on the "don't" list of how to dress. An occasional homeless person is sitting in a window seal asleep, oblivious to new day surrounding them. Oh yes, the constant sirens, horns honking, yelling, trains...these things are just background noises to me now. In the city, you pass people from every walk of life. The stench of urine hits your nose well before you see the homeless guy sitting at the bus stop. The site of yellow tape surrounding a crime scene viewed from my apartment window makes me uneasy but none-the-less, I refused to be held hostage because of fear. It would appear that I will have a little longer to enjoy or be annoyed by these things. I will be extending a few extra weeks before I take a very needed month off. I am looking forward to seeing family and friends and eagerly waiting the birth of my new niece or nephew.
10 June, 2008
Gurlz Weekend
Four beautiful women roaming around a big city, exploring and dining out...No, not a scene from the new Sex and The City movie featuring Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte or Miranda. Three of my friends-Wendy, Seana and Angele-flew up last weekend. It was nice to see some familiar faces. It always amazes me how we can be apart for so long and pick right back up where we left off. Everyone had arrived by early Friday. After lunch overlooking the harbor, we walked around Fells Point admiring the cute dresses and clothes but knowing that none of us were going to lay down $300-400 to buy them. A few souvenirs were purchased and we returned to my apartment to relax. We headed to Little Italy for some authentic Italian food. Our waiter had to warm up to us and by the end of the night kept us all entertained. I couldn't tell if he was interested in us getting our fiber or wanting a bigger tip as he kept pushing for us all to get salads. "You do not want your greens?" He was very insightful with his many quotes such as, "Life is not always about hot dogs and hamburgers." I am being sarcastic of course. Friday night we ended up playing card games until we had to go to sleep.
Conveniently located near my apartment and still in our pajamas, we got coffee and donuts from Dunkin Donuts Saturday morning. Not moving to quickly, we finally headed out the door and shopped a little in Hamden, the neighborhood where the movie Hairspray was filmed. We then drove a little north of Baltimore to Basignani Vineyard. The drive was beautiful with rolling hills and cute stone cottages, a big change from the city. The tasting room was quaint and dusty. I get the whole vintage look but seriously. How about dusting? This would not be the best place for someone with allergies. We enjoyed sampling wine and had a picnic on the grounds. Even in the shade it was somewhat hot but tolerable. After resting up, we headed to the inner harbor to take in the sights, by that I mean people watching. We started out with dinner outside until a quick lightening storm decided to sneak up. We retreated inside and left when it appeared to be clear. Besides battling the hole in the air mattress, the weekend fun and relaxing for all. The girls got a dose of what I see and deal with on a daily basis living in the city. It was fun having a girls weekend and I hope we get to do it again soon. Thanks for visiting girls!!!
Conveniently located near my apartment and still in our pajamas, we got coffee and donuts from Dunkin Donuts Saturday morning. Not moving to quickly, we finally headed out the door and shopped a little in Hamden, the neighborhood where the movie Hairspray was filmed. We then drove a little north of Baltimore to Basignani Vineyard. The drive was beautiful with rolling hills and cute stone cottages, a big change from the city. The tasting room was quaint and dusty. I get the whole vintage look but seriously. How about dusting? This would not be the best place for someone with allergies. We enjoyed sampling wine and had a picnic on the grounds. Even in the shade it was somewhat hot but tolerable. After resting up, we headed to the inner harbor to take in the sights, by that I mean people watching. We started out with dinner outside until a quick lightening storm decided to sneak up. We retreated inside and left when it appeared to be clear. Besides battling the hole in the air mattress, the weekend fun and relaxing for all. The girls got a dose of what I see and deal with on a daily basis living in the city. It was fun having a girls weekend and I hope we get to do it again soon. Thanks for visiting girls!!!
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