More of Maryland

Post date: Mar 25, 2015 12:57:41 AM

I can't believe it's been two weeks since my last post, here we are in Virginia and I didn't finish our stay in Maryland!  

From Ocean City we drove to Annapolis. Most of the drive was through rural, country roads, farm houses and open fields still covered in winter, produce stands ready to open in a few months.  We had to cross the Chesapeake Bay again, this time on the "Bay Bridge"  Luckily it wasn't windy, but the bay was covered in ice.  The bridge has low 3ft sides that are built with metal slates (so you can see the water) with two lanes in one directions and one lane (with no divider) going the opposite direction!  The winds get so bad at times, that some people will hire a driver to take them across.

We toured the Naval Academy, then walked around the campus, stopping for lunch at a wonderful old tavern (plush mahogany wood walls & booths) that is open to the public.  Very impressive campus, massive buildings, designed & built so long ago that the architect designed some after Versailles. Names & dates of naval persons that studied & trained there, but at this point I've stopped trying to remember those names & dates.  It's the memories & photos and the feeling of the places that matter to me. I've realized that there won't be a test, so I can just enjoy where we are, know that America's History started on this coast, but I don't have to remember which war & what year!

We spent a couple of days walking around down town Annapolis.  It's small for what you might expect for a State Capital city.  Again, impressive old brick buildings, some dating back to the 1700 & 1800's We were able to walk from the center of town down to the Harbor (where Kunta Kente first arrived in America) Small cafes & boutique shops line both sides of the bricked sidewalks leading down to the harbor. All awaiting the tourists that are soon to arrive.  We had a wonderful lunch in a Tavern that was built in the 1700s.  A couple of blocks off the center of town was the residential area.  Beautiful old houses on narrow brick lined streets.  We were able to see one of the homes that was for sale (950K) Three stories, beautifully remodeled. But like so many cities - no garage - catch as you can street parking.

We spent one day in a beautiful, on the water, small town of St Michaels. We had to drive back over the Bay Bridge, but the weather was clear, the ice had melted from the Bay, and there was no wind. 

Most of the homes were built in the 1800s. They looked like dollhouses - just perfect in a perfect setting.  We spent time walking along the narrow streets and down to the harbor. Probably one of the best Maritime Museums was open to tour.  It was a working museum (boats, large & small still being built here)along with historical buildings, ships & a lighthouse which had been moved from the channel.  Just a few steps up to the house allowed a self guided tour.  It was open to walk through, seeing & getting a real feel of the space 1 to 2 men had to live in.  The house was originally set in the middle of the channel, with a 2 hour boat ride to land. Amazing! There was also a building that housed the history of local watermen boats (crabbing) personal sailing boats to the first pleasure motor boats. The history of people discovering a new way to camp & vacation along the bay, channels & rivers. A great museum -  a great day.

Another memorable adventure -  in Maryland!