Sunday, December 15, 2024

September and we are back on the road

We ended August and started off Labor Day weekend with our friends, Alex & Heather, from Hallandale, FL. 

Nothing like red wine and chocolate 🍫 martini's 🍸.

As always we had a great time with them.

We're off again! We were about three hours into our five hour drive and I realized I forgot a pair of shoes that were much needed. No big deal. There was a Skechers Warehouse Outlet on the way -- our first unplanned stop. As Rob always says, "If we forget something, we'll just buy it."

It was so much easier when I only traveled with two pairs of shoes. Now I have six pairs of shoes and a pair of boots.  

Our first planned stop was Savannah, GA. 






Time to see some family in Surf City, NC.


Rob, Jeff, Wendy, & I

Wendy & Jeff
Andrea & Adelina

We spent a night in Smithfield, VA visiting Kevin (Rob's high school friend) & Nancy.


Kevin made an amazing
Charcuterie Board
Nancy & I

We stopped in Port Haywood, VA to see our old boat. We were unable to meet up with the current owners Andy & Virginia. They had an emergency and had to bale.

Where to next? 🤔 

Welcome Home! 

We caught up with several of our friends in North Beach.

Rob & John Flynn

Debbie & Rob
Rob & Deb used to work together

Rob, Sue, Me, & Mike

Marie, Richie, Frank, Rob & Gary

Rob's old work crew



We took a tour of the new North Beach Library.


Can you see the dots?
They are to prevent birds
from colliding into the glass.






We headed to Annapolis to pick up Rob's tuxedo from Men's Wearhouse and we stopped to see our friends on their sailboat.



Doug & Dana. We met them on
 Stock Island in 2021

With our travels back to Maryland we were able to actually celebrate David's birthday with him. He chose Bonefish Grill and to our surprise Heather and Chris also joined us.

 



David I hope you enjoyed spending your birthday with us!

The main reason for traveling to Maryland was for the Wedding Weekend. We started with rehearsal at Kent Island Resort.

My Escort. 6'6"
The Bride To Be & Her Parents




The Rehearsal Dinner was held at The Narrows Restaurant. The food and service were superb.


Ready & Waiting

Father Johnson giving the
blessing over Dad Richard
The Happy Couple


Time for some speeches

Speech time

Nick & Shae's Wedding was perfect.  


A few Reception Pictures:

We clean up nicely
First Dance

Mom & Rob

My Babies

And We're Off



The Julian Ladies
The Older Crows


Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Crow!

After the wedding, the celebration continued at The Jetty where we, not really we 😇, but you all know who 🤭, managed to be escorted out of The Jetty by security. The ironic part of being escorted out was we were trying to leave. My impatient husband who had been patiently waiting banged on the bar and waved his hand to get the bar tenders attention, she didn't like it and called security to escort us out. Oh well we were leaving anyway. Rob said, "It's like quitting your job and being told you're fired." I know if you don't have pictures it didn't happen, but yes it did.

42 Green Tea Shooters
Courtesy of Brandon


We decided since we were already on this side of the Bay Bridge we would head to Ocean City for a few days. But before we left we met Florian and Brenda at The Jetty. Yes they let us back in and we all had a good laugh.


A few OC pictures


Fishers Popcorn
Old Bay Popcorn the best 👌 


Nick & Shae brought us
Fractured Prune Donuts


Boston, MA


Boston Commons the oldest city park in the United States. Also the start of the 2.5 mile path of the Freedom Trail.


Central Buryng Ground
Established in 1756


Haffenrefer Walk 


George Washington Statue
Ether Monument

Triton Babies Fountain



Brewer Fountain


Granary Burying Ground
Established 1660


Boston Waterfront

Harborwalk Boston

Custom House


Was I planning on jumping
in the boat? 🤔 
Apparently I didn't jump



David von Schlegell Art Work




As soon as we knew we were going to Boston I checked to see if the Orioles or Nationals would be playing baseball at Fenway Park during our visitWell neither team was but the Tampa Bay Rays would be (we are Floridans now so lets go to the game).


Our bartender from Boqueria Seaport suggested we visit Bleacher's Bar before heading into the stadium. It was packed! They open a section where you can watch the teams warming up before the game. People come in and stand which is annoying especially if you get the table right near the window.








Time for the Game.






Fenway reminded me of Memorial Stadium back in the day. We had a fun time and Tampa Bay won.

We visited the Boston Public Library not to check out a book or obtain a library card but to see the very first large free municipal library in the US. The historic McKim building opened in 1895. 





Courtyard







Sargent Gallery Murals


The Map Room Lounge -- yes there is a bar in the Library and no we did no
t have a drink.

The Bar

Elliot Room

Boylston Room




Bates Hall 



The end of the Freedom Trail 👣 took us to Copp's Hill Burying Grounds which is the second oldest cemetery in Boston. It is located on what used to be called Wind Mill Hill and later was renamed to Copp's Hill for the family that settled here in 1635. 


Most of the stone markers were placed before 1825 and contain carvings of different symbols such as a Winged Skull or Death Head, Winged Face & Cherub, or the Urn and Willow. The quality and complexity of the carvings depended on the skill of the carver and the budget of the person buying the Memorial.
 




We enjoyed walking through Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Rose Garden.





Trinity Church was very impressive, built in 1877.






Quincy Market - "
The market house opened to the public on August 26, 1826. The two-story Greek Revival edifice of 535 feet in length and 50 feet in width allowed 128 food stalls on the ground floor and exhibition area on the second floor."








Random Pictures from around Boston.

Train Station





The Paul Revere House
Old South Church

Old South Meeting House
Old State House
 
Site of the Boston Massacre
The Intersection is the Actual Site
Of the Boston Massacre 


Cheers "Where Everybody...

....Knows Your Name"

We really enjoyed Boston and glad we spent several days. We would consider visiting again. 

Where did we eat?

21ST Amendment, Vero Beach FL our favorite local distillery.

The Gardner & Sundress Drinks




Margherita Pizza

Flight of Bourbon



PS Tavern, Savannah GA

Tavern Brussels

Sorry Charlies, Savannah GA


$1 Oysters
Me enjoying my
 Oysters

Cajun Salmon Filet with Bean Salad

Crab Pot, Surf City NC


Grilled Rockfish 
Blackened Rockfish

Hook & Vine, North Beach


Dinner Salad
Fresh Catch

We heard that Pirates Cove, Galesville MD had remodeled so on our way back from Annapolis we decided to check them out. The remodel was done well and we really liked the new bar design.



Seared Tuna

 

Hummus
Ribs

Wharf38 is a new restaurant in Deale MD. Our first experience was getting live crabs 🦀 that we steamed at the Julian's. Our second experience we had dinner with Mike & Sue. Great new place!


Our Steamed Crabs 🦀 😋 

Crabcake, Stewed Tomatoes,
Macaroni & Cheese 

David chose Bonefish Grill, Glen Burnie MD for his birthday lunch.  





 


We always try to make a stop for sushi at Nagoya Asian Bistro, Prince Frederick, MD.



Spain Wine Bar, Ocean City Md is our new favorite OC restaurant. We had drinks at the bar while we waited for Nick & Shae to join us. It was nice that the new Mr. & Mrs. Crow joined us for dinner during their mini moon (we did not know they were going to OC when we booked). 

Tiramisu White Russian




I did not take pictures of the food as it was too dark. Highly recommend!

The rehearsal dinner at the Narrows Restaurant, Grasonville MD.  I would definitely go back to this restaurant if we ever find ourselves in Grasonville again.

Petite Filet & Crab Cake

Cork Bar, Ocean City MD 



Cheeseburger for a weekend hangover


Harrison Harbor Watch, Ocean City MD


The Best Oyster Stew
Look at those oysters

Salmon
Rice & Green Beans

NiHao, Arlington VA

Combo Iron Rice Pot with
 Chicken 🐔 🐥 🍗 

Dry Fried Fish
Very Spicy
Dumplings

BarTaco, Boston


Spiced Chicken Verde & Baja Fish Tacos
Street Corn

Black Beans

Boqueria Seaport, Boston


Aged Manchego 
Boquerones Con Naranja
Pickled Anchovies

Grilled Ham & Cheese
Ceasar 

Bocadito De Jamon
Serrano Ham Sandwich

Union Oyster House, Boston -- the clam chowder was worth the wait.










Oyster House Clam Chowder
with Corn Bread

Oysters on the Half Shell

Cold Seafood Sampler
Oysters, Clams, & Shrimp

Warehouse Kitchen + Sports Bar, Boston yes we went and watched the Redskins game. 


Signature Burger with Side Salad
Tuna Poke Bowl

Definitely worth the walk to Mike's Pastry, Boston. The walk didn't really matter because anything purchased at Mike's has no calories. This is my story, lol.




Mocha Cannoli

Pistachio Cannoli



We had to try a Lobster 🦞 Roll at James Hook & Co, Boston. A family run business since 1925. 





How did we get there?

Drove & Flew

We parked our trusty stead at the Crowne Plaza in Crystal City, VA and took the shuttle to DCA to fly to Boston.

Waiting on shuttle
Ugh. Plastic cups! The struggle is real

Screen told me my
suitcase was onboard



Where did we stay?

Hyatt Regency, Savannah GA

Westlawn, North Beach MD



Hyatt Regency, Kent Island MD





Gary's Condo (Rob's old work friend), Ocean City MD



Our View


Crowne Plaza Arlington 






Residence Inn Boston



According to little Ms. Google in August we traveled 544 miles by walking and driving.

According to little Ms. Google in September we traveled 2,198 miles by walking, driving, and flying ✈️.

"One does not travel in order to arrive, but for the sake of travel itself."