Washington DC: Day Three- Torpedo Factory

As we were walking to the waterfront, there was a torpedo factory.  It looked semi-interesting to so in we went. This is the first thing we saw, and that was the only torpedo piece of memorabilia. 

 The rest of the factory has been re-purposed into independent art studios. Where individual artist could display and sell their art.  There was one artist who did purses and I really wanted one until I saw they were $235. Little out of my price range.

 After we looked around the studio (which was kinda a highlight for me), our walk to the shore line continued.  Brent found and anchor. 

 Finally, we made it to the shore line.  This is the great Potomic River.  

 After finishing up at the shore line, where there wasn't much to do, we realized all that walking we did could have been done through the local trolley system. (who knew)

 One last view of The George Washington Masonic Memorial from the metro stop!

Alexandria was really pretty, quaint and small town!  

Washington DC: Day Three- Alexandria

Alexandria was really a nice part of Washington DC. I also think it is one of the oldest parts of DC as well.  This portion of street was actually left as cobblestone- just like it would have been back in the day.  Thank goodness for pavement!

 Next stop for us was Robert E Lee's boyhood home.  Do you ever think I post pictures of random places and say it is something really cool?  Well here is proof I don't!

 Aren't these streets just picturesque?

 As we were walking to the shore. I would love to live in a townhouse like these!

 This is the Carlyle House.    As we started walking there and I asked "Why is this house special?"  Here was his answer "I'm not sure.  It is old, and built out of concrete and I think it was built by slaves."  I nearly stopped in my tracks. I was thinking, why in the world are we going to a house that really isn't important at all?  Maybe I didn't just think it, maybe I said it out loud several times.

 The actual house wasn't open yet, but they did have a nice garden in the back.  Brent was taking pictures, and here is usually what I am up to when he is doing that.

The house was nice, but Brent and I did have a long conversation about what warrants our time and energy on vacations. 

Washington DC: Day Three- Christ's Church

After walking about 15 blocks, we made it to our next destination, Christ's Church.  This is the church where George Washington and Robert E. Lee went to church.   

 There was a service going on, but we were to late to join in without making it really awkward for everyone.  We settled for walking the grounds.

 Love that we could set up the monopod to get pictures of us both. 

 I love the gateway here.  

In front of the parish house.  What is the parish house? 50 points for anyone who can tell me.

 Picking out our gravestone as always.  Brent chose modestly...

 And I chose lavishly.

 You can barely make it out but this gravestone says that women aged 152 years.  I am thinking the one was added and it is more realistically 52 years, but it would still be cool. 

Christ church was neat to see.  We looked in the window and it looked warm and old, pretty awesome!

Washington DC: Day Three- The George Washington Masonic Memorial/BIRTHDAY DAY!

Day Two, or more importantly BIRTHDAY DAY!  After waking up Spencer and Erica made me a delicious breakfast of fruit waffles and eggs!

Landon was really into the party as well.

After breakfast we hit the metro (ugh) for Alexandria, which was on the other side of the city.  Our first stop was The George Washington Masonic Memorial.  

It was a really long, hot hike to the top, there was pretty green grass and bushes though. 

I wonder what this sign is for...  I guess we will never know.

After hiking back down (because the memorial didn't open until 1:00 pm even though the website said 9:00 am), we headed into town.  Apparently kisses can be used instead of money.

Not sure what this is for, but it is kinda awesome.  Random stuffed horse. 

Alexandria really did feel very quaint. Walking through a small town, where nothing opened until at least 11:00 am.

I have to be honest. I was grumpy this day.  I know it was my birthday (which is pretty much my personal Christmas) but I was exhausted, hormonal and just grumpy.  I am so grateful I have a husband who will put up with me, when I can't snap myself out of it. 

Washington D.C.: Day Two- Subway, Subway, Subway

After the museums, we were tired so we went back to the Driscoll's. Only a few hour later Brent was itching to get back out into the city.  I wasn't thrilled by the idea, but we were only in DC for a few days.

Brent looks pretty excited.

We thought this adventure would be like London, where everywhere we got off had something cool to see or visit... We were wrong. 

This is a cool metro station.

A  little street that we found off a random subway.  

it was all chain restaurants and cell phone store.  We did see some fireman just chillin outside the station.  It was a great quaint feel in such a big city.

Here is the one cool thing we did see... I thought China town was going to be awesome, since the arch is.  I was wrong.  Once again it was filled with chain restaurants and cell phone stores.  

No one in Washington DC should ever starve, that is the only thing I really learned from exploring the city. 

By the end of the night I had really developed a true hate of the slow, inefficient and non-friendly DC metro.