Annapolis and Charm City.

Since my last post we have been to Annapolis and Baltimore, MD.  Both cities are vibrant and fun.  The history tour continued also.  We are still in the Charm City (Baltimore) and are dining at the Charleston Restaurant tonight, supposedly one of the best in Baltimore.  Baltimore began declining in the 1970s the same as Detroit and other manufacturing cities on the east coast.  Due to some visionary politicians (including Nancy Pelosi’s father) the commercial waterfront was transformed into a recreational district with upscale housing, museums, restaurants, hotels, art galleries, etc.  It is truly amazing what they have done with the Inner Harbor District, where we are docked. 

While in Annapolis, our friends we met in the Bahamas, Rick and Eva, treated us to a meal at the Annapolis Yacht Club!  A fine meal and good company.  The only depressing thing is Eva is not sanguine about her sabbatical ending.  I was hoping for some positive spin, but none was forthcoming.  Oh well, I have six months not to think about it….

Annapolis' streets were made with ballast from ships coming from England.  The ships would take on cargo, so needed to get rid of the ballast.  

The Maryland Capitol had some historic events take place there.  Still does't beat the bullet holes where Huey was shot in the Louisiana capitol.....

Our marina was a block away from this place.  Cousin Berwick graduated here in 1939.  

St Anne's Episcopal Church boasts three signers of the Deceleration of Independence and this guy as past members.  

St Anne's.

The Naval Academy's football field is on the waterfront.  The Academy is in the background.  

Annapolis' ego alley.  The yachts will parade to the end, turn around and go out.  If you don't crash, your ego is intact!  

Charm City.

USS Constellation.  

The National Aquarium is in Baltimore.  We go tomorrow.  

You can take Bubba out of Louisiana, but ....

Baltimore's Civil War history is convoluted.  Maryland did not secede, but there were many Confederate sympathizers here.  

Fort McHenry in Baltimore's harbor.  The site of the significant naval battle of the War of 1812.  It was after the English bombardment that Francis Scott Key (a lawyer) penned the Star Spangled Banner.  

This is a replica of the flag flying over the fort after the British retreated.   

Kids of all ages having fun.