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7.28.2009

Washington D.C.

We were SO tired from NYC and ended up leaving the motel at 9 am. The drive to our motel in Virginia was 4 hours but it took an extra hour from traffic and stopping. At one point we went off a random exit on the highway in Maryland and literally all the turns were "Government Property No Trespassing" and it was deep in the middle of nowhere. The tolls seriously robbed us.. it was $16 total. I had a huge stash of change and ones that were completely wiped out from that.

When we got to the hotel, the lady had us fill out this paper and looked at our IDs. She informed us that we had to be 21 to have reservations and that there was a problem since we got the reservation through Expedia. She called her manager and he said it was okay and to just let us stay. Then she told me that I didn't look 20, but about 9 or 10. Okay.. I used to work with kids.. I am not 9 or 10 looking. Maybe 12-14, give me some puberty credit.. but wow. 

The room was really nice though- it had a kitchen! Somehow it was the cheapest we could find. 


Our bus left at 3, we got into downtown D.C. at 4:30! We took the metro also and I fell asleep. I woke up to some girls being like "What that little girl staring at!" My head flopped over from waking up but my eyes were still shut, and then they were like "Ahahahaha she's asleep!" and I opened my eyes to like 5 girls around the seats behind me, still staring at me and talking about me. When we got into town we asked someone which way the White House was and started wandering for it. We were by the Capital Building and nowhere near it. There were people running toward the Washington Monument and playing softball outside. At one point we saw several cops on motorcycles stop traffic, then a limo and several SUVs with tinted windows and police lights fly by. We are choosing to believe that it was Obama cruising by. 

Everything closed around us except for the Air and Space Museum so we poked around there for a bit. 


We also walked to the Capital Building. We were sitting on a bench resting, and suddenly Josh goes, "AH! Somebody is throwing nuts at me!!" And I thought he was completely crazy but we looked up and there was a squirrel dropping partially eaten acorns out of the tree!

We took the metro back and overheard a man basically stalking this woman, and she was playfully shutting him down. He'd be like "So can you give me your number?" and she'd be like "I could I just choose not to" and then they got on our bus and he was like "Everything happens for a reason" and she was like "Oh ya? Then why are you talking to me?" I don't know. It was entertaining. 

Good thing we have another day in D.C. tomorrow!

7.27.2009

NYC

We woke up at 4 am this morning for this trip. The drive wasn't bad at all, a little over 4 hours. It took a while to find the ferry in New Jersey that would take us to New York City. When we got there we just followed the Empire State Building. 

Josh and I decided to go to the 86th floor of the observatory. Josh majors in architecture and its his favorite building. There were so many lines. It was worth it though, the views were amazing. 



We woke up at 4 am this morning for this trip. The drive wasn't bad at all, a little over 4 hours. It took a while to find the ferry in New Jersey that would take us to New York City. When we got there we just followed the Empire State Building. 

Josh and I decided to go to the 86th floor of the observatory. Josh majors in architecture and its his favorite building. There were so many lines. It was worth it though, the views were amazing. 


This bird was perched up on the 86th floor with us! He seemed very people friendly and we figured out why when we saw some tourists feeding bread to other birds up there. 

After that we ate at the first reasonably-priced, reasonably-clean looking place to eat that we could find.. a random pizzeria. Then we took the subway to around where the Statue of Liberty ferries are. The lines were bad there too but not as bad. It was HOT out. We were dying of heat out there. We got on the ferry and when we pulled up to the statue I was so thrown off. This is stupid, but I used to always envision it as small, like slightly taller than a person. Like the Man at the Wheel statue. It is massive.

Do you see those tiny dots at the bottom? Those are people!

I felt satisfied with the good views of the statue from the boat and asked Josh if he wanted to just stay on the boat and go to Ellis Island since we didn't have tickets to go on the monument or crown or anything. He wanted to go on the island. I literally said "I hope it rains" because it was so hot and humid.. and not even 30 seconds later it started down pouring. Everyone freaked out and the people who were at the statue ran for the nearest shops, the ones who were just getting off our ferry were huddled under the loading/unlocking dock's roof. I hate Josh.. lol.. he somehow got me to go out in the pouring rain. I put my camera and wallet in plastic bags. 


We got soaked. Completely drenched. It was fun watching everyone evade the rain. It felt so good to have the rain cool us off but it had that wet dog feeling after. :/ I really was thankful to get back and take that shower. The statue was really cool close up too, I'm glad we went out and saw it. 

I think I fell asleep between Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Ellis Island was cool too. It had luggage the immigrants used back in the day and all these stats and individual stories. There was a huge empty room on the second floor where immigrants waited to get on the island. I can't word it right, but I was entertained at waiting in lines with people from all different countries (we might have been the only Americans on the ferry!)... and then going to Ellis Island. 

After that we wanted to check out Ground Zero.


There wasn't much to see, its a big pile of construction. We ended up at the World Financial Center which seemed like an extremely cool place to work. Then we finally met up with Evynne and her friend Christy and went to this cafe. It had really good food and really good vibes. 

By the time Josh and I walked back to the ferry we were exhausted. He was sweet and got the car from deep in the parking lot while I stood around outside. I have no idea how we are pulling off a day in D.C. tomorrow. It is midnight. 

7.26.2009

Ready!!

I can't believe I did everything I wanted to do today. Rachel came over and was my "motivational buddy" (sat in my room and her presence encouraged me to do stuff). My entire room is clean and my stuff is all packed. I tried to pack light even given the amount of time. The duffel bag I brought to Washington held all my clothes I wanted to bring, with sweatshirts and jeans in a small trash bag. My blue blanket is also somewhere in the mix. And then just one box for school supplies, beads to make jewelry, and random little things. Everything fits in the car comfortably too! I was surprised. We filled the car up with gas, had to clean it out again, I made a bank account online, put everything in the car.. just.. so many things. I said goodbye to Kathleen, Troy, Rachel, Kate, and Mandarin. Josh's mom made us an amazing dinner which included her heavenly chicken wings.

Tomorrow we're waking up at 4 am (in 4 hrs..) and parking the car in New Jersey and taking a ferry into NYC! 





7.25.2009

Almost ready!

The other day Josh and I did a very difficult task: We cleaned the car! Here are a couple lovely "before" pictures:



It was so gross. I had basically lived out of it when I did all those summer classes and all my books, clothes, etc. were still there. We threw out all the trash, put everything else in the trunk (still need to clean that..), vacuumed, and even bought a $1 sponge at the car wash to scrub the dashboard. I thought it would be difficult to persuade my mom to let me take one of the coolers.. we have like 3 in the basement.. so I offered to pick her up various things at BJs first :). The cooler was nasty so Josh and I took it outside and washed it with the hose outside. We went to Walgreens and got blue and pink matching fans that squirt water and other random things. I'm a fan of the $1 forks/knives/spoons set.

We picked up Kate and the three of us headed up to BJs. I got two cases of frappuchinos, pack of water bottles, gatorades for Josh, and granola bars. We went to Market Basket too and picked up random snack food. Now my car is full of food.. 

Today Josh booked his plane ticket and I booked hotels for New York and Washington. At first Josh did the NY one, but in the confirmation email it said "Rate: AARP or Senior Citizen ID required. Show it at check in" or something so I had to cancel it and am not letting him book anything anymore.. lol. 

Tomorrow is our last day in Gloucester for a while. Still need to make hard copies of ALL of our epic planning and notes we've been taking, transfer an audiobook to an ipod, clean my room, and pack! I'm so excited to go on this trip. The other day Josh and I went for a ride around Essex/Ipswitch listening to Harry Potter 6 on audiobook.