2-10-2011
While Alpana slept the day away, the rest did something useful. For us it was shopping.
Then a dinner and a Hindi movie.
This weekend was so much better than I could have wished for. It was so lovely to meet everybody. Love them all so much.
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Thursday, January 5, 2012
USA- New Jersey- Day 2
1-10-2011
Sunny but still chilly. Went for a walk along the beach, the four of us with our respective husbands and two of them with children in tow. So much has changed and in some ways so little.
Non stop chatter, the four of us went for a drive. I think our husbands must have sighed with relief to have some peace and quiet.
Another late night, a little too much to drink (the guest bathroom will never be the same again), a lot of laughter and finally some sleep.
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Sunny but still chilly. Went for a walk along the beach, the four of us with our respective husbands and two of them with children in tow. So much has changed and in some ways so little.
Non stop chatter, the four of us went for a drive. I think our husbands must have sighed with relief to have some peace and quiet.
Another late night, a little too much to drink (the guest bathroom will never be the same again), a lot of laughter and finally some sleep.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
USA - New Jersey- Day 1
30-09-2011
It is so nice when a bus has free wifi and charging facilities, especially when the journey is long. Took the bus from Washington DC to Newark. Then a long drive to Alpana's place due to the traffic.
I have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. To meet my closest friends from college including my best friend. So exciting.
Talked most of the night away. So much to catch up on.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It is so nice when a bus has free wifi and charging facilities, especially when the journey is long. Took the bus from Washington DC to Newark. Then a long drive to Alpana's place due to the traffic.
I have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. To meet my closest friends from college including my best friend. So exciting.
Talked most of the night away. So much to catch up on.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
USA- Maryland
29-09-2011
Loved today. The entire day was dedicated to shopping. Didn't have a thing to eat till dinner and did not feel hungry for a moment. Best way to diet, go shopping. Went for a fitting and was given some great advice.
Dinner at Malinda's parents place. We got to watch the younger nephew drink constantly from three different bottles- apple juice, milk and water and then run to the toilet- ongoing cycle, interrupted when he was eating cashew nuts or exercising! Very cute.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Loved today. The entire day was dedicated to shopping. Didn't have a thing to eat till dinner and did not feel hungry for a moment. Best way to diet, go shopping. Went for a fitting and was given some great advice.
Dinner at Malinda's parents place. We got to watch the younger nephew drink constantly from three different bottles- apple juice, milk and water and then run to the toilet- ongoing cycle, interrupted when he was eating cashew nuts or exercising! Very cute.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
USA- Washington DC-Day 2
28-09-2011
Ready for our visit to the Capitol by carrying nothing with us other than a camera. It is very impressive inside with the gleaming marble, massive paintings and statues and obviously the intense security.
Took a guided tour through the place which started with a short movie and then a walk along with a guide. Our guide had a great sense of humor and had us laughing most of the way through. After seeing one of the surly looking guides that he asked us to make room for to pass, I was glad we got him. He showed us the place the hand is said to have been placed in the Lost Symbol (a Dan Brown novel), pointing to the huge painting above. A lot of school tours take place here and guess what the children do- stick their chewing gum under the paintings!
After our tour we went to the Lower house, which was a little boring as their was nothing happening and nobody to tell us any juicy bits. Also saw the plaque in memory of United 93.
Went through the tunnel that connects the Capitol to the library. It is the prettiest library I have visited. The library of Congress containing the Gutenberg Bible, Thomas Jefferson's collection of books and so so much more.
Next stop was the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. A museum that was very different to the ones we had visited in Europe. It had been highly recommended to us and it lived up to it's reputation. We touched the moon, literally. Well at least a piece of moon rock. Saw the Apollos that went to the moon. The airplanes that did the first flight around the world, one at one go and the other with numerous stops. The first hot air balloon that went around the world. The section on the Wright brothers. And so so much more. An elderly man guided us through the museum, he was very knowledgable but was sweating quite profusely, I was really worried that he was having a heart attack.
Decided to have a proper lunch stop today, took the metro to Grand central.Had a good meal, a quick peek into the shops before heading to Arlington cemetery.
Arlington cemetery, the place was initially built in memory of George Washington by his step son. During the civil war it became a pit stop for soldiers and eventually turned into a cemetery for those who died serving/ had served the country. The Kennedy's are buried here along with numerous soldiers. We were present at the change of Guard at the tomb of the Unknown soldier. The first body to be placed there was during the World Wars , followed by another from the Korean war and the Vietnam war. The body from the Vietnam war was removed and identified by DNA, no more unknown soldiers now.
Went for dinner to a bustling pub, I am still shocked at the massive servings here. The appetizers are bigger than the mains in France.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Ready for our visit to the Capitol by carrying nothing with us other than a camera. It is very impressive inside with the gleaming marble, massive paintings and statues and obviously the intense security.
Took a guided tour through the place which started with a short movie and then a walk along with a guide. Our guide had a great sense of humor and had us laughing most of the way through. After seeing one of the surly looking guides that he asked us to make room for to pass, I was glad we got him. He showed us the place the hand is said to have been placed in the Lost Symbol (a Dan Brown novel), pointing to the huge painting above. A lot of school tours take place here and guess what the children do- stick their chewing gum under the paintings!
After our tour we went to the Lower house, which was a little boring as their was nothing happening and nobody to tell us any juicy bits. Also saw the plaque in memory of United 93.
Went through the tunnel that connects the Capitol to the library. It is the prettiest library I have visited. The library of Congress containing the Gutenberg Bible, Thomas Jefferson's collection of books and so so much more.
Next stop was the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. A museum that was very different to the ones we had visited in Europe. It had been highly recommended to us and it lived up to it's reputation. We touched the moon, literally. Well at least a piece of moon rock. Saw the Apollos that went to the moon. The airplanes that did the first flight around the world, one at one go and the other with numerous stops. The first hot air balloon that went around the world. The section on the Wright brothers. And so so much more. An elderly man guided us through the museum, he was very knowledgable but was sweating quite profusely, I was really worried that he was having a heart attack.
Decided to have a proper lunch stop today, took the metro to Grand central.Had a good meal, a quick peek into the shops before heading to Arlington cemetery.
Arlington cemetery, the place was initially built in memory of George Washington by his step son. During the civil war it became a pit stop for soldiers and eventually turned into a cemetery for those who died serving/ had served the country. The Kennedy's are buried here along with numerous soldiers. We were present at the change of Guard at the tomb of the Unknown soldier. The first body to be placed there was during the World Wars , followed by another from the Korean war and the Vietnam war. The body from the Vietnam war was removed and identified by DNA, no more unknown soldiers now.
Went for dinner to a bustling pub, I am still shocked at the massive servings here. The appetizers are bigger than the mains in France.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
USA - Washington DC - Day 1
27-09-2011
A day filled with monuments, a bit overcast with a few drizzles along the way but that didn't prevent the inspiring feel at some of the memorials, made me want to be a better person.
Started at the Capitol, beautiful building but we weren't allowed inside as we had bottles with us. Got to see the inside of the Supreme court, even the inside of a courtroom, they have lectures in there, skipped that.
Walked to the Washington monument, the walk reminds me a lot of Paris. Lots of joggers along the path, stopped at the Sculpture park along the way. A lot of Henry Moore's work in there, very easy to recognise.
The Washington monument is closed to the public for the rest of the year due to damage in the earthquake in August. There was a man at the top on the outside and a lot of newspeople following his every move.
Next were the war memorials, the World War II, the Korean war and the Vietnam war. The memorials were done well but obviously are not of any effect as America is at war again.
Lots of squirrels along the way, the cutest was one that ran and then flopped down on the stairs , literally went flat on the stairs.
The Lincoln monument was the busiest of the lot. I have seen this place so many times in movies that it doesn't feel new to me. Within my limited American history Abraham Lincoln is my favourite person so I really like this place.
Then we turned back and made our way to the Martin Luther King Jr monument, Franklin Roosevelt monument, George Mason monument (the most unkempt of the lot) and then the pretty Thomas Jefferson monument.
Last stop was the White house, maybe because it was from a bit of distance but it was not as overpowering as I had expected.
Had a great dinner at another friend of Jeevan's house.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
A day filled with monuments, a bit overcast with a few drizzles along the way but that didn't prevent the inspiring feel at some of the memorials, made me want to be a better person.
Started at the Capitol, beautiful building but we weren't allowed inside as we had bottles with us. Got to see the inside of the Supreme court, even the inside of a courtroom, they have lectures in there, skipped that.
Walked to the Washington monument, the walk reminds me a lot of Paris. Lots of joggers along the path, stopped at the Sculpture park along the way. A lot of Henry Moore's work in there, very easy to recognise.
The Washington monument is closed to the public for the rest of the year due to damage in the earthquake in August. There was a man at the top on the outside and a lot of newspeople following his every move.
Next were the war memorials, the World War II, the Korean war and the Vietnam war. The memorials were done well but obviously are not of any effect as America is at war again.
Lots of squirrels along the way, the cutest was one that ran and then flopped down on the stairs , literally went flat on the stairs.
The Lincoln monument was the busiest of the lot. I have seen this place so many times in movies that it doesn't feel new to me. Within my limited American history Abraham Lincoln is my favourite person so I really like this place.
Then we turned back and made our way to the Martin Luther King Jr monument, Franklin Roosevelt monument, George Mason monument (the most unkempt of the lot) and then the pretty Thomas Jefferson monument.
Last stop was the White house, maybe because it was from a bit of distance but it was not as overpowering as I had expected.
Had a great dinner at another friend of Jeevan's house.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
USA- Niagara falls/ Maryland.
26-09-2011
Walked across the Rainbow bridge to get to USA, even paid a pedestrian toll. Got stopped on the US side by a customs official as they never see pedestrians on that road!
Met up with the wedding couple and drove to Maryland. Long drive but great company, stopped for a bit of shopping. Love the shopping here, Jeevan and I are going to crazy at the shops when we get a chance.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Walked across the Rainbow bridge to get to USA, even paid a pedestrian toll. Got stopped on the US side by a customs official as they never see pedestrians on that road!
Met up with the wedding couple and drove to Maryland. Long drive but great company, stopped for a bit of shopping. Love the shopping here, Jeevan and I are going to crazy at the shops when we get a chance.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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