The Biltmore

We visited The Biltmore, former home of the Vanderbilts, in North Carolina and it was an impressive place indeed! Unfortunately, we couldn't take photos inside, but I snapped quite a few from the grounds. The flower garden was most impressive this time of year. I have many more photos that I will post at some point in the future, but for now all you get is this typical postcard shot to get an idea of the size of the place!

Fearless cat

This is Lucy. She was the sweetest cat and belonged to some people we stayed with in South Carolina. She followed us around like a puppy. We considered trying to fit her into that foot of space we have left in the car and taking her with us!

Changing of the Guard

Arlington Cemetery is well worth a visit if you go to D.C.! I was lucky enough to see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A ceremony full of pomp and circumstance.

Waving in the early morning light

These are the flags at the base of the Washington Monument. I managed to capture them in the early morning light with no tourists hanging about because I had to be in line to get tickets for the Monument at 7:00 A.M.!

Books!

I visited the Library of Congress while in D.C.. The building itself is amazing, but I also enjoyed seeing Jefferson's library (not the books pictured here).

Riding the Metro

I took the Metro in to D.C. and got off at Union Station. It's quite an impressive building!

On the Road Again

The one sunny spot on the drive to South Carolina.

Bathed In Golden Light

We stopped to eat at Mitchie's Tavern after seeing Monticello. The servers were dressed in traditional garb and we supposedly ate a meal they would have eaten back in the day.

Monticello II

Monticello

We visited Monticello which is Jefferson's home in Virginia. An amazing place for an amazing man!

Black Sun

This sculpture (Black Sun) resides in Volunteer Park in Seattle and is lovingly referred to as "the donut" by most people I know. If you look the other way through the hole, you will see the Space Needle off in the distance, so most people take photos looking that way. I decided to be different and take the shot the other way looking at a bunch of boys skateboarding with the Asian Art Museum in the background.

Photo Friday Challenge: Circular

Inside the US Capitol in Washington D.C..

Nighttime is the Right Time

That little tripod I've been dragging around finally came in handy!

Dobbin House

The Dobbin House is the oldest building in Gettysburg and where we stopped for a good lunch. The building was built in 1776 and was part of the Underground Railroad.






The crawlspace where the runaway slaves were hidden.

The Battlefields!

We drove around the entire area where the battles took place. There were many memorials like this one.






I'm sure he loved having his nose touched!









If a kid can climb on it, she will!

Cyclorama

The Gettysburg Visitor Center has a new Cyclorama which depicts the battles in an immense painting. They have added special effects and lighting which make it look like it's happening live during the presentation. It is well worth seeing, but you may have to see it several times from different sides of the room as it's hard to see everything happening in the 360 view over the heads of the other people!

Gettysburg Museum

One of my stops in PA was Gettysburg. They have recently renovated the Visitor Center and have a new Museum. These shots were all taken inside the museum. Stay tuned for more Gettysburg shots including the new Cyclorama and battle fields!

Two Things Challenge: Free/Range

There is nothing so freeing as the open road in a convertible!



We walked a ways with this little guy who was sans leash and therefore, "free range."

The Lovely Town of Bellefonte

This is the building I was born in located in Bellefonte, PA. It used to be a hospital, but is now a county building. I was hoping to see if I could get a copy of my birth certificate, but the place was closed. I guess they get Good Friday off! My parents left State College when I was 6 months old and I haven't been back until now.



We drove around the streets for awhile looking at all the great old architecture. We would have walked, but it was cold and rainy.









We ate at the Gamble Mill Restaurant which used to be an old grist mill. The food was excellent and matched the great atmosphere.



They bring in new artists every so often (probably monthly) like a gallery.



A table in the Bar.

100 Strangers Series: 1

The last few days I've spent in Pennsylvania. My last day in State College (home of Penn State), I ate breakfast at the Corner Room and met the waitress, Brenda. She has worked here for 32 years! She told us that not only had she met Joe Paterno, but also Smokin' Joe Frazer which thrilled her immensely since she loves boxing.

According to my friend who went to Penn State in the 60's, there used to be another career waitress who worked there by the name of Martha. She changed her hair color often and it was always fun for the students to see what hair color she would have the next time they came in. She was so dedicated to her job that she had two strokes at work. She mearly took a break in the back and went back to work!

Brenda considered it an honor to learn from Martha.

Two Things Challenge: Orange/Bug

This flower I took in Seattle certainly qualifies for the "orange" part of the challenge and it looks like a bug may have been chewing a bit on one of the petals too.

Cherry Blossom Festival II

Another image of the Cherry trees with the Washington Monument.

Pillow Fight!

It was International Pillow Fight Day and we caught it all at Dupont Circle in Washington D.C.!















Of course, the photographers were out in force!

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

This church is full of amazing mosaics which represent different cultures from around the world. We took a tour in which our tour guide moved very quickly, but was a hoot. I'll have to go back if possible so I have more time to take photos.