PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania

4/5 January 2013: While in Washington DC, we took Stuart on a trip to Philadelphia and New Jersey. Janet had already left to go home to Wales. We joined a tour of Philadelphia City Hall, which took so long to build (30 years) that by the time it was finished it was considered out of style and quite the monstrosity. Now it is being appreciated for the architectural style it represents.

Philadelphia City Hall

 

 

That's Thom and Stuart peering out of the window.

 

 

Beautiful from ceiling...

 

... to floor.

 

The $8 ninety-minute tour included a trip up the lift to the top of the spire,

where William Penn watches over the city...

 

... and where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of modern Phildadelphia.

 

You can't be in Phili and not have a Philadelphia Cheese Steak, so here is Stuart with his.

 

Nor can you leave without having you picture taken with Rocky.

 

We crossed over into New Jersey and spend the evening with Thom's family.

Pictured are Debbie, Don, Sheila, Tony, Stuart and Georgeanne.

 



WASHINGTON DC

22 December 2012: We left Key West and headed north to stay the night in Melbourne. We had some wonderful pastries at a gas station in southern Florida, quite a surprise. But not close to the surprise Sheila got when she went to use the restroom:

Thankfully, there was a regular door as well as the barred door.  

23 December 2012: We arrived in McLean in the Washington DC area in time for Christmas with family at the home of Sandra and John, Stuart's daughter and son-in-law. Stuart's wife, Sheila's sister, was already there enjoying her grandson and granddaughter.

Sandra, Stuart, John and Daniel with Sandra and John's children.





We visited the National Archives

We toured George Washington's home and museum at Mt. Vernon.

We visited where George and Martha Washington are buried.

The Washington Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ seemed to hover in the sky
as we drove the city's beltway.

The Museum of Natural History

No, not my Christmas gift from Thom,

 it is the Hope Diamond at the Museum of Natural History, Washington DC

We visited both the east and west buildings of the National Museum of Art.

US Marines memorial (Iwo Jima statue) by Arlington Cemetery

Union Station

The old workhouse south of DC, now home to art of all types:

painting, ceramics, glass, dance, etc.

The weather wasn't always the greatest: this is the Washington Monument, but we had a great time with family and seeing Washington DC more in depth than usual.