Another weekend, another getaway. This time Raghu, Max, Kalika, Rashi, Kalina, Kristin, Rike, Susi, Erpeng, Wanny, Wansoo and I (ISH residents from different corners of the world) decided to explore a city on the Chesapeake Bay - Maryland's capital city, Annapolis. After a short 45-minute drive from ISH, we were in Annapolis' historic downtown, surrounded by 18th-century brick houses, and famous inns and delis. And so our adventure began.
Our first stop was the United States Naval Academy. In a 90-minute walking tour, we saw the academy's training facilities, and learnt about its history and how it has evolved over the years (but with its core traditions and values intact).
Everyday motivation? "Don't give up this ship" was the dying command of James Lawerence in 1813.
A model ship in the US Naval Academy Museum.
A photograph of what used to be an armory.
A look inside the armory.
Inside Bancroft Hall. Fact: Only those with permission can enter through the main door. Everyone else has to use the two side entrances.
After a greatly informative tour, it was time to rest and refuel. We ate at "Chick and Ruth's delly" an Annapolis landmark.
Where's our food? We're hungry!
How can you leave Annapolis without trying their famous crab cakes?
Crab omelette.
Anyone for traditional fish and chips?
A walking tour of our own - Next, we pulled out a map of Annapolis (more like Google and Trip Advisor) and walked to each site.
A street in Annapolis.
Annapolis waterfront.
Brick homes and cobbled streets.
Annapolis, the capitol of Maryland.
Still walking!
The Old Treasury Building in Annapolis.
The Governor's residence.
Maryland State House. Trivia: It's the oldest US state capitol in use and it has the largest wooden dome in the US, constructed without nails.
Hello from our explorer (Raghu)!!
Abstract & Art in Annapolis:
A florist outside a cathedral.
Treasure: garden pebble.
Annapolis at night. We stayed to see Annapolis through a different lens (night vision).
A private club for members only.
Back to where we began.
ISH Tip: Never eat/drink at a chain or known restaurant when you're traveling to a new city. Skip the Starbucks and find a local cafe. So much so, that we even drank our goodbye coffee, tea and hot chocolate at a bar!
Annapolis is definitely on the ISH list of MUST VISITS. This half/full day trip takes you away from the DC work life and is a trip good for the heart, mind and pocket. A mind full of information and a heart filled with memories, we're on to the next adventure!
We logged onto our computers and found the cheapest AM bus tickets available. At 5 AM on an unusually cold November morning, we met in the ISH lobby. "I have dry fruits," said one of us and "I have a pair gloves, my beanie, scarf, and an extra pair of everything," laughed another. There began our day as tourists and explorers. Our bus driver entertained us during our three hour bus journey with his wisecracks. While demonstrating safety procedures and giving us emergency instructions he said, "If you see me sleeping behind the wheel, don't disturb me!" Another one that we remember laughing about was while we were getting off the bus at 30th street station, Philadelphia. He said," Don't forget to take your belongings. If you want them back, you will find them on E-bay tomorrow!"
We started our day at a quaint little cafe in the heart of Philly. Warm sausage muffins, cups of hot chocolate, and we were ready for the day. As an avid traveler, I have always maintained that the best way to see a city, is by foot. And going back to my point about budgets, truth is, we had no budget for anything other than our limbs! We started at 30th street station, and soon we found ourselves in the centre of the city. Quite literally, Philadelphia’s City Centre. Historic monuments and photo spots, we spent time reading guides and information stones. We visited all the major Philly sites - Reading Terminal Market, the old seat of the parliament, the famous Liberty bell, Independence Hall and the Benjamin Franklin bridge. We had our photo ops, and of course, how could we leave Philly without tasting the famous Philly cheesestake! Recommendation: We ate at Sonny's and everyone enjoyed their cheesecakes and fries.
After a freezing day, donuts and hot coffees, we were back at the station to board our bus to D.C. We left with postcards from the station, souvenirs for friends and bags full of memories. Not only was it a great day of fun and adventure, it was also an enriching experience to travel with residents and friends from different countries/cultures. On this trip, we represented 4 different countries - Finland, Italy, Austria and India.
The moment we got back, we were already planning our next day trip. Maybe, Ocean City?
My favorites from the cultural cookout:
Nan-E-Nokhodchi: Little Persian cookies shaped like flowers that melt in your mouth. The core ingredients used to make this Iranian delicacy are chickpeas and pistachio.
Pasta: This simple dish won everyone’s heart (and tummy). What made this a winner for me was that it was homemade, you could taste the love, and *wait for it* the two letter word we all want to hear today - NO ADDITIVES!
Uštipci: Who doesn’t love a little something fried? These golden-brown donut like fried bread balls will transport you straight to Serbia where this dish a staple. You can eat this with strawberry jam and preserves, or if you’re feeling Serbian, you can dip these in Ajvar, a dip made principally from red peppers and oil.
Sweet Boondi / Bengali Bonde: Being the cookie/sweet-tooth monster that I am, I was naturally drawn to this sweet from Bangladesh. These tiny bead-like balls are made of gram flour, cardamom, saffron and sugar. (Full disclosure: this is a common Indian sweet and it’s eaten during festivals/special occasions).
Perfect weather, perfect company. This fall event was a huge success with residents enjoying the day and learning something new about a culture/country. While the event lasted a couple of hours, the spirit of sharing, learning, and loving is always in the air, and ISH’s love affair with food and culture continues.
