Before we departed on our mini bus for the Lincoln Cottage, Annette and Gaby made an early morning visit to the Zoo-- the only free zoo left in the US, according to our driver. They seemed to have had a good time.
After our Lincoln tour, we went to the Newseum. This is a museum dedicated to news, radio and TV communications from the earliest times in US history. We did the "express" tour because we had 5:30 pm dinner reservations at the historic Old Ebbitt Grill. You could spend spend several days at the Newseum there is so much to see!!
Dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill was GREAT! Every President in the last 100 years has eaten there. It was established in 1856. They are the caterer for Marine 1. The food is awesome and there were literally lines out the door waiting for a table. If you ever want to eat there, a reservation is a MUST! It is just around the corner from the White House. We started to chat with our exceptionally nice (and very competent waiter) who used to live in Delray Beach, Fl until last year. He was made an offer he couldn't refuse on his construction company and mortgage company. He had taken a creative writing class while in college and his professor made him promise he would do something with his talent one day. So, he has taken a year off to write a novel. He has a publisher in Chicago.. He can only write a few hours each day, so he has taken the job at Ebbitt's Grill while he polishes his story. He gave us the plot summary and it sounds great!! Can't wait for him to be published! BUT, upon further discussion, we learned he grew up in Virginia Beach where Bill grew up! Turns out he knows
several friends of ours from Virginia Beach-- including the Standings and the Easton's!! His name is John Resh. Don't forget that name if you seen it on the book stands!! How much fun was that?!!! There always seems to be some surprise like this every time we take a trip!! It truly is an amazingly small world-- as cliche as that sounds!
BUT, we saved the very best for last! We had tickets to attend the Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington-- established in 1801 as the first Marine Barracks. It is no longer a training camp for Marines, but it is an active post. The famed Marine Band and the Drum and Bugle Corp are posted here. They also have The Silent Drill Platoon-- a feat they do without commands (all timing)! It is very impressive! They have been doing this on July 5 for the last sixty years..the music and precision marching is superb! After all, this is "The President's Own US Marine Band"! It was a stirring sight to behold-- finishing with a lone, highlighted Bugler atop the Barracks playing Taps...
It's home tomorrow, so the postings will stop until September when we are scheduled to leave for Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) to see the animal migration on the Serengeti...until then, safe journeys for all.....
John Resh ---future published author!
Marine Corp Mascot Chesty 13 and Chesty 14. Chesty 13 is retiring in a couple of months and Private Chesty 14 will be assuming the Mascot command position..
Until September.....
