Things I never thought I would say: Oh Mom is Googling that right now on her phone......

So every year, we are trying to do a Girls Weekend in that my mom and two sisters and I will get together and catch up on life, smile, obtain memories and have some good laughs.  This year, my mom and one sister (other one is training for an ironman competition, or at least I think it is an ironman competition) came down to Washington to see *my* city and catch up since school was over and I found myself in a break before summer semester hits.  The plan - they fly in Thursday night, leave Tuesday morning and the rest is for me to fill up the time with wonderfulness.  So, let me walk you through our days and what we did and everything my mother and sister experienced with me while here.  There is nothing really to comment about the travelling days (Thursday and Tuesday) so I will just skip those and go straight to the funness!!!

 

Friday

Friday was my mother's birthday so for her birthday gift, we went on a Lunch Potomac Riverboat Cruise and it was a glorious day for that.  The sun was shining, the were hardly no clouds in the sky, perfect.  The food was so yummy and the entertainment was hilarious (watching Ma learn how to Wobble was priceless!!!!) and going up on the top deck to look around at everything and pointing things out to my sister and mother made it feel like it was *my* city.  We saw some wonderful things like where Obama keeps his helicopter (why this is public knowledge is beyond me), the only working drawbridge on the Potomac (sadly it didn't raise up when we were there) and the Titanic monument.   From the cruise, we walked to the monuments to see them all, which is something I haven't really done yet since living here.  We started at Jefferson (which was my sister's favorite), saw all of Roosevelt Memorial, hit Martin Luther King, then Korean Memorial, Lincoln and the reflecting pool, off to Vietnam, saw the Constitution Gardens and the area where they gave tribute to the signers of the Constitution and then to the WWII Memorial (which is my favorite). 

We were able to sit and put our feet in the water and just look around at everything, Lincoln behind us, Washington in front of us, the peacefulness and tranquility of the fountains.  We walked around the Washington Monument to hit the metro station and then it was off for supper at La Rosa Mexicano, which was amazing for Ma's birthday dinner.   After becoming absolutely stuffed and uncomfortably full, we made our way back home and basically just passed out from all the events and exciteness from our first day. 

Total walking miles: 6.2 
Food ethnicity:  Mexican 
Theme of the day:  Mom's birthday and monuments!!!

 

Saturday

Saturday was hard to figure out as the weather was potentially rainy but is why we have umbrellas.  It was a slower start to our morning but a leisurely paced one.  We got down to the Capitol and walked around the Capitol Reflecting Pool to the Botanical Gardens.  There was this dressed up fairy who was walking around; I think she was my favorite part of the Gardens hahaha.  All of the flowers and plants were amazing and so pretty.  Then we went outside to see the Rose Garden and it was like heaven in there.  The roses were so big and colorful and in bloom and just a wonderful little piece of heaven.  From there we walked around to the other side of the Capitol, walked past the Library of Congress and Supreme Court (which I never knew was that building), walked down to the Senate Reflecting Pool and fountain (where I had the surreal moment of realizing where I was living) and back to the metro station for food.  From there, we went and saw Freedom Plaza and walked to the Whitehouse.  There was a protest for Guantanamo Bay so we did not stick around too long in front of there, and the weather started turning a little sour so then we decided to head to supper at Founding Farmers.  Had another wonderful meal there, ate too much, made it back home and had some wine, cheese and watched Ma and Amanda do the wobble (which I also taped so I have such wonderful blackmailing material hahaha).

Total walking miles: 6.1 (excluding the walking in the Botanical Gardens)   
Food ethnicity:  Home grown American 
Theme of the day:  Government

 

Sunday

 Sunday was a clichéd day as we hit both the Basilica and National Cathedral.  First up was the Basilica, which is a short walk from my place.  See all the little chapels and mosaics there is just absolutely gorgeous and peaceful.  I really don't know what to say about this place as it is just an amazing place that is breathtaking and words can't really describe it.  From there we went to the National Cathedral, which was poorly planned on my part as I did not realize it was Pentecostal Sunday so they had a mass going on when we were there so we didn't have enough time to properly look and admire all the stained glass windows and go down to the crypts to see everything there.  But we did head out to the Bishop's Garden, which was beautiful and in bloom.  I kind of wish we had more time to look at everything there but oh well - at least they got to see it and can now appreciate how old and amazing it looks (in the picture, those two really really tiny people are Amanda and Ma standing in front of the doors).  I still need to go there and take a picture of all the gargoyles hahaha.  After the Cathedral we went for some sushi, which was again, delicious and made our way home where we played some cards, drank some wine, had some cheese.  Note to people:  when playing cards with Amanda, it is best to sit directly to her left as you may be able to take advantage of that spot hahaha. 

Total walking miles:  5.1 (excluding the walking in the Basilica and the Cathedral)
Food ethnicity: Japanese
Theme of the day:  Life and Gorgeousness

 

Monday

Ma decided that she wanted to see the Holocaust Museum as it is something that she will probably never have the opportunity to see so off to there was our first stop.  Going through a second time was good as it allowed me to read things I missed the first time and talk about some of the issues that happened, what started the war, things like that.  From there, we went for some foods and then decided for a impromptu trip to Arlington Cemetery, another place that I haven't been to yet.  On our way there, something that was bound to happen during the trip finally did happen - we lost our Mother.  When exiting off the metro station, she went one way that didn't really have an exit, took an elevator to who knows where and we told her to stay where she was and we would find her.  Amanda and I went down to the metro guard, asked him where the elevator went to and he said to street level, so we quickly went up there and saw Ma walking down the street, thankfully not too panicked looking hahaha.  The cemetery is beyond words - all the tombstones in lines and going on for miles and miles.  We walked up to see JFK's eternal flame and Robert Kennedy's grave site and then off to see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 
Now, the weather had indicated that it was supposed to be the day of rain and cloudiness and whatnot - nope, no, no it wasn't.  It was hot and humid and wet and hot.  Thankfully we had our umbrellas with us for shade but it was still too bloody hot out there for me, so after seeing the Changing of the Guard, we decided to go back into DC and head for some foods.  What was kind of crazy was walking back to the entrance, we passed a tombstone with my name on it and there sat a Blue jay.  So, naturally, I had to google what the symbolism of a blue jay means and what is one of the words that describes a blue jay - fearless (if you do not understand the connection, that is what I have tattooed down my spine).  It was kind of spooky how that had happened.  I had to take them to Fado for the potato quesdaillas so that was our last food stop.  And man, those things will never not be good.  I
could eat them all the time.  Fado is one of my favorite pubs so I am glad I was able to show them the place and I think they enjoyed it as well.   After Fado, we went and did the Monument walk at night as seeing Lincoln and Jefferson all lit up is a sight to be seen.  Just sitting on the steps of Lincoln with Amanda and Ma was a wonderful feeling. 
Total walking miles:  9.6 (excluding walking in the Holocaust Museum) 
Food ethnicity: Irish 
Theme of the day: Death 

I am probably forgetting some things that we did or experienced and some funny things I wanted to say about our trip, but at the moment, nothing is coming to mind.  So, Ma and Amanda, feel free to add to this with your comments about the trip, what you enjoyed, etc etc.  You guys came down at the right time as I was in need of some family and love; I enjoyed our time together and doing everything with you guys and glad you had a wonderful time and didn't mind all the walking hahaha.  So many more things to do and see next time you guys come!!!!!  Love you lots!!!