Balt-errific...

having driven our swagga wagon (with 3 kids and up to 3 dogs!) between dallas, philadelphia and naples, florida way too many times in the past four years, our family has explored the cities along our path of highway.

new year's in knoxville, bikes on beale in memphis, hollarin' "who 'dat" through the french quarter in new orleans. you get the pic.

(and have i mentioned the red ant infestation in raleigh?  on a 98 degree day? can you tell it was a maisy/duffy fave day?)

back to baltimore.


perhaps due to it's location too near our destination/departure city of philly, we've managed only a glance at baltimore as we zoomed strolled past on 95. 

after this weekend, never again will baltimore be only "glance-worthy" to us. instead our car will be filled with...

"hey, i see the marriott where we stayed with the awesome view!  remember the purple garbage boat trying to pick up the coke bottle?"
"it wasn't a coke bottle."
"yes, it was."
"no, it wasn't.  it was sprite."
"nooooo, it was coke. mom, wasn't it? it was coke. itwascoke! itwascokeitwascoke!"

"there's the aquarium where we saw the dolphin show.  what were their names, mom? remember when that one dolphin flew up to hit the ball?  what were their names, mom? delaware?  philly?  sue?  mom. mom. mom. mom. mom. MOOOOOM!"

"...ooooh....i think i see the red 7 foot lighthouse.  why was it called the 7 foot lighthouse?   didn't they go to the bathroom right into the ocean, mom?  remember?  remember?  if there was a lighthouse like that today, mom, would they still go in the ocean?  what to tankers do with the poo, mom? mom? mom? mom?"

"there's another world trade center building in baltimore, right, mom?  right?  was that named after the towers in new york?  which was built first? remember the piece of the crumbled tower and the names?  did you know someone who died in the tower, mom? who was the person you knew?  why did those people do that, mom?  mom? mom?"

then i'd seal their mouths with duct tape and peacefully take in the sights in my mind's eye, stepping back to see...

...the scrawny gargoyle guarding the dark alleyway in historic fells point.

....the details of divine old craftsmanship.

....cobblestone roads.

...corner brownstones with their doorways on a 45.

...su casa, a home store worth a stroll.

...with its stylish displays.

...and how about this vintage painted piece in their sister surf shop a few doors down?

baltimore, stranger no more.

now git there.  soon.  and tell 'em i sent ya.

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