Two hundred and thirteen days away. Finalizing some plans but needed the spreadsheets!

June seems far away....but

We are booked and ready!  Three spreadsheets, big plans and a thirst for adventure!

Airlines and Hotels

It seems doable 

Only a few long hauls

The National Postal Museum

I was hesitant about this one butit was very cool indeed. There was info on stamps, postage processing equipment,  the evolution of delivery, as well as postal investigations.  One rhing that was totally bew to me was the story of Owney. He was the dog of a postmaster who took to the rails. He traveled all over and was considered good luck. 

Stamps from around the world 

Colorful 

RFD stands for rural free delivery

Planes Trains &  Automobiles 

The story of Owney the postal mascot 

Taxidermy kept him fresh for over 100 years

He traveled all over tge USA on postal service trains 

Here he is! 

Sackler and Metro to Ambar

We crossed the mall and went past the Smithsonian Castle. We went to the Flagler Museum to see all the Jade but they didn't have any on exhibit . There were very nice exhibits but no photographs were allowed! I was able to sneak some photos of the fountain with a bunch of coins in it and then we jumped onto the metro and went off to Ambar. This was a Serbian restaurant and had a tapas like menu.  At Ambar resturant we ate brussel sprouts with bacon, grilled asparagus, red quinoa salad, white flatbread, lamb and veal Kebab, stuffed sour cabbage, stuffed  summer pepper, lamb and veal sausage, spicy pork sausage, spicy salami platter, salmon spread, shrimp kebab and a tasty dessert. Lastly free honey spiced rum shots!

Smithsonian Castle 

Money Money Money 

Athletics on the Metro

Ambar 

A Serbian Tapas Restaurant 

Yum

So very tasty

Brunch then Natural History Museum

Are friends Fred and Jennifer came by for a tasty brunch. We talked and talked and talked and then realized time has gotten away from us. Fred gratefully offered to drive us to the mall. We zipped by the White House on the way got a nice to her so I Bernie Sanders protest going on Democracy in action! Then we spent hours and hours in the Natural History Museum. We could have spent more time but it was very crowded and again time got away from us!

Everyone likes bacon 

Protest! 

Look its rhe White House 

On our way across the mall 

Stampy the Elephant 

The Right Whale

Prehistoric beasties 

Squidly

North West carving 

The Cholera virus 

Mr Fox

Jaguar 

T Rex

Fine dining at Fiola Mare

This seafood resturant was top shelf all the way. We sat in the Mermaid room in honor of Lily.  Grilled calamari first. A grilled seafood platter for two was over the top. Lobster, langistinos, Branzini, Scallops, giant shrimp, Diver Sole and more. Yummy. They brought out a tasty nosh for Lily's birthday.  Afterwards we went to the river and fed the ducks. 

The Mermaid room 

So many choices 

Fancy moctails

Yummy appetizer 

Beautiful 

Happy day

Yum dessert 

Feed the ducks

Pick up trash

Cruise on the Potomac River

We debated about taking the 4 pm cruise with the temperature hovering around 97 degrees.  The possibility of a river breeze clinched the deal, so we went.  The river was packed with pleasure boats, kayakers, stand up paddle boats and excursion boats. We saw many of the sights and some strange bits too. 

Not melted yet

River very busy

Dinner here later 

Kennedy Center

Lincoln and Washington Memorials

That is a bridge to be proud of 

Jefferson Memorial 

Not sure who these folks are

Maybe a boot camp work out group 

Busy dockside