Captain's Choice blog: Annapolis Part 2

Heading out with rain gear and umbrellas we made our way to the bus stop Monday morning for our return trip to D.C.. The rain never really materialized, just a light sprinkle here and there. Upon our arrival in D.C. we went directly to the Capital Building and waited in line for the doors to open. We were hopeful the line would be minimal for a tour because we still didn't have reservations. We got lucky, there was no one in line and the tour was starting within minutes. By the time the hour tour was over, the line was extremely long.
The building is absolutely beautiful with all kinds of sculptures and art work. It still amazes us how they could build these exquisite buildings in the 1800's. Such a feeling of patriotism and pride as you walk the halls of our forefathers, our current legislature and those that are yet to come.
Next up was the National Air and Space Museum followed by the National Museum of American History. Each one had some very interesting exhibits and once again we came away with some new knowledge. The Smithsonian offers eleven museums and galleries on the National Mall and you need a lot more time than we had to get through all of them.

Annapolis is the capital of Maryland and the Maryland State House was less than a mile from the water. Being that it was closed Saturday and Sunday we headed over Tuesday to take a tour. We weren't the only ones, just like Washington there were numerous groups of students also touring with tour guides dressed in period costumes. It was fun to listen to some of the questions the young students asked and to see the enthusiasm about the history of their state.
Some interesting facts about the state house include that it was the capital of the United States from November 1783 - August 1784 and General George Washington resigned his commission here before the continental congress December 23, 1783. Oh if these walls could talk!
There is a famous story about how George Washington was regarded by a man who might be thought to be most disposed to dislike him.
King George III of Britain, against whom George Washington had led the successful American Revolution, saw that the war was over, the Americans had won their independence.
He asked his American portrait painter, Benjamin West, what Washington would do now that he had won the war. "Oh", said West, "They say that he will return to his farm."
"If he does that", said King George, "he will be the greatest man in the world".
He did.
He resigned as general of the Army, and returned to Mt. Vernon. (Many people, both in America and Europe, had expected or feared that Washington would follow the example of Cromwell and move from victorious revolutionary general to dictator or monarch.)
Washington, of course, five years later, was elected as the first President of the United States under the new Constitution. After serving for two terms, he resigned again, and again went back to his farm.
These two resignations alone are enough to make Washington a great man, and justify King George's comment.

A few rain drops Wednesday morning didn't stop us from taking the dinghy over to town for one more walk through on the narrow streets and historic district along with breakfast at Chick & Ruth's. We overheard the manager explaining to two gentlemen from Ireland that each governor since Marvin Mandel in 1969 has eaten breakfast on their first day on the job there in that restaurant. They had a booth blocked off for the governor and they only use it for "regular" customers if they know he isn't coming and they are swamped. They do let the justices use it also.
Mark's favorite pie is strawberry-rhubarb and they advertise it along with 23 other flavors but every time I stopped in they never had any, said it sells out fast. They say three times a charm but it was try #4 before we were able to get a to-go piece for dessert!
That does it for our week in Annapolis, we really enjoyed it for both the quaint small town feel for a city and the historic areas of interest.