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Dover, DE; Annapolis, MD – 3/9/2017

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March 9, 2017 (Thursday)

Slept really well. The bed was comfortable and the room was pretty quiet (at least for me). We got up and putzed around. Michael worked on the blog and I watched television. I thought Michael had brought the cereal, and he thought I had, so we didn’t get our cereal for breakfast. We settled for our leftovers from the Cheesecake Factory.  I had his and he had mine.  Still pretty good, even a few days later. I had originally wanted to see the Naval Academy in Annapolis before we went to Dover, Delaware, but we won’t get to see it this time as Michael has been spending all his “extra” time working to try to catch up on the blog.

We got going around 11:30 AM and headed to Dover and the Capitol there. The drive was only about 70 miles or so, but took about an hour and a half. We went on highways and back roads. We also went over the East Coast version of the BAY BRIDGE, but it was over the Chesapeake Bay. Huge and lovely. The weather cooperated with us today and there were blue skies and the temperature was around 70. (We did stop to get some coffee.)

Blossoms in bloom.
Leaving our hotel parking lot. These trees are really blooming.
Nice looking estate on the bay.
Toll plaza. $6.00!
Twin monster bridges over Chesapeake bay.
The bay is huge.
The bridge is big.
Copper roofed building.
It was two lane country roads much of the way.
A stately tree along the way.
Brick, three story, old.

We got into Dover around 1:30 PM. The Capitol is very different than any of the others we have seen (so far) in that it is called Legislative Hall. It’s almost like Colonial Williamsburg in that it is a whole complex of Government type old brick buildings. It’s a nice building and the security person was very helpful and told us about the really old and original “Capitol/Legislative Hall.” He gave us a map and told us it was just across the courtyard. I walked over to it and got to see the pretty small and original building, which was interesting. So much history, so little time.

Great looking high school.
Quaint town.

Big square in the middle of town.

Didn’t know that.
Our Capitol selfie.
The Capitol from the back.
Brick work is nice.
Have not seen many revolutionary statues in other capitols.  And now that I am in the original 13, there is an absence of the other war memorials.  I am guessing it is historic preservation.
The only other war memorial on their grounds.
The interior of the Delaware Capitol is understated.
Pretty and clean.

Senate chambers.
The art is humble.
Not ostentatious.
Assembly.
State seal.
State seal in the top of the ceiling.
Rightfully proud.
In a hallway.
Revolutionary battlefield scene.
Exiting the building and headed across the square to the old meeting place. Liberty bell.
Old assembly.
Old senate.
Delaware Supreme Court house.

We left Dover and headed back towards Annapolis. Just a little ways out of town and on one of the back roads we saw a beautiful bald eagle sitting in a field near a pond. So wonderful! Loved it.

Eagle at a pond.
Vine eating a tree.
Very nice here. Sunny day, water all around.
On the way back and Chesapeake bay is still huge.

We got into Annapolis and finally found parking on one of the extremely narrow cobblestone streets near the Capitol. As I mentioned before, so much history and so little time! Never realized that the Annapolis Capitol was where George Washington stood before the new Congress and resigned his commission and his position as Commander of the Army.

Our first glimpse.

Very lovely.
Narrow streets.
Pretty nice out today.
We both really admired the lines and colors of this building.
Of course General Washington came here to resign his commission.  Where else would he go, but the US Capitol?
Our Capitol selfie.
Good read.
Part I of a good read.
Good read.
His hand written speech.
Famous painting of the famous act.
He read his farewell.
So, I know Washington is not really there, but, this is almost surely the spot where he stood over 233 years ago and resigned, returning total power to the congress. It is nice just standing here.

It is a beautiful Capitol with lots and lots of things to read, see, feel, and just take in. It’s one of those type of places that you could go back many times and not see it all. When we left, we walked down the steps and walked over to the Thurgood Marshall Monument. Lovely.

Read with interest remembering the courthouse in St. Louis where the Dred Scott decision was rendered.
Maryland state seal.
Nice marble stairs and banisters.
Nice curves.

Senate chambers.
Senate chamber, very nice.

House chambers.
House
Very ornate brass elevator front.
Silver service from the USS Maryland.
Very stylish meeting room in the Capitol.

The inlay is fantastic. A real artisan did this work.

Main doors.
Looking out the front of the Capitol.
Very nice memorial to the work and life of Thurgood Marshall.

We were tired, and hungry, so we headed to – wait for it – the local Cheesecake Factory in Annapolis. Just a few miles away. It’s in the mall near our hotel, so that was nice. Michael got my usual, shepherd’s pie; and I got Evelyn’s favorite pasta. Both were really good.

Our Cheesecake selfie.  We have decided to just try to do one per state, not all of them.  We would end up weighing 500 pounds each!
It is a smaller one.
I ate about half of this.  
Edie had a vegetable pasta dish.

We are now back in our home for the night, stuffed and tired. Another good day filled with lots and lots to take it. That was our day. Hope yours was great!