Monday 31st December
Once again we invited ourselves to Washington DC for New Year celebrations and, as always, we had a great time. M scooted off on a boys night out to the local stadium to join 70,000 others to watch the Redskins vs the Dallas Cowboys football game. Apparently tickets to these events are harder to come by than ones to watch a Manchester United soccer match and this game was a qualifier for the super bowl playoffs so the stadium was full to the seams. On the night the right team won, but they didn't fair so well afterwards. Is it only in USA where folks would head off 4hrs ahead of the game in the dead of winter for a "tail gate" party, take beer in the cooler (to warm it up?) and think of taking a portable grill? Anyhow - this is what they did - I think when we think nothing of this we will be fully localised. Not yet I fear. Nor was M sufficiently well equipped with clothes - he has been on the hunt for thermally lined jeans ever since.
We also enjoyed a meander around Ellicott City Maryland (http://ellicottcity.net/index.html) - founded by 3 brothers in 1770ish, it is on the Patapsco river where they were able to grow wheat and then mill it later. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad runs through the town and whilst we were there we saw one of those 100+ wagonned trains wind slowly up the valley on its way cross country. They always remind me that this is BIG continent and I half expect Michael Palin to be hanging out the window. The town now is full of antique shops and cafes and made a very pleasant interlude.
Thanks very much for a fun few days. 2013 and yet more US adventures await - I am hoping that we will be better prepared for some of them this time around. Happy New Year!
