i had the coolest long weekend with two american sisters, susan and mary {who my parents hosted in 2010 when they came to south africa for bruce and hlomphs' wedding}. we've stayed in touch, and it's been one of my highest priorities to see them while in the usa.
i was not disappointed :) we all met up in virginia and then roadtripped to washington. so here's the cheese in a can summary of the trip:
turbulence and the fear that i would lose my lunch {and dignity} to a brown paper bag.
so much excitement to see susan.
norfolk airport -- that has way too many indoor plants.
awesome shopping and lovely things at forever 21. and {finally} h&m.
guacamole at chilis.
meeting jackie o -- susan's amazing mom.
pancakes a la jackie.
getting an awesome, much needed haircut from sara at super cuts.
picking up mary j at the airport.
finally meeting olivia, the most loveliest baby {and susan's niece} this side of the atlantic.
roadtripping to dc {trying and failing to hold my breath going through the 3 mile undersea tunnel. it was ambitious, i know}.
driving past the pentagon and giant "octopus monument". twice. cause the gps is lame.
amazing hotel {still in virginia though, ten mins from washington}
catching the subway for the first time in the usa. sheesh, it's tough to understand the first time. think i got the hang of it.
dodgy smells in the shadows of the underground.
chinatown. and dinner at nandos. what an awesome surprise. and the food was pretty good too, almost as cool as south africa.
it's c-c-c-cold in washington. brrrr. but a welcome change from the 40 degree heat in texas.
raining in washington. again, a welcome change in weather.
too many giggles with two awesome girls. i swear mary, you crack me up.
breakfast bagels and lattes at starbucks before venturing off on our washington exploratory adventure.
mary not being the best navigator. susan and i firing mary as the navigator.
walking. walking. walking.
the lincoln memorial. really impressive.
the drained reflective pool that's just dirt due to renovations. not too impressive.
loads of asian tourists.
photo bombing asian tourist group photos.
the korean memorial. haunting.
posing by our countries engraved in the marble. fun :)
the einstein memorial and soggy bottoms. and more ridiculous laughter.
the washington monument.
the whitehouse.
super expensive lunch at the museum of american history. 140 south african bucks. sheesh. can you say, rip off in american english?
first lady inaugural dress exhibition.
the ruby slippers from the wizard of oz.
the first muppet puppets.
the first flag -- the star spangled banner. it really gives you goosebumps.
farrah fawcett's famous red swimsuit.
the museum of natural history. so, so, so cool. you can't help but imagine scenes from night at the museum. i would freak out if any of those things came alive at night.
the hope diamond.
a real life mummy. well, a dead one. but a real one.
the capitol.
the smithsonian institute.
back at the hotel and crashing. wow. we must have walked 5 miles.
great italian dinner at piola.
"we're on vacation" susan newman.
late night krispy kremes from safeway pharmacy.
breakfast at brooklyn bagel.
arlington cemetery.
the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
jfk and jackie o's grave site.
so many tombstones. it's quite overwhelming.
the iwa jima memorial {in the rain}.
cracker barrel. and dumplings. meh. not my fave.
sleeping for 3 hours. i am the best back seat driver on any roadtrip -- i sleep most of the way.
more shopping. love these girls :)
krispy kreme hot doughnuts. we made a point of going when the red light was on. and they really do melt in your mouth.
laughing at youtube videos.
virginia beach. it was soul-fulfilling seeing the ocean again.
funny photos with fake shells and neptune statues.
more starbucks.
mexican. surrounded by sailors {virginia has 5 naval bases}.
saying farewell to jackie o.
more shopping. yes yes yes!
"you is kind. you is smart. you is important." {somewhere there is a video, that may make it onto facebook}
so much excitement to see susan.
norfolk airport -- that has way too many indoor plants.
awesome shopping and lovely things at forever 21. and {finally} h&m.
guacamole at chilis.
meeting jackie o -- susan's amazing mom.
pancakes a la jackie.
getting an awesome, much needed haircut from sara at super cuts.
picking up mary j at the airport.
finally meeting olivia, the most loveliest baby {and susan's niece} this side of the atlantic.
roadtripping to dc {trying and failing to hold my breath going through the 3 mile undersea tunnel. it was ambitious, i know}.
driving past the pentagon and giant "octopus monument". twice. cause the gps is lame.
amazing hotel {still in virginia though, ten mins from washington}
catching the subway for the first time in the usa. sheesh, it's tough to understand the first time. think i got the hang of it.
dodgy smells in the shadows of the underground.
chinatown. and dinner at nandos. what an awesome surprise. and the food was pretty good too, almost as cool as south africa.
it's c-c-c-cold in washington. brrrr. but a welcome change from the 40 degree heat in texas.
raining in washington. again, a welcome change in weather.
too many giggles with two awesome girls. i swear mary, you crack me up.
breakfast bagels and lattes at starbucks before venturing off on our washington exploratory adventure.
mary not being the best navigator. susan and i firing mary as the navigator.
walking. walking. walking.
the lincoln memorial. really impressive.
the drained reflective pool that's just dirt due to renovations. not too impressive.
loads of asian tourists.
photo bombing asian tourist group photos.
the korean memorial. haunting.
posing by our countries engraved in the marble. fun :)
the einstein memorial and soggy bottoms. and more ridiculous laughter.
the washington monument.
the whitehouse.
super expensive lunch at the museum of american history. 140 south african bucks. sheesh. can you say, rip off in american english?
first lady inaugural dress exhibition.
the ruby slippers from the wizard of oz.
the first muppet puppets.
the first flag -- the star spangled banner. it really gives you goosebumps.
farrah fawcett's famous red swimsuit.
the museum of natural history. so, so, so cool. you can't help but imagine scenes from night at the museum. i would freak out if any of those things came alive at night.
the hope diamond.
a real life mummy. well, a dead one. but a real one.
the capitol.
the smithsonian institute.
back at the hotel and crashing. wow. we must have walked 5 miles.
great italian dinner at piola.
"we're on vacation" susan newman.
late night krispy kremes from safeway pharmacy.
breakfast at brooklyn bagel.
arlington cemetery.
the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
jfk and jackie o's grave site.
so many tombstones. it's quite overwhelming.
the iwa jima memorial {in the rain}.
cracker barrel. and dumplings. meh. not my fave.
sleeping for 3 hours. i am the best back seat driver on any roadtrip -- i sleep most of the way.
more shopping. love these girls :)
krispy kreme hot doughnuts. we made a point of going when the red light was on. and they really do melt in your mouth.
laughing at youtube videos.
virginia beach. it was soul-fulfilling seeing the ocean again.
funny photos with fake shells and neptune statues.
more starbucks.
mexican. surrounded by sailors {virginia has 5 naval bases}.
saying farewell to jackie o.
more shopping. yes yes yes!
"you is kind. you is smart. you is important." {somewhere there is a video, that may make it onto facebook}
trying to cram all my stuff into two carry-on bags. after breaking a sweat, almost pulling my hamstring and bursting several blood vessels i achieved success. {i refuse to pay $25 to check in a bag}.
farewells at norfolk airport. so sad to have to say good bye to my american sisters.
but...already planning future vacations and adventures.
farewells at norfolk airport. so sad to have to say good bye to my american sisters.
but...already planning future vacations and adventures.
x
