Baltimore

The flights from Minneapolis to Baltimore went very smoothly except for one big bump as we were approaching Baltimore. The pilot was in the middle of his "thank you for flying with us" speech, when we hit the big bump. Everyone let out a little shriek. The pilot paused, and then picked up his narrative again, "Sorry about that big pothole folks."

We caught a taxi that was nearly twice as expensive as we had been led to believe to the Mt. Vernon Hotel in downtown Baltimore. The location is just wonderful for walking to just about any location of interest in the city. We are a block from Charles St., which has many shops and places to eat, and is central to many sights. 

The culture shock for us couldn't be more pronounced after living on the Dakota prairie for almost a month. The pace of life is much faster, the crowds much greater, and the land scape might as well be on a different planet from where we've been.

Baltimore is obviously a financial center, as there are many skyscrapers with names of banks on them...and we were worried we wouldn't be able to find an ATM machine....all we have to do is cross the street. There are also many cathedrals with impressive domes and spires in the skyline. Our hotel is hemmed in by gigantic church buildings. We had little if any cell phone reception throughout the Dakotas. This is no longer as problem. Ironically, I can't get wireless internet in our hotel room, but have to come down to the hotel lobby to connect.

We had to be pretty choosy about what to see in that our time here has been very limited. So we decided to do as much of a general walking tour of the city as we could. Yesterday morning we headed toward the harbor. The city has done a wonderful job of utilizing the harbor area to bring in visitors. It is very beautifully built up with eateries, museums, hotels and shops. We walked along the dockets where ship museums sit, walked through an old factory building with huge smoke stacks that now houses the largest Barnes and Noble we've ever seen, and we toured a very unusual lighthouse that used to guard the bay. 

After wandering for many miles, we made our way back to the Mt. Vernon Hotel for a rest and for lunch. After a little rejuvenation, I made my way up a block and wandered the rest of the afternoon through a great free art museum. An hour or so later, I was communing with the mummies from ancient Egypt when the young guard asked me to be heading out because the museum was closing for the day. Somehow we struck up a conversation and without his asking me where I was from, he confided that what he really wanted to do with his life was move to Portland, Oregon! As it turned out, he later had to apologize to me for keeping me there past closing. 

Later that evening on our way to get something to eat for dinner, Paul tripped in a hole and turned his ankle. He decided it was time to return to the hotel with a bag of ice and for me to continue on to fetch dinner and an ace bandage for him. The market had food but not ace bandages, so I had to move on and try to find a pharmacy. I was just wondering which way to turn, when a young man approached me to ask if I knew where the nearest Walgren's was. I said "no, I'm looking for a pharmacy too." So he called a friend and suggested I wait and see if he could help us. He found out where it was...two blocks away, and so we walked there together. It turns out he was also looking for an ace bandage, but since he's from India, didn't know what to call it or where to look. I showed him the way and we both bought ace bandages and then parted ways. I thought it was odd that I had run into these two people with whom I had instant connections. I guess that is what happens when you go off by yourself into a strange city. (Don't worry about me, I'm very discerning about which strangers I talk to....really.)

Paul seems a little bit better this morning. We have plans to make our way to Penn Station, which is about ten blocks from the hotel. From there we'll take the train to Union Station in Washington D. C. At Union Station we'll get another train on the Brunswick line. When we arrive at that station, we'll call our hosts at Wellspring Retreat Center, and they will come and pick us up. The only part in this plan I'm not looking forward to is hauling all our stuff from train to train. 

The weather here has been warm...but not oppressive...in the 80's. Both evenings there have been showers. The first evening it was a thunder shower.  We will be at Wellspring until Sunday afternoon. Hopefully I can blog from there.