Scenes from a Roadtrip (Read 8,382 times)

[Kpatch]

I always feel like the Magic Kingdom is showing its age and is badly in need of updating.

I love the World Showcase. Ever been to Soarin' in Epcot? Best ride ever!

[André DiMera]

Yes I have, Kpatch, and it is very cool! And now...

Next Week...

The girls drive along the east coast.
They visit New England.
Journey across Indiana.

All this and more in the final week of Scenes from a Roadtrip.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the previews André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 36

After spending their time at Disney World, the girls went even further south to Miami and hung out on the beach. They left there and went through Georgia to South Carolina. There, they looked around and saw many things, such as the Confederate Museum. They went a little ways north to North Carolina, where they saw what remains of the now defunct Land of Oz amusement park. They also took a look at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. From there, they went to Virginia, and explored the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. They traveled through part of West Virginia, making a short stop there. Then, they got to the nation's capitol: Washington D.C., which is where we meet with them.

HOTEL WASHINGTON – WASHINGTON D.C.
The girls were getting their things unpacked.
CLAIRE: I can't believe we're actually here!
CIARA: I know! It's so exciting!
CLAIRE: We're in the capitol! I'm just so excited!
CIARA: Me too!
They got their things unpacked, then headed out.

CAR
CIARA: Okay. Where to first?
CLAIRE: Okay. So, I know we won't be able to go inside any of these places, since security is so strict nowadays, but I really wanna see the Capitol Building, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial.
CIARA: If you hadn't said that, I was gonna suggest that. Besides, we can at least go up to the Lincoln Memorial.
CLAIRE; Cool.
Ciara started up the car, and the girls drove off.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Ciara and Claire stood in front of the statue of former President Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial.
CIARA: Wow!
Claire whistled.
CIARA: It looks even bigger in person. I wonder how tall Abe Lincoln really was?
CLAIRE: 6' 4”.
Now it was Ciara's turn to whistle.
CLAIRE: I know.
The girls stayed a while longer and took pictures. Then, they set off again.

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The girls had stopped by the Smithsonian and were now looking around.
CLAIRE: This is so cool!
CIARA: I know!
Ciara and Claire continued looking around. Ciara was a few steps ahead of Claire.
CIARA: Claire, come here. Look at this.
CLAIRE: What?
Claire walked over to Ciara.
CLAIRE: Is that what I think it is?
CIARA: Oh, yeah.
In front of Ciara sat the Hope Diamond.
CLAIRE: It's beautiful!
Ciara nodded in agreement. The girls stayed a while longer, and enjoyed the rest of their time in D.C.

[Kpatch]

The Smithsonian is so much fun. I hear there's a Mad Men exhibit now. I want to see it.

[heroicmuse]

I actually did not go to the Smithsonian when I was in DC so I was glad for the tour. I have been to the Spy Museum though. Will the girls be going there?

Another great instalment of the trip! So glad to be tagging along André DiMera

[fluffysmom]

I'm enjoying the trip even more since it's my first visit to most of these places.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 37

Ciara and Claire spent a few days in Washington D.C., and looked around at all of the sights in the nation's capitol. Then, it was time to move onwards. Their next stop was Maryland, where they looked around the B & O Railroad Museum, as well as the bay area.

MAMA'S ON THE HALF SHELL – BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
The girls were eating lunch. Both had bowls of clam chowder.
CIARA: This is good.
CLAIRE: Yeah, it is.
CIARA: You remember Grandma Caroline?
CLAIRE: Of course I do. How could anyone forget an amazing lady like her?
CIARA: This is good, but nowhere near as good as her chowder.
CLAIRE: Of course not. Nothing could beat Great-Grandma's famous chowder.

They next went up to Delaware, and took a boat tour. After that, they went to Pennsylvania, and saw the Liberty Bell. They also spent a day at Hershey Park. They found saltwater taffy in Ocean City, New Jersey. And then, they made their way to New York. We catch up with them in the big city...

CENTRAL PARK – NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Ciara and Claire walked up a flight of stairs from the subway and out into Central Park.
CIARA: Well, here we are.
CLAIRE: New York City.
CIARA: The City That Never Sleeps.
CLAIRE: You ready for this?
CIARA: Totally! You?
CLAIRE: Always.
The two took each other's arm and headed off. They walked all around the city and looked at all of the buildings: the Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, the 7 World Trade Center, and, of course, the 9/11 Memorial building. Then, they spent the evening in Times Square. There were all kinds of lights, and although it was not a holiday, people were partying. That night, the girls were very tired, and fell asleep almost as soon as they got back to the hotel. The next morning, they slept in.

BOAT
When they did, eventually, get up, they got on a boat. Claire pointed off in the distance.
CLAIRE: There it is.
CIARA: I see it. Can't wait to see it up close!

ELLIS ISLAND
The girls had gotten off, and were now walking around.
CIARA: We're almost there!
CLAIRE: I can't believe it!
They walked a short while longer, until they came upon a massive statue. At one time, the statue had been bronze, but time had faded it to a greenish color. They were, of course, in front of the Statue of Liberty.
CLAIRE: Wow!
CIARA: It's beautiful!
CLAIRE: It's taller than I thought it would be.
CIARA: And it looks amazing!
The girls stared at the majestic beauty of Lady Liberty for a few minutes, and then went about the rest of their day in the City That Never Sleeps.

[heroicmuse]

Oooh... too bad I'm off today or I might run into them. LOL. I went to Ellis Island with my grandfather once. He ran into someone who had been on the boat with him on the way to America.

I hope the girls enjoy the Statue of Liberty. Glad they had good weather for Central Park, too.

[Kpatch]

I wonder if Shawn Brady came through Ellis Island. The girls are getting a great education through traveling.

[fluffysmom]

I want some salt water taffy. The girls are having a once in a lifetime trip.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 38

After spending a few days in New York, Ciara and Claire traveled onwards. They stopped for a few days in Connecticut, and saw the Liberty Building, as well as some of the theaters around the area. Next, they traveled up to New England. Their first stop there was Rhode Island, where they walked through several museums and Roger Williams Park. Next, they went to Massachusetts, where they saw the John Hancock Tower and looked around MIT. Then, they stopped in Harvard Square...

HARVARD SQUARE – CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
CIARA: Wow, this place is busy!
CLAIRE: Yeah. Not as busy as New York, though.
CIARA: Definitely. So, just out of curiosity, what's in Harvard Square.
CLAIRE: That building right there.
Claire pointed to brick building with the words “Dewey, Cheetham and Howe” embossed in gold on the door.
CLAIRE: I just wanted to see it in person.
CIARA: What is it?
CLAIRE: It's a building.
CIARA: I got that, smartie. What's in the building?
CLAIRE: Well, I don't know anymore. But, it used to be a radio studio. One of the best radio programs ever used to come from here.
CIARA: What program's that?
CLAIRE: Car Talk.
CIARA: Oh, yeah. I think I've heard of Car Talk. That was a good show.
CLAIRE: Even when we were halfway across the world, my dad would always find some way to listen to it.
CIARA: Cool. Looks like its a museum now.
CLAIRE: Let's check it out.

So, they did. From Massachusetts, they went up to the very Northeaster state in the U.S.: Maine. There, they saw some museums, looked around the bay area, and as it was getting close to Halloween, took a ghost and vampire tour. Their next stop was in New Hampshire, which is where we meet them...

COMFORT INN – MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The girls were unpacking.
CIARA: Okay, so the Zimmerman House sounds cool, so we should see that.
CLAIRE: And, of course, the Palace Theatre
CIARA: That's a must
CLAIRE: You know, I can't believe that this trip is almost over.
CIARA: What do you mean?
CLAIRE: Well, we only have seven more states. Vermont, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and then Illinois. Then, we're back in Salem.
CIARA: Wow. Well, I guess it has been almost a year, hasn't it?
CLAIRE: Yeah. I mean, it was Halloween when we went on that ghost tour up in Maine. It's the first week of November, now.
CIARA: Doesn't seem like we could have spent a whole year out on the road.
CLAIRE: It has been, almost.
CIARA: So, what are your plans for when we get home?
CLAIRE: No idea. But, I have an idea of when we should get home.
CIARA: When?
CLAIRE: You'll see. Come on, let's go check out the Palace Theatre.

[heroicmuse]

Wow, it's been a year for them? What a year it's been! This has been a great trip. I'm curious to see the Palace Theatre and Zimmerman House, as I've never been to either (and actually have never been to New Hampshire)

[fluffysmom]

I didn't realize they'd been gone almost a year. It's definitely a once in a lifetime trip.

[Kpatch]

I didn't realize it had been a year either or that they were visiting every state. What a memorable trip for them.