Saturday, July 28, 2012

Less Than 24 Hours Later...

...my bags were unpacked from the beach, repacked and on a plane heading for Washington DC.  A friend of Andy's daughter was getting married and we decided to go up a couple of days early to do some wonderful DC things and spend some time with some of our other friends that were also coming for the wedding.  We got there on Thursday afternoon and just visited...but Friday morning we got up and headed to the National Zoo...I wanted to see the pandas...I've never really seen one...I've seen them on TV but I just needed to see one in person.  It was kind of an icky morning, drizzly rain, so there were very few people at the zoo.  We got there and headed right to the Asia area...I didn't care about anything else.  I was like a 7 year old...I was so excited.  We got to the panda habitat, walked through the observation area where the scientists and vets watch the pandas every move.  I could see them on the camera and couldn't wait to get out there...the lady that was watching the screen said "Oh you'll be able to see this one...but she's been sleeping for a while and is very content so I don't think you'll see much...and this one
is in an area that you really won't be able to see much."  Well poo, but then someone came out into a fenced area and the panda that was awake came to life...
he wanted to know what was going on...
he wanted to know what the man had behind that fence...oh he was so interested...and his friend just kept sleeping.  I was absolutely squealing...I think I was far more excited than all of the kids that were there collectively.  Andy decided he could get really close to a panda...
silly man :)

We did spend a bit more time there...saw zebras...a wonderful elephant
...cheetahs that were just lounging


From there we went to the National Cathedral...
what a magnificent building.  Wish we had been able to spend more time there...there was just so much to see.  What an amazing city!

Now I'm home for a while...well until the middle of August when I head back up to Birmingham to help the kids move into their new house.  I wonder if I'll know how to act staying home for 2+ weeks...maybe I'll get some sewing done...fingers crossed!

8 comments:

Carrie ~ Cricketwood Prims said...

I would love to see the Panda's too! I can totally relate, zoo's are so much fun. DC is a trip I hope to make sometime too. Enjoy your sewing time before your next trip.

sunny said...

Actually, an icky drizzly day with few people is an excellent day to go to the Zoo! We've had some blazing hot days lately, with the heat index as high as 110, and the zoo can get stinky. Sounds like you're having a wonderful summer!

Diane said...

What fun! DC has so much to offer, and I've only seen a few days worth. I've got to go back.

Annelies said...

We were blessed to live in DC for three years and BARELY got to see all the things we wanted to see. One of the most wonderful cities. I miss it always. XXX

Janet O. said...

I'm not sure if it would have been more fun to watch the panda--or you! : )

Cheryl said...

Looks like the perfect time...and seeing the Pandas moving is really exciting!!! Every time we go to the zoo they are conked out!!! I would have been squealing too. We are headed to DC in October and think we need to visit the zoo!

StitchinByTheLake said...

I haven't seen the pandas but I did get to see the cathedral once and was just overwhelmed by the beauty of it! blessings, marlene

Cathy said...

The pictures of the zoo brought back some wonderful memories. We took my grandson there when he was 4 years old. He is 20 now. Hugs