Historic Annapolis: revolutionary fun

Coming into Annapolis harbor, one cannot help but be awed by the warships heading out of the Naval Academy and the Academy itself. We managed to miss crashing into any of the busy harbor traffic and pick up a mooring ball just in from of the City Dock. Annapolis was an extremely important city before and during the American Revolution, and the Capitol Building was the site of many meetings of the planners of that war - and in fact the site where in 1783 George Washington resigned his commission as Commander in Chief of the army to accept the Presidency. For a short time, Annapolis was actually the capitol of the new country, until a part of the state of Maryland -the land on the Potomac which is the present District of Columiba was selected. We were able to take a bus to D.C. for a one-day whirlwind experience. It's hard to put into words the feeling you get when looking at the Lincoln Memorial beyond the reflecting pool at the Capitol Mall. We went to all the major monuments and the Hirschorn Museum and sculpture gardens of the Smithsonian, but all around us the wonder of the capitol's buildings and gardens bloomed. Having learned of the great men and principles upon which this nation was founded, it was bittersweet to visit DC as those principles seem to have all but disappeared from present-day political goings-on. Notwithstanding, it was well worth the trip. Returning to Annapolis, we enjoyed three days of their Plein Air painting competition, culminating in a lovely reception in their new Arts and Culture center. This is a large former public high school which has been completely devoted to plastic and performing arts - they even have a ballet company! Other Annapolitan highlights included the Fall Festival, watching football at the Rams Head (go blue...!!!) and a great blues band at the Acme. Annapolis showed us wonderfully restored colonial-era neighborhoods amid both St. John's College and the Naval Academy. There was as much or as little nightlife and cultural activities as anyone could want! The sail to St. Michaels was far easier and more pleasant than the winding trip up the Chester River, and highlights from our present location will be coming soon.