Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth America

[TomVexille]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

What a great report amaroo​. Keep it coming!

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Our digs in DC was Park Hyatt Washington - booked Park Deluxe Exec Suite connecting to Park Deluxe King under their family plan rate.

Arrived at the hotel prior to the stated check-in time so only one room was ready.....no worries, really pleased one was ready. We'd already decided to have lunch in Georgetown and then checkout the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall.

The agent assisting us assured me the rooms would be connecting (as per confirmed request) and the only reason it wasn't ready was a late checkout by the current occupants.....more on that later:evil:

Park Deluxe Exec Suite











Georgetown is a historic neighbourhood of DC and well worth checking out.

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

First time visitor to DC and I'm really impressed......the yanks do monuments very well!







The Reflecting Pool is aptly named!

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Back at the hotel we received the key for the second room.....the number of the room looked liked it connected so we headed up.

Didn't take long to work out that the rooms were not connecting......went back down to discuss with the reception. The young lass I approached (same one that checked us in hours earlier) quickly flicked passed to a manager. Got the standard sorry sir but.....long story short, he apologised and although there was nothing he could do tonight he promised that the remaining three nights would be sorted.

Took him on face value and we got ready for dinner.

Dinner tonight was the Blue Duck Tavern Blue Duck Tavern the hotel restaurant.

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Well, he didn't disappoint....

While we were having breakfast the manager came over, introduced himself and apologised for the room cough-up.

And....he was very pleased to inform us that for the remainder of our stay (another three nights - including NYE) we would be enjoying the Presidential Suite connecting to the Exec suite - WOW!

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Strewth! I didn't see that coming :shock:

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame











Combined the two suites came to a huge 2,946sq feet or 274M2 Not everyday you get a piano in a hotel room...

Just goes to show - keeping calm & being polite can pay dividends!

TBH - the kids didn't like it as the size of the rooms were massive....the parents on the other hand

 

[craven morehead]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

What a great report amaroo​. Keep it coming!

My thoughts Exactly !! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Just think of it as a late birthday present!
As you say remaining relaxed and polite can pay off handsomely.
Really enjoying the TR-just catching up as I was in the operating theatre when you started.

 

[craven morehead]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Just think of it as a late birthday present!
As you say remaining relaxed and polite can pay off handsomely.
Really enjoying the TR-just catching up as I was in the operating theatre when you started.

Which end of the scalpel drron ?

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Thank you, thoroughly enjoying report & fantastic pics. Saw Christmas rockette spectacular one trip & still retain that happy feeling. Thanks again.

Thanks parsonstrish the Rockettes were fantastic!

What a great report amaroo​. Keep it coming!

Tom V thank you for the nice comment.

Strewth! I didn't see that coming :shock:

You can say that again RooFlyer it was an amazing surprise. Great recovery from the Park Hyatt

Just think of it as a late birthday present!
As you say remaining relaxed and polite can pay off handsomely.
Really enjoying the TR-just catching up as I was in the operating theatre when you started.

Thanks drron ....in this TR caper, you are Master Po and I'm only but a Grasshopper

Good to hear you are up and about Is this the same knee where you were rejected for surgery due to a scratch on the leg ? Thats seems like an age ago!

My thoughts Exactly !! :mrgreen:

CM

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Thanks drron ....in this TR caper, you are Master Po and I'm only but a Grasshopper

Good to hear you are up and about Is this the same knee where you were rejected for surgery due to a scratch on the leg ? Thats seems like an age ago!

CM

Yes it is the same knee !!!!

but back on topic .... the upgrade fairy really smiled on you in DC ! - great Trip Report Amaroo

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Washington DC is like most Capital Cities - stacked with impressive Monuments, Museums, Buildings and Wealthy Bureaucrats



Treasury Building



White House - Front Door



White House - Back Door



United States Capitol



National Christmas Tree 2013 National Christmas Tree Lighting

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

So which did you use? Front or back?

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Library of the Congress is well worth a visit Library of Congress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We visited the Thomas Jefferson Building Thomas Jefferson Building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Very classy building....

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

The TJB is across the road from the US Capitol. This place has a large security presence and they are very diligent in performing their duties......the orders were being barked left, right & centre!

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

With the US Capitol behind us - we strolled down the National Mall to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.






Spitfire - IMHO one of the best looking planes ever built



coughpit, Northwest 747-151 "First flown in 1970, this 747 was the first built for Northwest and the first 747 to open service across the Pacific. It was retired in 1999"




coughpit of American Airlines "Flagship Vermont" DC7 ......built 1956



Not much has changed since 1956

 

[gwilli1]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

Great TR so far . You have opened my eyes to alot more places I need to try when I next get back to the US .

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

National Archives Building is well worth a visit National Archives Building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Amongst many great documents and exhibits they have on display are:-

Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution
Bill of Rights
1297 version of the Magna Carta....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from Wiki

"Only one copy (a 1297 copy in cursiva anglicana handwriting with the royal seal of Edward I) is in private hands. It was held by the Brudenell family, earls of Cardigan, who owned it for five centuries before they sold it to the Perot Foundation in 1984. This copy, having been on long-term loan to the US National Archives, was auctioned at Sotheby's New York on 18 December 2007. The Perot Foundation sold it to "...have funds available for medical research, for improving public education and for assisting wounded soldiers and their families."[SUP][108][/SUP] It fetched US$21.3 million,[SUP][109][/SUP] It was bought by David Rubenstein of The Carlyle Group,[SUP][110][/SUP] who after the auction said, "I thought it was very important that the Magna Carta stay in the United States and I was concerned that the only copy in the United States might escape as a result of this auction." Rubenstein's copy is on permanent loan to the National Archives in Washington, D.C.[SUP][111]"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can imagine the level of security is extremely high....airport style, with plenty of armed guards patrolling. The documents are all very accessible (glass cases) readable and you can really get a feeling of the emotion of what these documents stand for and the history involved!! A must visit....

Sorry, no photos allowed.

DC is huge, there is plenty to see and watching these guys zoom past as we walked the streets/Mall - I wished we were on them.





Last night in DC....also happens to be NYE. We settled on Italian and retire to that wonderful suite to watch a movie. We were lucky to get a table at Cafe Milano Cafe Milano – Washington, DC Italian Restaurant



Tomorrow we fly to Toronto....


[/SUP]

 

[amaroo]

Re: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.......& Helicopter....& Airboat - A month in Nth Ame

When booking the flights for this trip I was surprised how expensive AA was for flights from DC to Toronto and that there were no direct flights. A quick search found a better alternative and seats were booked on Air Canada.

DCA is located very close to DC and the trip to the airport was over in no-time. On the way - we passed the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. The trip provided a good view of Arlington House Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia interesting history!

AC7353 DCA-YYZ whY

Been a very long time since I've travelled on an airline holding absolutely no status. After a looong wait in the general queue we were pleased to hear that the tickets I purchased allowed no luggage! $170USD later the bags were on their way. Still the price difference between AA and AC was far greater so we were better off.

No status = no lounge.

Waiting at the gate I took some photos to fill in time.




This little birdie is flying to Montreal



Nice livery



That big needle in the background is Washington Monument which is located in the National Mall



Had to google this one...



Plenty of room to park..