5 DAYS IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND. Review on Maryland

Just before we left Edmonton a Couple visited our Synagogue one Saturday. The didn’t know anyone so we invited them for lunch.

They explained that they are staying on Campus of the University of Alberta and taking part in an Eldehouse Program. We had never heard of that so they explained that these programs were for older people. It gave them a chance to see a new City and take some courses at the University. They were studying Social Science.

We kept in touch and the following year, (1998), the suggested we join them in Baltimore. Since we had never been there we decided to go and see the City and take some courses in History.

We stayed at the Elderhostel lodgings. This one was new and near the Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center.

Baltimore is the southern most of Northern Cities in the United States. It is a big City, (about 736,014 people live here), but feels like a large Town. This is how I would described Victoria where I live.

Baltimore had lot of History that I enjoyed but I found that many of the tourist attractions were much too modern for me.

~O THEY TOOK US ON A TOUR OF BALTIMORE O~

The Inner Harbor all warehouses and dilapidated buildings 30 years ago. This is Baltimore’s entertainment area.

There are six blocks of food and fashion at Harborplace.

The National Aquarium had two pyramid-shaped buildings. The U.S.S. Constellation. This is the only Ship that survived the United States Civil War.

At the Maryland Science Center we went to the Imax theater and saw their film on Climbing Mount Everest.

The Port Discovery has an interesting Children’s Museum that features Hi-flyer, (this is tethered helium balloon that rises 450 feet in the air). We didn’t go up in it.

We did enjoy a ride in a water Taxi that runs in a circle around the Inner Harbor. We used it to visit some or the restored and neighborhoods of brick row Houses. There are also Condominiums, Cafés, Restaurants and Shops in this area.

I fell in love with ’’Fells Point’’. It has wonderful cobblestone Street to walk and explore.

We visited Fort McHenry, (where the USA’s National Anthem, ’’The Star Spangled Banner’’ was written). Then we went to see the original manuscript that is in a Building owned by the Maryland Historical Society.

The Walters Art Gallery is 10 blocks north of the Harbor, so we walked there one day. It is a four-story glass-walled atrium with a floating spiral staircase in the center.

Across the street from the Gallery is the United State’s first ’’George Washington Monument’’, (another one is in Washington D.C.).

We had a wonderful experience at the National Aquarium. It is similar to the one in Eliot, Israel, where you are inside looking at the fish life in the water outside.

One night we went to the Davis Planetarium. It was a clear evening so we had an excellent look at the moon, a few comets and a billion stars.

Another evening we attended a Performance of the Maryland Ballet at the Baltimore Center For The Performing Arts.

~O SOME PLACES WE ATE O~

Lunch was always at some fast food Restaurant. The one we loved served ’’Philly Steak’’ sandwiches. These are made from slices of Roast Beef, fried onions and melt cheese that is severed on a soft bun.

At Attman’s Authentic New York Delicatessen I has a mile high thinly sliced pastrami sandwich and my Husband had lox and cream cheese on a bagel. We shared a side order of potato pancakes.

I love Japanese Food so we were told that the Matsuri Restaurant served the best. It wasn’t the best I’ve had but it was very good.

We loved the Italian Food at Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano Restaurant. The pasta is home made and was delicious.

I don’t know if you have ever eaten Soft Shell Crabs, (you eat the shells as well as the meat inside). The are only found on the West Coast of the United States. We had some one night at the Bo Brooks at the Light House Point.

My Husband doesn’t enjoy East Indian food but I do. He agreed to come with me to have some Tandoori Lamb at the AKbar Restaurant. Wonder of wonder’s he enjoyed his meal.

~O SOME THOUGHTS O~

There were a lot of shops and malls here but when we weren’t Touring we were at the University taking our History Course of the area.

I have been asked how I remember so many things about a City or country I have visited. Before there were ’’Memory Books’’ I used Scrap Books.

I did enjoy Baltimore but I don’t think I will go back because there are places I have not visited yet.

©LL2002