Below is another slideshow with more photos of my trip to Baltimore, Maryland.
Post Date - Tuesday, August 5, 2008 12:50PM
Showing posts with label Baltimore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baltimore. Show all posts
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Baltimore, Maryland - Part 3
Below is the 3rd and final part of my adventure in Baltimore, Maryland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, April 20th (a rainy day)
I took a bus ride to the downtown pier area. It started to rain; it would rain off and on throughout the day. I decided to take a local tourist ride around the downtown area. The tour vehicle was called a "Duck". The ride was on a converted amphibious military transport vehicle. The trip was okay, but the driver went overboard with the novelty kwackers(plastic noise makers that made duck sounds). The driver encouraged the riders to use the noise makers often. The duck sounding kwackers was giving me a headache. The driver first drove around downtown Baltimore, then for the last 30 minutes, he took the vehicle into the water and then drove around the harbor area.
Next stop was the Science Museum ($28)
The exhibits I visited:
* Newton hand on science center
* Dinosaur exhibit
* Space center
* I also finally saw the Human Body Works exhibit. The Body Works 2 (or try Wiki) exhibit was educational, but a bit creepy. I was a bit uncomfortable seeing the human body cut up hundred different ways. A few poems and sayings were posted along the walls to add a bit of artistic edge to the exhibit. I wanted to take pictures, but not picture taking was allowed. I found some photos online about the exhibit; I'll post them at another time.
After the Science Museum, I took another walk around the pier. I ate dinner at MacDonald's. Again, the pier area was extremely crowded. Every food place had a line. The experience in MacD's was just another reminder that Baltimore did not give off a "safe feeling". The main eating area (located upstairs) was closed -- this was about 6p.m. There was a kind of "get your food and leave" feeling.
Other "feelings" that Baltimore might not be safe:
* a guy being arrested in front of me as I walked to the hostel on Thursday evening.
* 2 or 3 stories about Baltimore teachers being attacked by their students.
* Police sirens going off almost every hour on the hour. Day and night!
* Away from the waterfront developments were blocks and blocks of gutted and abandoned buildings.
* Neighborhood-watch guards (rent a cop types) on several street corners usually in front of banks and other "big businesses" places that could afford to rent a cop.
Monday, April 21st
I checked out of the hostel about 10:30a.m. I took the bus, and arrived about 10:45AM. I arrived just in time to hear announcements that trains were being delayed for one reason or another. I got nervous. I arrived early so that I would not miss my train, but my train ended up being about 5 minutes late. My train was supposed to have arrived at 12:14PM. When it did arrived, after about 10 minutes into the return home, the train was stuck on the tracks for about 30 minutes because the bridge was raised, and it could not be lowered. We were stuck on the tracks for about 30 minutes.
I finally arrived back in Penn Station NYC about 3:40PM. Carrying my luggage through the transit system was a bit of a headache. I arrived home about 5PM. I was too tired to do any unpacking. I just watched TV and slept.
Tuesday, April 22nd
My plan was to use Tuesday and Wednesday to clean up my apartment and do lesson planning before the weekend, but a phone call from the credit card company gave me the excuse to get out. The guy wanted me to do a phone transaction payment, but I told him that I would go to the bank to make a payment.
After the bank, I ate at MacDonald's. Walked around downtown Yonkers, then I returned home to watch TV.
Post Date - Monday, August 4, 2008 12:47PM
Completion Date - Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:51AM /
Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:19PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, April 20th (a rainy day)
I took a bus ride to the downtown pier area. It started to rain; it would rain off and on throughout the day. I decided to take a local tourist ride around the downtown area. The tour vehicle was called a "Duck". The ride was on a converted amphibious military transport vehicle. The trip was okay, but the driver went overboard with the novelty kwackers(plastic noise makers that made duck sounds). The driver encouraged the riders to use the noise makers often. The duck sounding kwackers was giving me a headache. The driver first drove around downtown Baltimore, then for the last 30 minutes, he took the vehicle into the water and then drove around the harbor area.
Next stop was the Science Museum ($28)
The exhibits I visited:
* Newton hand on science center
* Dinosaur exhibit
* Space center
* I also finally saw the Human Body Works exhibit. The Body Works 2 (or try Wiki) exhibit was educational, but a bit creepy. I was a bit uncomfortable seeing the human body cut up hundred different ways. A few poems and sayings were posted along the walls to add a bit of artistic edge to the exhibit. I wanted to take pictures, but not picture taking was allowed. I found some photos online about the exhibit; I'll post them at another time.
After the Science Museum, I took another walk around the pier. I ate dinner at MacDonald's. Again, the pier area was extremely crowded. Every food place had a line. The experience in MacD's was just another reminder that Baltimore did not give off a "safe feeling". The main eating area (located upstairs) was closed -- this was about 6p.m. There was a kind of "get your food and leave" feeling.
Other "feelings" that Baltimore might not be safe:
* a guy being arrested in front of me as I walked to the hostel on Thursday evening.
* 2 or 3 stories about Baltimore teachers being attacked by their students.
* Police sirens going off almost every hour on the hour. Day and night!
* Away from the waterfront developments were blocks and blocks of gutted and abandoned buildings.
* Neighborhood-watch guards (rent a cop types) on several street corners usually in front of banks and other "big businesses" places that could afford to rent a cop.
Monday, April 21st
I checked out of the hostel about 10:30a.m. I took the bus, and arrived about 10:45AM. I arrived just in time to hear announcements that trains were being delayed for one reason or another. I got nervous. I arrived early so that I would not miss my train, but my train ended up being about 5 minutes late. My train was supposed to have arrived at 12:14PM. When it did arrived, after about 10 minutes into the return home, the train was stuck on the tracks for about 30 minutes because the bridge was raised, and it could not be lowered. We were stuck on the tracks for about 30 minutes.
I finally arrived back in Penn Station NYC about 3:40PM. Carrying my luggage through the transit system was a bit of a headache. I arrived home about 5PM. I was too tired to do any unpacking. I just watched TV and slept.
Tuesday, April 22nd
My plan was to use Tuesday and Wednesday to clean up my apartment and do lesson planning before the weekend, but a phone call from the credit card company gave me the excuse to get out. The guy wanted me to do a phone transaction payment, but I told him that I would go to the bank to make a payment.
After the bank, I ate at MacDonald's. Walked around downtown Yonkers, then I returned home to watch TV.
Post Date - Monday, August 4, 2008 12:47PM
Completion Date - Wednesday, April 23, 2008 2:51AM /
Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:19PM
Baltimore Hostel Pictures
Below is a slideshow of pictures I took of the Baltimore hostel. I stayed for three nights. The cost was about $88 for the three nights.
Post Date - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:47PM
Post Date - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:47PM
Baltimore, Part 2
Below is a continuation of my adventure in Baltimore, Maryland. If you remember…yes, it has been a while ago since I went to Baltimore. Just a quick summary:
Back in April, I was chosen along with a couple of other teachers to accompany our principal to a literacy workshop in Baltimore, Maryland. We left from school Tuesday afternoon. The workshop was two day and a half (beginning Wednesday morning and ending Friday afternoon). In order to make the most of my Spring Break Vacation, I had my return train ticket changed to a later date. Instead of leaving on Friday, I would be leaving on Monday. Below is a continuation of my time in Baltimore; it picks up on Friday the day the other teachers and our principal left Baltimore, but I stayed:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, April 18th.
Friday morning gave us one more workshop to attend. Although our reservations said that 11am was the check out time, we were told that we had until 12pm to check out. I was a bit worried about what to do with my luggage. I didn't feel like bringing my luggage to the hostel, only to have to return to the pier area. I was happy when I was told that I could leave my luggage at the hotel and pick it up later that day. While I was getting my luggage checked into the hotel holding area, The others immediately took a cab to the train station. Our principal wanted to try catching an earlier train. My first stop (baggage free) was at the National Aquarium.
The Baltimore National Aquarium entrance fee was $28. At first I was not impressed; the dolphin show was identical to the dolphin show in NYC. They showed the same moves and the same tricks. I was also not impressed with the beginning of the fish display. But later, I realized that the aquarium was actually nice. The Baltimore Aquarium is much bigger than the little NYC aquarium. The Baltimore aquarium was housed in two buildings with one being about 4 or 5 stories high.
Next stop was the Marina Museum. I toured a submarine. There were 3 other types of ships to see, but it was about 5PM (closing time). However, the ticket I had is good for the life of the museum. As long as I keep my ticket, I can return at another time to see the remaining ships(even years later).
Another trip to Barnes & Nobles in the PowerStation shopping center, a walk around the pier, then it was time for me to head to the hostel.
About 7PM, I picked up my luggage from the hotel. I was planning to walk to the hostel, but I was too tired, so I took a taxi. After getting my room and bedding, I went to a nearby restaurant. The music was blasting, and the air conditioning was directly over my head blowing directly on me. I thought it was such a waste to have the air conditioner on with the floor to ceiling windows in the front of the restaurant wide open.
My first night in the hostel was nice. Basically, the way a hostel works is that you are renting a bed for the night with the understanding that you will leave the next day before 10am and not return until 4pm. Different hostels have their own rules, but they are all basically the same. I was happy that they dropped the “Youth” from their name, now, they are just known as hostels. With the hostels, you can find sleeping arrangements in most of the main cities around the world. The rental fee is about $25~30 dollars per night plus taxes.
Saturday, April 19th
I started the day with a quick tour through the famous Cathedral across the street from the hostel.
I had breakfast at a tiny basement restaurant called "Cozy Corner". The place was empty. The owner/cook was an older Asian lady, who seemed a bit nervous when I first walked through the door, but once I ordered and paid, she became much nicer. For breakfast, I ordered a heart attack on plate (eggs, bacon, and toast with butter).
My plan was to go to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum [or (Wiki)] in the northern part of Baltimore. I walked about an hour through the poor area of Baltimore. It was a bit depressing to see so many gutted and abandon houses and apartments. I thought the museum was very interesting. I felt I got more out of the (much smaller, and less financially supported) wax museum than I did out of the bigger (and obviously better financed) black museum downtown.
Next stop was to ride the light rail back to downtown Baltimore. I then walked west to the B&O railroad museum. I didn't know how far the train museum was from the light rail, but I was in a walking mood, and did not want to wait for the bus. Usually buses here in NYC are extremely irregular in terms of their arrival times -- in Japan the buses were just as punctual as the trains...most of the time. Anyway, the walk which I thought would only be a few city blocks turned into about a 45 minute walk. I finally arrived at the museum, but I arrived with about 10 minutes before the museum was about to close. I didn't think it was worth the admission for 10 minutes, so I didn't go. This time I decided to wait for the bus. I took the bus back to the pier. I went to Baltimore's World Trade Center (27th floor) observation.
I was planning to eat in the mall, but it was too crowded, everyplace had a line of customers waiting to eat.
The attached photo at the beginning of this blog was taken from the Baltimore World Trade Center building (27th floor). The photos shows the (two building connected with a bridge) National Aquarium in the lower right edge of the pier. The Marriott Hotel in the upper edge of the pier was the hotel where I stayed with my colleagues.
Below is the same slide show from my "Baltimore, Part 1 entry, but I'm reposting it for those that have not see it yet.
To be continued...
Completion Date - Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:15PM
Post Date - Post Date - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:53AM
Back in April, I was chosen along with a couple of other teachers to accompany our principal to a literacy workshop in Baltimore, Maryland. We left from school Tuesday afternoon. The workshop was two day and a half (beginning Wednesday morning and ending Friday afternoon). In order to make the most of my Spring Break Vacation, I had my return train ticket changed to a later date. Instead of leaving on Friday, I would be leaving on Monday. Below is a continuation of my time in Baltimore; it picks up on Friday the day the other teachers and our principal left Baltimore, but I stayed:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, April 18th.
Friday morning gave us one more workshop to attend. Although our reservations said that 11am was the check out time, we were told that we had until 12pm to check out. I was a bit worried about what to do with my luggage. I didn't feel like bringing my luggage to the hostel, only to have to return to the pier area. I was happy when I was told that I could leave my luggage at the hotel and pick it up later that day. While I was getting my luggage checked into the hotel holding area, The others immediately took a cab to the train station. Our principal wanted to try catching an earlier train. My first stop (baggage free) was at the National Aquarium.
The Baltimore National Aquarium entrance fee was $28. At first I was not impressed; the dolphin show was identical to the dolphin show in NYC. They showed the same moves and the same tricks. I was also not impressed with the beginning of the fish display. But later, I realized that the aquarium was actually nice. The Baltimore Aquarium is much bigger than the little NYC aquarium. The Baltimore aquarium was housed in two buildings with one being about 4 or 5 stories high.
Next stop was the Marina Museum. I toured a submarine. There were 3 other types of ships to see, but it was about 5PM (closing time). However, the ticket I had is good for the life of the museum. As long as I keep my ticket, I can return at another time to see the remaining ships(even years later).
Another trip to Barnes & Nobles in the PowerStation shopping center, a walk around the pier, then it was time for me to head to the hostel.
About 7PM, I picked up my luggage from the hotel. I was planning to walk to the hostel, but I was too tired, so I took a taxi. After getting my room and bedding, I went to a nearby restaurant. The music was blasting, and the air conditioning was directly over my head blowing directly on me. I thought it was such a waste to have the air conditioner on with the floor to ceiling windows in the front of the restaurant wide open.
My first night in the hostel was nice. Basically, the way a hostel works is that you are renting a bed for the night with the understanding that you will leave the next day before 10am and not return until 4pm. Different hostels have their own rules, but they are all basically the same. I was happy that they dropped the “Youth” from their name, now, they are just known as hostels. With the hostels, you can find sleeping arrangements in most of the main cities around the world. The rental fee is about $25~30 dollars per night plus taxes.
Saturday, April 19th
I started the day with a quick tour through the famous Cathedral across the street from the hostel.
I had breakfast at a tiny basement restaurant called "Cozy Corner". The place was empty. The owner/cook was an older Asian lady, who seemed a bit nervous when I first walked through the door, but once I ordered and paid, she became much nicer. For breakfast, I ordered a heart attack on plate (eggs, bacon, and toast with butter).
My plan was to go to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum [or (Wiki)] in the northern part of Baltimore. I walked about an hour through the poor area of Baltimore. It was a bit depressing to see so many gutted and abandon houses and apartments. I thought the museum was very interesting. I felt I got more out of the (much smaller, and less financially supported) wax museum than I did out of the bigger (and obviously better financed) black museum downtown.
Next stop was to ride the light rail back to downtown Baltimore. I then walked west to the B&O railroad museum. I didn't know how far the train museum was from the light rail, but I was in a walking mood, and did not want to wait for the bus. Usually buses here in NYC are extremely irregular in terms of their arrival times -- in Japan the buses were just as punctual as the trains...most of the time. Anyway, the walk which I thought would only be a few city blocks turned into about a 45 minute walk. I finally arrived at the museum, but I arrived with about 10 minutes before the museum was about to close. I didn't think it was worth the admission for 10 minutes, so I didn't go. This time I decided to wait for the bus. I took the bus back to the pier. I went to Baltimore's World Trade Center (27th floor) observation.
I was planning to eat in the mall, but it was too crowded, everyplace had a line of customers waiting to eat.
The attached photo at the beginning of this blog was taken from the Baltimore World Trade Center building (27th floor). The photos shows the (two building connected with a bridge) National Aquarium in the lower right edge of the pier. The Marriott Hotel in the upper edge of the pier was the hotel where I stayed with my colleagues.
Below is the same slide show from my "Baltimore, Part 1 entry, but I'm reposting it for those that have not see it yet.
To be continued...
Completion Date - Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:15PM
Post Date - Post Date - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:53AM
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 15thToday was a half day for those of us attending the two-day workshop in Baltimore. The group consisted of me, Down the Hall (other 3rd grade teacher), BK (Biligual Kindergarten teacher), and our principal. After last minute classroom prep for the sub (or subs), the Baltimore group was out of the building about 1PM. We took the Amtrak to Baltimore, arriving about 5PM. We stayed at a very nice waterfront hotel. My Principal and I registered minutes before the registration closed down. The other two took a while to get settled and arrived too late. Not a big deal since the workshops don't start until tomorrow. After settling in, the group met up about 2 hours later for dinner at the hotel restaurant. For dinner, I had a $31 crabcake dinner.
Wednesday, April 16th
The only minor incident was me burning my white shirt with the hotel iron. Breakfast was at 8AM. The workshops began at 9AM. All day workshops on the philosophy and implementation of the literacy program. Our group ventured out of the hotel to have dinner at a seafood restaurant. Maryland is known for its seafood (I was told). I had a samon meal with rice. I was the only one to order dessert. I had chocolate cake a la mode.
Thursday, April 17th
Day 2 of all day workshops. More of the same. Since DTH and I finished early (our last workshop was for early elementary and the trainer didn't seem to eager to have us their. Even me telling her that our principal signed us up to be there didn't help. She just kept saying that we would not get anything out of it. DTH was not with me yet. Since the woman was so insistant, I left. Down the Hall found another workshop about intergrating technology into the literacy program. Nice idea, but very poorly executed. It was basically a couple of teachers that knew something about technology and using whiteboards. They really did not (in my opinion), show a clear understanding of the programs that they were suppose to be championing. Since we finished early, DTH and I went to the Reginald Lewis Black History Museum. A very big place, but not a very impressive museum(in my opinion).
After visiting the museum, I went shopping for a new camera at Best Buys. While I was in Best Buy, DTH went shopping at Filene's Basement. See the attached photo of my new camera(about $249 in total with the extras). Next, DTH and I went to Barnes and Noble. I bought a differentiated instruction reading book. After B & N, DTH and I had brickoven Chicago pizza. After the pizza, DTH wanted to look around the shops in the shopping center planning to go home. I wanted to walk off the pizza, so I decided to try to find the hostel that I would be staying at for the extension of my vacation. I'm finally getting the hang of this hyper linking. It was about a 30 minute walk through a less than great area. It was a bit of like walking though a poor town's version of 1970's 42nd street peep shows, bars, etc... A guy was being arrested right in front of me. On my way back, I called DTH. She was still in the shopping center. I was going to meet up with her, but my phone ran out of minutes. When I returned to the hotel, I went online to order more minutes for my phone. While online (right after getting my phone back on), the principal called. Her niece stopped by, so the P. wanted to go out for dinner. Even though I was still full from the pizza, since the P. called, I said yes. DTH said she was full and too tired to go. She has more backbone than I do. Dinner was at a famous seafood restaurant minus DTH. I was still full from the pizza, so I just had soup.
I attached a couple of photos I took while in Baltimore. The first is a photo of the hotel we stayed at. The second photo is the view I had from my hotel room.
It is late, so I will have to finish at another time, so...
Too be continued...
Completion Date - Wednesday, April 23rd 2:51AM
Post Date - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 3:23AM
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