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I think she knew
we were coming anyway |
Middle age doesn't mean you can't pretend to be a 20-something and take an impromptu marathon road trip to visit a dear friend. The idea of visiting Monica, like, this weekend, was hatched at bookclub with biscuits (no, not in a bar late at night). With only a couple of days notice, Monica re-arranged her life in D.C. and greeted us to a fantastic weekend of friendship, great food and laughs.
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| A grand welcome at la Casa |
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This bottle got the party started and
all subjects covered emphatically |
Apparently good manners dictate three subjects you're not supposed to talk about at the table. As you can see, the provocative bottle of bubbly triggered lively discussion. We broke the rules within minutes of arriving!
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I will regret admitting it, but it was really good.
When you want to hate it, love trumps hate eh? |
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| I feel ashamed admitting that and will go into hiding. |
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Stephen treated us to a special bottle of Amarone.
It wasn't hard to dish compliments
for the wine and our hosts |
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Good food and great company...
and Aperospritzes.... |
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| Our lovely hosts! |
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So breathe it all in and picture yourself in Italy...
with George Clooney.
Wait, maybe that's Acton at lunch
with George Clooney - in Africa.
If you listen, you can hear the grape leaves rustle
and the smell of gravel dust. |
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| OK, so let me contemplate that... |
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Yeah, I'm just joshing you!
But I bet that image of George Clooney was pretty vivid. |
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| East Market for breakfast! |
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| We're so hungry we could eat a horse! |
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I'll settle for a soft shell crab sandwich.
Yummy. Want a bite? |
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London has a purple velvet Rolls-Royce.
D.C. has an astro-turf beater - for rent! |
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| The start of our sightseeing day |
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Abe Lincoln's speech is engraved in the wall.
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| Hmmm, food trucks.... |
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| Lots of them... oh too much choice! |
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| Tacos with extra guacamole! |
Interesting fact -
the building of the Washington Monument was halted during the Civil War.
You can see the demarcation in the stone.
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Does the Smithsonian have
an uncanny resemblance to the
Victoria & Albert Museum in London? |
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The wonders of Monet
at the Art Gallery |
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| I could find a spot in the house for this |
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| Van Gogh is all ears. |
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This sums up E's
interpretation of modern art |
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E once gave me a wad of buttons
wrapped in cellophane tape and said
"Here, its modern art. Like at the Tate".
Maybe she'll be a critic someday |
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| Reflecting pool |
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| We need a selfie stick or longer arms for our next trip |
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We all got along so well on the weekend
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Until a fight broke out....
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| Library of Congress |
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| Met a Canadian along the way.... |
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Not a rose coloured view of Capitol Hill,
but definitely a clear one.
It helps with reality when filled with Taittinger Champagne!!! |
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Night view from the condo.
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Mother's Day Sunday Mass was at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It is North America's largest Roman Catholic church. The Basilica houses the largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art on earth. The intricate mosaic work is stunning.
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| The Byzantine-Romanesque exterior of the Basilia |
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The Christ in Majesty is an enormous intricate mosaic garnering no middle ground in opinion.
The imagery and biblical references are in in every detail. The rendition of Christ is supposed to reflect Justice and Mercy of God.
His hair isn't on fire just because he had a lot to accomplish in this world but, because Christ would judge and purify by fire.
I think this blond Jesus looks like he hung out at the gym.
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The chapel of the Miraculous Medal.
One of the seventy chapels in the Basilica.
The blue celestial mosaic work is striking |
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| A special audience with Pope Francis. |
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| Found some good reading in the bookshop |
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According to this scholarly tome,
my birthday drink is a Dark and Stormy.
I'm coming to see you Jenn W! |
Just down the road from the Basilica is the John Paul II National Shrine with modern mosaics.
The foretelling of Peter betraying Jesus
three times before the rooster crows
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| Is the font difficult to read to make us reflect? |
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On the walk home,
a few Easter eggs unfound. |
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| A disco mirrored ball Easter egg hiding |
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| Wascally wabbits wesponsible for the eggs. |
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It is a good weekend
when you're coffee tells you
its all ying and yang...
or maybe that's a baby loon or duck?
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Good life advice
found at Lavagna (not Lasagna) restaurant |
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Nuggets of wisdom all weekend.
We are blessed to have so many good friends |
Thank you Monica and Stephen for a wonderful, impromptu weekend. It was great catching up and having some fun!
GESUNDHEIT!!
P.S. Stay tuned for the post on my spring trip to London...its in the making....
