Someplace New ...

I'm sitting in a comfy chair in room 822 of the Radisson Lord Baltimore, writing this on my phone. As such, this will be more impressionistic than usual. Hopefully, the pictures will make up for it.

Oh, how I love visiting someplace I've never been! Baltimore's Inner Harbor is a tiny, manicured, absolutely lovely place, in stark contrast, I'm sad to say, to the rather dangerous city surrounding it.

We didn't roll into town until almost 3pm, after a traffic filled drive down, but three hours at the National Aquarium was a great way to immerse ourselves. Say hello to a few new friends ...

I wasn't particularly cognizant of Baltimore's reputation as a crab mecca, as I am not a seafood eater. My limited palette was challenged, but the balcony seating at the Pratt Street Pavilion made it all worth it.

Across a small bridge was a GIGANTIC building, a converted 100 year old power plant that now houses by far the coolest Barnes & Noble I've ever seen. Chocolate blackout cupcake on the balcony, anyone???

Getting the parking and voucher sorted for the hotel was a bit of a challenge, as the streets got a bit less friendly after dark, but we figured it out and this hotel ended up being more posh that I'd expected.

Now it's coming up on 1am, and tomorrow has a lot of exploring and driving ahead. The bed seems cozy. The oubliette outside the window is making a meditative windy sound. To rest, then.