We've borrowed a car from friends and thought that it should be serviced before we drive for a month and likely nearly 1,000 miles, so we took it in for a service at Annapolis. We left it with the mechanics on West St around 9am and wandered into the town centre to explore the historic district.
The receptionist at the mechanics suggested trying "the best" donuts at the place next door. When we realised it is a business that does Thai food at lunch and evening and donuts in the mornings, we just had to go in to try it.
They have a huge range of donuts and we ordered just 1 large cinnamon donut to share - it was good! The ladies serving were elderly Thai women with limited english, and with some customers there were communication gaps with complex orders. Picture of the Thai king on the wall. We smiled and felt right at home.
We wandered down to the US Naval Academy (USNA), planning to do a walking tour of its facilities which was rated number 1 of things to do in Annapolis by TripAdvisor.
To get into the grounds of the US Naval Academy, you have to show photo ID and the very young looking midshipman who checked our NSW driving licenses looked at them with a quiet acceptance. Anyway, we got in...
The US Naval Academy in Maryland has been here since 1845 and they are very proud of their history and their graduates and what they had become.
USNA accepts around the top 5% of all applicants (last year taking 1,200 of 23,000 applicants). They assess applicants on a mix of scholastics, attitude and fitness and if you graduate 4 years later you have a Bachelor of Science and get commissioned into the navy for a minimum of 5 years to "pay back your tuition fees" estimated at $350,000.
The US Naval Academy offers 32 sports and of course football is huge, with the annual army-navy- airforce football competition being watched by millions and the trophy is awarded by the US President.
The navy mascot is a billy goat, called Bill the Goat. The story goes that on the way to their first football game against the army in 1890 the navy did not have a mascot and on the way "commandeered" a goat from an enlisted navy man's farm. Bill the Goat has been the Navy's mascot ever since.
The LeJeune sports complex hosts an Olympic pool, with diving, and lots of space for wrestling, boxing and martial arts. We saw some midshipmen practicing wrestling on one side.
On the other side we watched what looked like "learner swimmers". In the USNA, if you can't pass your minimum water skills and swimming standards by the end of year 2 you are kicked out.
The tour moved on to "Captains Row" where rotating commissioned officers, who teach, are stationed for 3 years at a time. Outside each home hanging was the American flag and a different additional flag which we didn't know for what purpose, but presumably it had a naval theme.
This is the current home of Real Admiral Margeret Klein, the first woman in US Naval Academy's history to command here and reside in the Academy's Captains Row.
Below is Bancroft Hall, home to 4,500 navy cadets (called midshipmen). It is the largest dormitory in the US with corridors that total 5 miles in length and a footprint of 33 acres.
Inside the main entrance to Bancroft Hall.
The walking tour took us into a typical residential midshipmen room, set up to show visitors. They sleep two in a room and below is an example of one midshipman's private lodging and belongings. The size of the bed is determined by the sleeping quarters of a navy ship or a submarine, and therefore just 6 foot long, so that midshipmen get used to it. The guide told a story of one midshipmen who they brought in for basketball. He was 6 foot 7 inches when he arrived, which is over the maximum height for subs, planes and several other navy jobs, but they signed him on anyway. When he left he was 7 foot 1 inch but he still had the same bed as everyone else.
Looking out from the steps of the Bancroft Hall onto the Stribling Walk.
The Indian warrior Tecumseh stands watch over the site of noon meal formations (more of that later). Given the slogans penned on him, there must be another use of him today as well. Hmm...
Looking across from the Chapel beyond the Mexican monument towards Radford Terrace.
And 180 degrees back from the previous picture. The Chapel is in the background.
In the crypt of the Chapel were the remains of John Paul Jones, an American Navy hero from the mid 1800's who also fought against the English with the French.
We are approaching 12pm and noon meal formation is due to begin. Run, Forrest, Run...
A few pics from those noon meal formations...
Very formal procedure for roll call.
The midshipmen march in very orderly and go to Kings Hall for lunch where they are all served lunch within 10-12 minutes of seating. That's impressive catering!
After the noon meal formations, we thought that we may have a meal ourselves.
In the Dahlgren Hall (a Swedish connection?), there is a restaurant called Drydock. It looked popular with a mix of navy personnel and civilians. Let's rub shoulders...
No headwear is allowed to be worn indoors, but luckily shelf space is provided where you can leave your navy cap while you are eating. Note the shoes at the far right... Somebody carrying shoes on their head...?
After the very interesting tour of the US Naval Academy, we wander into the old town centre of Annapolis, basically just around the corner. This is looking down Main Street towards the Harbour and City Dock.
We stumbled onto this interesting looking sculpture down by the water. The lady to the far left is not really a sculpture, but she is interesting too.
The sculptures were an Alex Haley memorial of sort, he being the author of the book "Roots" that was also turned into a TV series some decades ago. Do we all remember Kunta Kinte?
Annapolis is a really charming town. Although it has its share of ice cream parlours and jewelry stores, it doesn't feely touristy, more a working men's town. We figure it takes a lot of people to service USNA.
Some of the houses are just too cute for words. This is Pinkney Street.
The State Circle circles around... The State Capitol building (see next photo), but what is "Stadt House" all about. Half German/Dutch and English.
Annapolis' State Capitol building, the State House, is the longest capitol in continuous legislative use in America.
Back on West Street, we board the Annapolis' Circulator Trolley for a free tour. After we circled the route once, we get off next to Westin Hotel at Westgate Circle.
We then wander back to Mason's Auto Repair Service on West Street, pick up our now serviced (and some parts replaced) car and drive it back towards Chester. The servicing seems to have done the trick in sorting out some small concerns we had with the car. So all good.
Here are a few pics from the tool booth before Bay Bridge and from the bridge itself. The bridge connects the mainland with Kent Island which is where Chester is.
J
A quiet late afternoon at Mary's place before Di storm cooks again - today it is Fish in Crazy Water, being wine, tomatoes, garlic, chili, parsley and olives (recipe available from Di if you're interested). Yummy, served with wine.
Good night
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment