Tour of Annapolis, MD

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My last day of the weekend to goof off and see some sites before flying back home and back to work. Left Baltimore early this morning and made the short drive to Annapolis. Unfortunately, I arrived in the midst of their triathalon and the result was roads closed everywhere. I was finally able to work my way to the Naval Academy stadium parking lot and caught a shuttle to the Academy. There, I took a tour which was great! Was about 1 1/2 hours long and our guide was very informative.

We got to see the athletic center (navy students famous for swimming related events), the dorms, the chapel and the grounds. We saw on display the history of the century of Army-Navy football games which currently have Navy with the edge. There are also a number of memorials and statues located on the grounds. Over 4,000 students are in attendance and professors live on-site in huge, beautiful colonial duplex-style homes. The Chapel is very pretty. It's non-denominational and when you first walk inside you're kind of taken aback at all the blue! One doesn't expect bright blue carpet in a church but then this is navy blue. Amazing stained glass windows and very fitting for the setting. The US Naval Academy also has some very distinguished alumni including President Jimmy Carter and President Hopeful John McCain. Roger Staubach and David Robinson are two of their most famous athletic graduates.

The most interesting part of the tour was of the crypt. John Paul Jones (I have not yet begun to fight) is there in an extremely intricate tomb. Quite a story there. He died in his early 40s in France. Is a huge US naval hero from the years of fighting the British and considered the Father of the US Navy. He died very young but was extremely decorated. France knew he was a US hero and when he died they entombed him in a lead casket to preserve his body figuring the US would be coming to pick him up. Well, we didn't for several years. He died in 1792 and we went looking to claim his body in 1905! This had followed a six year search by a naval officer to locate him. He had been forgotten in a French cemetery. However, according to our tour guide, when they opened his casket he was so well preserved that they were able to match his face to that of a bust of him which is also on display next to his tomb in the Naval crypt.

After the tour, I made the short walk to the City docks for lunch. Signed up for a harbor tour to get a different view of Annapolis. The tour was very relaxing and peaceful. Wasn't long but gave a nice view of the Harbor area and the Naval Academy from the water. The boat takes you up to the Bridge and you also see the beautiful homes located along the Bay.

Annapolis is a smaller city located very near to Washington, DC. Has a very historic downtown area with old buildings and shops located very near the Maryland state capitol. Nice little day trip.

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Photos

Reflection
Chapel dome reflection at the Naval Academy

Tomb of John Paul Jones
Located in crypt below the Chapel

WWII Memorial in Annapolis
Naval Academy in the background.

Beautiful Interior
Interior to entry to the dorms.

Interior of the Naval Academy Chapel
And no, my colors are not off...it's actually that blue!

John Paul Jones
He's in a tomb at the Academy. Was a good looking guy!

Comments

[Julieta]

:D
Beautiful! ojala algun dia pueda ir a visitarlo :') <3