Vacation, Day Nine

It was a gorgeous day, Saturday, the 29th of December in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Eighteen. The rain had ceased and everything was shiny.

The view out the dining room window -

We've been seeing that particular family of deer off and on since we arrived, today they came to our place for breakfast. Mama and three young'uns in the photo. All the aunts and perhaps a cousin or three came by later. There were at least eight clearly visible.

No doubt you're all wondering why we're in Annapolis as opposed to Alexandria. Well, we have new friends in Annapolis who kindly offered to share Christmas with us. How could we refuse? Bigs things are in the offing. We shall see where the road leads. For now, suffice to say, we've been having a wonderful time. (Yes, I am being mysterious. Patience my children, patience.)

After a lovely breakfast at Miss Shirley's Cafe in Annapolis, we headed down to visit the Academy. It was a great day for it.

That's the entrance to Bancroft Hall, home to the Brigade of Midshipmen, when they're in town. The new friends we have in Annapolis are in the photo. For those who are wondering, I took this shot intentionally. The brightness of the sky almost obscuring the entrance to Bancroft, gives it an almost ethereal feel. Well, it does to me.

I'll tell you, with no shame at all, some of the exhibits within Memorial Hall inside Bancroft had me all teary eyed, must be a lot of dust in there. But seriously, seeing names from history listed therein, both famous and little known, seeing the names of the Academy's fallen, people who as young men and women walked those halls, really got to me. I knew some of them, not personally, but through other friends in the Navy.

The history which echoes within Bancroft Hall is almost staggering.

Ship's Bell, USS Enterprise (CV-6)

Just inside Bancroft Hall, Commandant's Office to the left of the Christmas tree.

Of course, we had to visit the Naval Academy Chapel -

I saw the hymn number, it rang a bell. I noted that the Academy uses the same hymnal as my own church.
# 808 Eternal Father, Strong to Save

The Middies have a beautiful chapel.

History is every place you look -

Monument for the Centennial of the U.S. Submarine Force

It is also the resting place of one of our first naval heroes -

Commodore John Paul Jones lies below the Chapel.

We finished the day's sightseeing at Reynold's Tavern, the ladies had high tea, the men had actual food. Bangers and mash for me, chased with a favorite at Christmas, Stella Artois.

It was a fine day.