Review of our Spring Break '14 Cruise on Carnival Pride

[cbsmama]

Subscribing! Your Breeze review was Fan-Freaking-Tastic. :D

 

I will say that even though I am big fan of all the details and minutia, I did greatly appreciate your summary in the first post! I like knowing what I'm getting into!

[crewsweeper]

Great start Paul:) Nice summary in the first post. Pics are great. Regular paparazzi, are we? My first thought on the pictures in DC was "Cherry Blossom Time" A great time to visit the nation's capital.

 

Waiting for the rest. Pride comes down to Tampa later this year or early next after the dry dock. Would love to book a cruise.

[PaulMedik]

Thank you all for your kind comments.

 

 

Off to our next point of interest (And yeah at this point it was still a bit chilly as you can see by Spencer hugging himself);

 

 

 

All kinds of neat gifts and Presidential collectables not just from the current administration. Do NOT buy anything from them; they are rude and everything is expensive. Larry clued us in to better prices elsewhere, but the rudeness you'll experience several times as you browse their goods;

 

 

 

Everything that is sold inside White House Gifts can be found at street vendors for much better prices and they're very friendly too;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Washington DC tours tend to be much larger than our little tour group;

 

[PaulMedik]

One thing that really stands out about Washington DC is that everywhere you look there are familiar sights;

 

 

 

And when you zoom in a little;

 

 

 

You can see the flag flying over the US Capital by zooming in more;

 

 

 

You can even zoom in on the very top of the US Capital and see a bird perched on top;

 

 

Granted the quality of the pictures drops quite a bit as you zoom in, but if the air were clear and if I had used a tripod....

 

White House from the opposite side;

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2014 by PaulMedik

[PaulMedik]

While relaxing on the bench I heard a mechanical buzz and electronics clicking so I checked out the lamp behind us;

 

 

Multiple WiFi cameras were mounted everywhere.

 

 

Great places to grab a quick bite were practically everywhere;

 

 

We were constantly walking past things we planned to see just to get where we planned to go next;

 

 

Our entire day consisted of walking thru the parks;

 

 

An occasional fresh egg was found along the wall of the water basin;

 

 

 

Larry was drafted into the US Army in the middle of the Vietnam 'conflict.' Walking along the wall with him as he spoke of childhood friends and people he knew who's names were on the wall was a bit emotional;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

Names on the wall

 

 

 

 

 

Steadying my camera for HDR shot;

 

Edited April 30, 2014 by PaulMedik

[PaulMedik]

HDR Shot;

 

 

Warmed up a little;

 

 

 

 

Social media is very important when you are near a landmark. Sometimes the social media appears to be more important than the landmark, but it's nice to see that they consider it a cool place to be;

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2014 by PaulMedik

[PaulMedik]

 

 

Standing in the footsteps of where Martin Luther King stood to give his speech;

 

 

 

 

 

Very powerful words when standing among the monuments to our country's fallen soldiers;

 

[PaulMedik]

 

Our guide kept us enthralled with anecdotes about what happened way back when etc;

 

 

The boys loved his tales of how the Park Police horses will return to the their barn anytime they get spooked. He told them about one getting spooked in a crowd and knocked down by a car on Constitution Avenue and then galloping all the way back to the barn sans rider;

 

 

WWII Memorial;

 

 

 

No matter where you are in Washington DC, you can tell your relative position by looking toward the Washington Monument;

 

 

[PaulMedik]

 

We heard Marine One spin up in the distance and saw it lift off from the White House;

 

 

Larry said that for security reasons they always travel with at least two choppers, but that only one lifts off from the White House and the others join in formation as it reaches flight altitude (Which wasn't very high);

 

 

The boys asked about the Presidential motorcade and how many cops would be in the line. Larry said there was normally more than one motorcade and that the President's motorcade would always include an ambulance and the other's wouldn't.

 

 

 

 

I could spend days just taking pictures of the monuments;

 

 

Bryson and Spencer impressed their Mother by telling her what each of the carvings in the WWII monument represented;

 

[jimbo5544]

Great start Paul! Need to add a trip to DC to the "list". It's been a while.

[PaulMedik]

 

One of the carvings. What does it represent?

 

 

Our tour guide had to make a bathroom stop so being country folk we did what Country folk tend to do;

 

 

 

 

 

Our guide returned and we were on our way;

 

 

The blossoms were very colorful and the air was literally sweet with their aroma;

 

 

By the way, you are not allowed to touch the tree limbs and I assume that includes climbing into the trees. We were unaware of the 'law,' until enlightened later in the day when Britt was throwing blossoms into the air that had been blowing like snow. A middle aged couple chose to chastise him while I was taking his picture.....they had to be reminded that it was illegal for me to throw them in the water, but that I would do it and happily pay the fine just to shut them up. 'But it's illegal. What if everybody did it?' was there question. 'What if nobody ever did it?' was my response. I despise some humans.

[PaulMedik]

 

People were EVERYWHERE. We were there on Friday and Saturday and Sunday was when the real crowds were due to arrive;

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know how many cherry trees they have, but each tree had dozens of people either right under it or nearby taking pictures of it;

 

 

Our next destination was always in sight, but sure was a long way off;

 

Edited April 30, 2014 by PaulMedik

[PaulMedik]

 

 

The object of so many people's cameras;

 

 

Britt touching a tree limb before we were enlightened;

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2014 by PaulMedik

[PaulMedik]

'Hey Dude, you have to pay me to take pictures of my work.'

 

 

I asked if he planned to add the people later. No sense of humor. My picture isn't of his work, it's of what's going on and I did not pay him.

 

He reminded me of the guy in Cozumel one time a few years back that insisted I pay him for having taken a picture of his snake as it crawled thru the grass. I recall wishing him good luck collecting from me for taking a picture of something with my own camera.

 

I actually thought about paying the poor guy in Cozumel, but his demand for payment was what resulted in no payment. If the painter had said 'donations are appreciated,' then I likely would have tipped him too. I love street performers and have tipped a bunch of them, but it's not just what they are doing, but also their approach that matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

Well, I can see right now that I won't need to bother with posting any photos in my review when I return because my little (crappy) P&S camera will never be able to compete with your equipment. I'll just upload them for my own enjoyment and send everyone your way for "real" photos. :D

 

So glad to see this. Just in time to get me really psyched for Sunday. ;)

[PaulMedik]

After I took the picture I was reviewing it on my camera screen and the agent was looking right over my shoulder at the picture.

 

I stopped quickly to take this picture;

 

 

I had my feet square and planted as I was ran into by the Saudi agent. He stumbled backwards which caused the man he was escorting to break out in a deep belly laugh. The agent wasn't happy.

 

My only comment was that this was a great angle;

 

 

 

 

Zoomed pic of the US Capital;

 

 

Not zoomed, but I'd have to edit out the cars.....

 

[PaulMedik]

Well, I can see right now that I won't need to bother with posting any photos in my review when I return because my little (crappy) P&S camera will never be able to compete with your equipment. I'll just upload them for my own enjoyment and send everyone your way for "real" photos.

 

So glad to see this. Just in time to get me really psyched for Sunday. ;)

 

 

NCTribeFan,

 

Thank you, but many of mine were with my P&S too so be sure and share yours! The town is so picturesque that it makes getting a good shot very easy.

 

I see the forecast for Sunday in Baltimore is now partly cloudy and 70 degrees; much better than it was yesterday and the day before.

[SMSACE6]

Great start to your review! Im loving the pictorial tour of Washington DC. I have not been there in years, so it is great to revisit. I am looking forward to more of your review and photos. Thanks for posting.:)

[PaulMedik]

How much do they pay to advertise on your car?

 

 

 

 

 

I should have whipped out the fisheye to get this building. I went wide with my short lens and got my own sunshade pedals in the picture;

 

 

 

This man understood the way to control Russian aggression was to limit their economy by opening up US energy taps and providing cheaper prices for the world;

 

 

Are we walking thru Washington DC or are we walking along the street in South Beach Miami?

 

[PaulMedik]

The government buildings in DC are impressive, but the ornate buildings nearby are quite impressive in their own right;

 

 

 

If I'm not mistaken this is General Lafayette which happens to be who our home county is named after;

 

 

We passed by the White House on our way back to the parking garage;

 

 

Our parking garage was underground;

 

 

I hate going underground;

 

Edited April 30, 2014 by PaulMedik

[lollylew]

Happily subscribed :)

[DGP1111]

Thanks once again, Paul, for your post-cruise offerings. I look forward to reading yet another of these quality reviews. :)

 

.

[jbhcw]

Great review so far:). We are of like minds!! Last time in DC was 1966...not sure I would want to go back at this point in time...maybe in 2016...

 

We have cruised the pride twice...out of port canaveral...and Baltimore...it's one of my favorite ships:): looking forward to the rest of your review!!

[wrigley80]

Love your pictures of Washington D. C

 

 

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