Sailabration

For mom:  here are some pictures of the ships.

We actually left the house before 9 this Saturday.  It might be a first.  We only knew that we had to beat the crowds that were predicted to pour in for the Sailabration and Blue Angles air show in Baltimore.  

It was peaceful when we arrived.  It wasn't until we made out way down to the corner of the inner harbor that we started seeing people lined up for blocks to tour the ships.  Lined up for block an hour before they opened the gangways.

First: a map.  I am a geographer, after all.  Blue are navy boats and red are tall ships.

Panoramic view.  For some reason I keep staring at the men with the boxes.   I'm so curious about what's in them.  They don't look too heavy...but they need one guy for each?  hmmm....maybe a little too much Sherlock Holmes viewing lately.  But...it's a mystery. dundundun.

The tall ships are from all over the world.  The US, Indonesia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico. They were really beautiful.

We would have loved to see the tall ships underway.  It must be breathtaking.  Jon almost wanted to re-join the navy.

Owen and I climbed the lighthouse to get a better view.  Here's another panoramic shot from the top.

Owen was not too thrilled to be up on the lighthouse deck.  But he's a trooper.

Sand.

Three US Navy Patrol Craft.  Jon served on one just like these for a few weeks.  It was fun to have him point out the different parts - where the mess hall was, the lookout room where he spent time finding his sea legs, his 'office'.

We took the water taxi for a spin around the harbor, thinking it would be fun for Owen to see the boats while riding in one...

...but Ever was the one going crazy.  She was literally jumping up and down and screaming and fake laughing and waving at every boat.  And clapping.  

They both were practically begging for nap time by noon.   Must have been all the salty air?  The sea breezes still folded away in those sails?  

I'm not sure where they all head off to next.  I know some are in Boston after June 30th, and Newport RI in early July.  It's worth checking out.