Vacation :: Day 1 in Baltimore

We drove in to Baltimore yesterday, and it only took a little over 6 hours. We made great time! I tried to take some pictures on the road on the way, but it wasn't working out for me. I got a couple, but most of them didn't turn out well.







We made the block three times before we figured out where our hotel was. Luckily, Priceline selected a great place for us, The Tremonts Plaza Hotel. Free valet parking, free internet in your room, and the service has been great so far....except for the shuttle driver who took us to the Inner Harbor for dinner. I was seriously scared for my life. He stopped in the middle of the intersection every time a light turned red, so we were constantly honked at...then he tried to go around another large van and clipped the side mirror....so he had to stop and get out and go speak to the other driver. I was completely stunned. I turned my video camera on to document the last of the ride, but by then all the good stuff was over. Jamie says that's just how people drive in north eastern cities. And I thought Dallas was bad.....







We walked around the Inner Harbor and took a few pictures. There were tons of boats, all shapes and sizes. There's even a pirate ship you can take a cruise on. We might do that tomorrow, if we have time! The USS Constellation is also here.















I shamed Jamie for never using his camera while we're out....our albums have a million pictures of him, and none of me....so he decided to try and sneak a few photos of me. :P





We sat down for dinner at Phillips Seafood. We got a table on the patio and could overlook the water during dinner. I had Lobster Bisque and Salt & Pepper Calamari....Jamie had the Fried Seafood Platter with a Maryland crab cake, shrimp and flounder. While I was looking over the menu, I noticed that 1 crab cake was $13. When the tiny thing arrived on Jamie's plate I was kind of shocked....I guess I expected a little more size for $13! But what do I know about the price of Maryland crab cakes? I tried it and didn't like it. That's a bummer too, because I was so excited to try some authentic Maryland crab cakes. My lobster bisque was great though.









During dinner a thunderstorm rolled in. We were finished eating and just about to leave, but they evacuated the rest of the patio diners who were still eating and moved them into the restaurant. We took cover until it slowed a little, then we grabbed a cab back to the hotel.





The cab driver wasn't much better than the shuttle driver. Jamie says New York is worse, which is another weekend trip I'd like to take.....but I don't know if my heart could handle that. :)