Maryland

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Cozumel, Mexico with Chanel the Bear

Today I, Zeb the Duck, want you to see these photos of Cozumel, Mexico from my friend, Chanel the Bear.

Big boots for a small bear

Big boots for a small bear

Aren’t these the biggest boots you have ever seen with an adorable bear?   Looks like a place to have a lot of fun.   Cozumel is a small island of Mexico.   A great tourist area with fantastic beaches, scuba diving and snorkeling.  These horse drawn carriages looks great and just announce that you are a happy tourist.

Horse drawn carriages in Cozumel, Mexico

Horse drawn carriages in Cozumel, Mexico

I love to see them, Chanel.   Wow!   Look at the size of your cruise ship.

That cruise ship is huge

That cruise ship is huge

These ships really are floating cities, aren’t they?  Thanks for these great photos, Chanel.

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Duck Soap

I, Zeb the Duck, received this photo of some duck cousins.  The Duck Soap was in Maryland at Takoma Park folk festival.  The 37th annual Takoma Park folk festival has live music on 6 stages.  Some stages are inside and some are outside.  Crafts and food are also plentiful.

I love these guys and love the popularity of my duck relatives.  I have not seen duck soap in Colorado yet, but maybe I will soon.  Thanks to my friend for sending this photo!

Takoma Park, Maryland

Takoma Park, Maryland

This must be a great festival!

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Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

I, Zeb the Duck, must leave Baltimore in an hour. Mom and I spotted this sculpture near the Inner Harbor area.

Looks good to me

Looks good to me

So pretty.

You will want to spend at least a full day at the Inner Harbor. The body of water here is the Chesapeake Bay. The shops and restaurants are welcoming. The National Aquarium is near. There are four ships to board and tour.

Many people enjoying the Inner Harbor

Many people enjoying the Inner Harbor

Don’t miss any of this!

I love water taxis.

I love the water, but I am a duck. You will love water taxis also.

I love the water, but I am a duck. You will love water taxis also.

So convenient and so much fun to travel by water.   This ship, the USS Constellation served our country, in various capacities, for almost 100 years.

USS Constellation

USS Constellation

Take a tour and learn of her time in the Mediterranean. Before the Civil War, the USS Constellation was the flagship of the US African Squadron. The USS Constellation sailed near Africa to capture slave ships and free the Africans headed to North America for slavery. Later, this ship took food and supplies to Ireland during that famine. The USS Constellation transported items across the Atlantic for world fairs.

A great ship

A great ship

The end of her career was spent training future Navy leaders.

We had less than one hour before our airport pickup, so we just wandered along the dock. Please, spend some time there and enjoy this great place! We want to return to board the ships and visit the National Aquarium.

Visit Baltimore's Inner Harbor soon.

Visit Baltimore’s Inner Harbor soon.

And so much more!

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Historic Buildings with Modern Businesses

I, Zeb the Duck, loved the old, historic buildings in Baltimore.  And, I thought it was great that the modern businesses used these buildings without changing the exterior.

The Walgreens by my house in Colorado certainly does not look like this one.

Walgreens in Baltimore

Walgreens in Baltimore

Mine is easy to recognize, but this one has history. And look at this 7-11.

7-11 in Baltimore

7-11 in Baltimore

These buildings are so great.

Preserving historic buildings

Preserving historic buildings

Another Baltimore 7-11.

How about this CVS?  Impressive to this duck.

Everybody needs CVS

Everybody needs CVS

This is one of my favorite places.  Love Dunkin’ Donuts.

Love Dunkin' Donuts

Love Dunkin’ Donuts

Fed Ex is looking good also.

FedEx is everywhere!

FedEx is everywhere!

Baltimore is trying to keep the city clean and save energy.  These solar compactors were on many streets.

Everybody can do their part

Everybody can do their part

I am glad mom and I went to Baltimore.  You will enjoy so many things here.  Let me know about your Baltimore experiences.

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Remembering Baltimore’s Heroes

Zeb the Duck here in Baltimore.   Skipping dinner, we walked in a different direction. First we encountered Battle Monument. Honoring those who died in the War of 1812, this 39-foot monument was built in 1815-1825.

Battle Monument with Zeb

Battle Monument with Zeb

Designed by J. Maximilian M. Godefroy notice the Egyptian Revival cenotaph base and Carrara marble statue of a female figure on the top.   The lady, wearing a crown of victory and holding a wreath in one hand and ship’s rudder in the other, represents the City of Baltimore. This monument, often called Lady Baltimore, is on the seal and the flag of the City of Baltimore.

Fountains to soothe

Fountains to soothe

Fountains add tranquility near the statue to the Negro Heroes.

Honoring Negro Heroes

Honoring Negro Heroes

I am proud to sit on the boot of an American hero.

Monument to heroes

Monument to heroes

Across the park is the War Memorial.

Baltimore's War Memorial

Baltimore’s War Memorial

This is a “place of meeting for all veteran, patriotic and civic organizations, a depository for trophies of wars in which our country has engaged, and a tribute to those citizens of Maryland who gave their lives and services to their country in World War I.” On the terrace in front of the War Memorial we saw the two sculptured sea horses. These sea horses represent the “Might of America crossing the seas to aid our allies.” One horse represents the Navy

Sea horse with osprey for Navy

Sea horse with osprey for Navy

and the other represents the army.

Sea horse with eagle representing the army

Sea horse with eagle representing the army

Looking ahead, I spotted the Phoenix Shot Tower, sometimes called the Old Baltimore Shot Tower. It is 215 feet tall and used about 1.1 million bricks (manufactured by Burns and Russell Company of Baltimore.) The Shot Tower was built in 1828.

Phoenix Shot Tower in Baltimore

Phoenix Shot Tower in Baltimore

Molten led was dropped from a platform at the top of the tower, through a sieve-like device, into a vat of cold water at the bottom of the tower. Both “drop shot” for pistols and rifles and “moulded shot” for larger weapons such as cannons were produced. Production stopped in 1892 when new methods of shot production were introduced. This information is from www.carrollmuseums.org and from Wikipedia.  Again, mom and I had no more time.  Next session of our conference starts soon.  You will enjoy your visit to Baltimore. Summer is a great time to explore the area.

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Wandering in Baltimore

I, Zeb the Duck, love Baltimore.  Mom and I were here for a weekend conference so we didn’t have much time to explore.   However, this what we found.  The former headquarters of the B & O Railroad is now the Hotel Monaco Baltimore.

Historic building and great hotel

Historic building and great hotel

Also, the hotel hosting our conference. Love the red carpet for this white limo.

Long limo

Long limo

A bridal party arrived here Friday evening. The ladies were beautiful!

Ducks are very curious animals and I love to learn.  John Hopkins University was a great place for this duck.

I could learn a lot here.

I could learn a lot here.

Fountains and water are important to ducks also.

We love fountains

We love fountains

North Charles Street provided me with much to see.

In front of Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse I saw Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.,

Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.

Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr.

large and metal, greeting all visitors.

Further along the street, the New Unity Church Ministries caught my eye.

New Unity Church Ministries. Appealing building.

New Unity Church Ministries. Appealing building.

Beyond the Baltimore Basilica (see previous post),

Visit the Baltimore Basilica soon.

Visit the Baltimore Basilica soon.

I saw a very ornate steeple.  This steeple is on the Mt. Vernon Place Methodist Church.

Steeple of Mt. Vernon Place Methodist Church

Steeple of Mt. Vernon Place Methodist Church

This church, designed by Thomas Dixon, a Baltimore architect, has been here since 1872.  We were out of time, so did not enter the church.  I hope you can.

The banners for the Baltimore Orioles are very colorful.

Second only to Colorado Rockies for this duck

Second only to Colorado Rockies for this duck

I think Baltimore will be my favorite baseball team, unless they play our Colorado Rockies.

Flowers are so cheerful.  I just loved these flowers in the sidewalk of Baltimore.

Flowers are so beautiful and cheerful

Flowers are so beautiful and cheerful

You will love visiting Baltimore.  There is something interesting everywhere.  Next time I will tell you about Saturday’s short walk.  We took an outside break for dinner, before Saturday’s last session.

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Baltimore Basilica

I, Zeb the Duck, visited the first Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States.

First in the USA

First in the USA

Mom and I were in Baltimore for a conference, but did some exploring of the city.  Benjamin Henry Latrobe, America’s first professionally trained architect, designed this Basilica.

Huge cathedral

Huge cathedral

The exterior is impressive. I liked this statue of James Cardinal Gibbons, the ninth Archbishop of Baltimore.

Ninth Archbishop

Ninth Archbishop

The back of the basilica features Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden.

Pope John Paul II was here

Pope John Paul II was here

The garden commemorates Pope John Paul II’s visit to Baltimore in October 1995.

Inside, the basilica is elegant. Upon entering, busts of two cardinals greeted me.

Cardinal William H. Keeler

Cardinal William H. Keeler

Cardinal Lawrence J. Shehan

Cardinal Lawrence J. Shehan

Looking up, we admired this ceiling painting.

Painted on the ceiling

Painted on the ceiling

Looking ahead the altar was beautiful.

Looking forward to the altar

Looking forward to the altar

I love circular stairs.

Love these stairs

Love these stairs.

The inside of the dome is stunning.

Isn't this beautiful??

Isn’t this beautiful??

This statue with candles is so serene.

Magnificent yet so peaceful.

Magnificent yet so peaceful.

The basilica was constructed between 1806 and 1821. It was consecrated May 31, 1821.

When you visit Baltimore, be sure to enter the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Visit the Baltimore Basilica soon.

Visit the Baltimore Basilica soon.

However, it is usually called the Baltimore Basilica.  You will enjoy spending time here.