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Thread: USA Trip

  1. #1
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    USA Trip

    Recently I had a bit of time off between jobs (long story) so decided to visit the US and see some family. To be honest, the whole flying after COVID thing did not thrill me, and the preflights paper work and proof of vaccinations and etc were a bit of a palaver. Of course just as we were thinking of booking we also discovered the Mrs KW's passport had less than six months in it. And with her consultants and embassies here all had 4 month waitlists just to get appointments to apply for a new passport, let alone how long it took to obtain the ruddy things. This necessitated a couple of trips home for MrsKW to get a new passport made up, and then a visit to the American embassy for visa. Both of which were fairly painless.

    Then, armed with passports, vaccination certificates, COVID free certificates, hotel bookings, flight bookings, et al. (I ended up with a massive folder of paperwork) we embarked on a trip via Doha.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-13-a


    First plane I had boarded for many a year.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-13-a


    I even nicked a spoon for Mendy, but turns out he already has one from Qatar and doesn't want it.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-25-a


    Damn, it's a long way.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-13-a


    Our first sight of land...

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-14-a


    But it's not all that interesting...

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-14-a

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Landed in Washington DC late afternoon, by the time we checked into a hotel there was time for a light snack for dinner, some shopping and a walk.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-35-a


    I think the flags were at half mast due to some shooting or another.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-36-a


    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-36-a

    Hello Biden's!
    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-36-a

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-36-a

    Shitty hotel, I don't really recommend it other than location.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-37-a

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    The next day was a trip to some museums. Washington DC has some great museums and they are all free. On the way we spotted this bike.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-8-31-a


    His politics are clear.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-8-32-a


    Walked past this building, not sure what it is. But it's impressive.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-46-a

    Then we discovered that our first stop; The National Air and Space Museum, which I had been talking up to my youngest who loves Dinosaurs and Space (in that order) was closed. Bugger.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-44-a
    Last edited by DrWilly; 25-07-2022 at 07:33 PM.

  4. #4
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    Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator
    That's what I see.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Only the bike pics don’t show for me.

    Hope you are there for a while. The Smithsonian takes days to see it all.

  6. #6
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    Are you going to drop in on Bsnub?

  7. #7
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Green owed DW.

  8. #8
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    @willy - the first 2 attachments in post #3 can't be seen

    Looking forward to more pics & stories.

    Btw what are the green & brown (maroon?) passports? The blue ones are Australian. Thnx.

  9. #9
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    Thai passports are brown. hth

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub View Post
    That's what I see.

    Bugger, will get back to them later and see if I can fix.


    ETA - fixed?
    Last edited by DrWilly; 25-07-2022 at 07:33 PM.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    @willy - the first 2 attachments in post #3 can't be seen

    Looking forward to more pics & stories.

    Btw what are the green & brown (maroon?) passports? The blue ones are Australian. Thnx.
    We are a mixed family.

  12. #12
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    Cool thread, willy. Keep 'em coming.

    I love a good trip to the US and the opportunity to stock up on baked beans.

    Funnily enough, a year ago last week, me and snubs were on the tear in NY moving from baked bean joint to baked bean joint. What a week that was!

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Yeah, didn’t eat no baked beans. Did eat dishes of grit? It objected to paying $197 per breakfast for them!

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    Yeah, didn’t eat no baked beans. Did eat dishes of grit? It objected to paying $197 per breakfast for them!
    Those $1 pizza places will be a saviour if you've got little mouths to feed on a family trip over there...

    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    Did eat dishes of grit? !
    I've still got no idea as to what grits are. I was meaning to try them, but there's just so much good stuff to eat over there...

    When it comes to breakfasts though, I am a fan of Denny's. I'm sure our resident yanks will rip me for this.

  15. #15
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    Keep it coming Willy!

    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post
    I am a fan of Denny's.
    Denny's was the place to stop in to sober up after the bars closed. I don't think I've eaten at one during the day.

    Grits are wonderful....add a bit of butter and they're damn tasty.

  16. #16
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    How were ollies burgers?
    Great thread, green owed

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post

    When it comes to breakfasts though, I am a fan of Denny's. I'm sure our resident yanks will rip me for this.
    Dennys is the favorite of drunks that either havn't gone to sleep yet or have just woke up at 2pm and want breakfast

  18. #18
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    I've still got no idea as to what grits are.
    Polenta, by another name.

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat russellsimpson's Avatar
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    Would have been nice if you could make it up into Montreal and some of the eastern townships of Quebec.doctor.

    Bon voyage

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    I even nicked a spoon for Mendy, but turns out he already has one from Qatar and doesn't want it.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-25-4-25-a
    Apologies if I sounded ungrateful... it's a damn fine spoon but I do have a lot of Qatar cutlery.

    I hope you know the offer was much appreciated!

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Topper View Post
    Keep it coming Willy!

    Denny's was the place to stop in to sober up after the bars closed. I don't think I've eaten at one during the day.

    Grits are wonderful....add a bit of butter and they're damn tasty.
    I didn’t notice any Denny’s, but then again I wasn’t drunk and out at 2:00am much either.

    Another thing I had to watch is bacon. It’s alright for most people, but when my family cannot eat pork and breakfast consists of pork sausages, pork bacon and scrambled eggs with bacon bits in it then it’s kinda hassle (Same with salads we ordered in the evening or for lunch).

    Quote Originally Posted by Cujo View Post
    How were ollies burgers?
    Great thread, green owed
    burp. Trying to find a photo: all I found so far was the chicken wings. They had sectioned off a bit of footpath so diners could eat outside. which was nice enough at 7:00 when it was still light and the sun was up, but once the sun disappeared it got cold. At least for the expats from SE Asia.

    Quote Originally Posted by russellsimpson View Post
    Would have been nice if you could make it up into Montreal and some of the eastern townships of Quebec.doctor.

    Bon voyage
    Would have been nice if I could have gone West and spent a week camping in the Rockies or walk the Appalachian trial…but I only had 2 weeks.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    Apologies if I sounded ungrateful... it's a damn fine spoon but I do have a lot of Qatar cutlery.

    I hope you know the offer was much appreciated!
    Not at all buddy, I risked life and limb, or a caning to get that spoon. Worst of all MrsKW was not too impressed. “Why are you taking that spoon, we have spoons at home: mind you, I got the last laugh later in the trip when we needed a spoon in the hotel room and I just happened to have one handy. I even resisted saying I told you so! For 5 minutes.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    My eldest managed to fly out also. It was the first time we'd seen him since 2019. He'd grown a bit since then.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-13-a

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    One aspect that fascinated us about Washington DC was the buildings and architecture (of which I know absolutely very little), but the buildings all appear very grandiose.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-15-a

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-16-a

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-16-a

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-17-a

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    A short walk down to the Museum promenade (not sure what it is really called). For those not familiar, the centre of Washington DC has a bunch of museums spread around a public park. with Capitol Hill, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and White House at different ends.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-27-a


    Everywhere is within walking distance, and the footpaths are clear and the temps were lovely (Spring).

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-20-a


    We were tourists, these squirrels were cute.

    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-20-a


    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-21-a




    The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History was first on our list. As MissKit mentioned, you really need days here. But I don't think the KW gang would last that long.


    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-22-a


    USA Trip-screenshot-2022-07-26-5-21-a
    Last edited by DrWilly; 26-07-2022 at 05:26 AM.

  25. #25
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    ^^I don’t know if you know it, but I believe the picture you posted (second from bottom) was the Trump Hotel for a short time.

    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    Did eat dishes of grit? It objected to paying $197 per breakfast for them!
    Grits! And it’s not just for breakfast.

    Next time you and family are in DC try The Wharf

    Nice start. Looking forward to NY
    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

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