Me Amal and Anil had gone with a the brother of a friend of ours to see Baltimore. We had gone to Fairfax, VA and then from there we went to DC and Baltimore. DC was the place where we spent our new year. We had gone to see the celebrations near a tall tower which I think was the Lincoln memorial. Most key sights are located on or near the National Mall, the great grassy strip stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.

A great place to see the mix of tradition and innovation is at the lively Inner Harbor (a near neighbor to Camden Yards). Once a run-down warehouse district, it has been transformed into a colorful, thriving area that serves as the heart of the city and contains several first-rate visitor attractions. Begin your visit to the city down by the water at the Inner Harbor. It looks out upon the Patapsco River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay.

The thriving waterfront is home to three important attractions: the National Aquarium in Baltimore (among the best in the world), the Maryland Science Center and the Baltimore Maritime Museum. The Inner Harbor borders downtown and is just blocks away from Fells Point, a charming maritime neighborhood that also includes Little Italy. Also in the harbor area is Federal Hill, home to the Fort McHenry National Monument.

The above photo was taken at a ski ring. I barely managed to stand with the skates on. But then since Amal was falling almost everyone I had company falling. The photo on the side was taken outside Amal's apartment in Blacksburg near Virginia Tech. I saw snow for the first time in my life in Virginia. It was so cold. I am not used to extreme conditions as the weather in Alabama is pretty good.

Behind us is the Capitol hill.But along with the trappings of power and ambition, Washington evokes a certain hospitality, perhaps stemming from the city's southern roots. Visitors are welcomed and rewarded plentifully for their time. Washington shows itself well as the nation's capital. Stately white buildings gleam all around. History becomes fascinating and moving. Museums and galleries are recognized as sacred national institutions.