Vacation, Vacation, Vacation!

Taking an evening/over-night bus to Washington really wasn't that bad. I actually slept pretty much the entire bus ride. The only time I was kept awake for 45 minutes was when they almost didn't let me cross the US border! They kept hassling me because I didn't have a return ticket to Canada. "Why should we let you into our country? How do we know you will go back to where you came from?" WHAT? I had a Canadian passport and I'm so sure not everyone who travels to the States always have a return ticket on them when they cross the border!

"Why don't you have your return ticket on you?"
"'Cause my friend has it."
"Why would your friend have your ticket?"
"Because he purchased my ticket at the same time he purchased his and he's already in Washington."
"So how do I know you will return to Canada?"
ARGHH!!

"Where will you be staying in Washington?"
"At a hotel... Hilton."
"Do you have a reservation number?"
"No, not on me."
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't book the hotel."
"Why didn't you book the hotel?"
"My friend booked the hotel."

Ooo-K...!

"What do you in Canada?"
"I'm a wedding planner and I have an online business."
"You're a wedding planner huh?"
"Yes."
"Well, you're not a very good planner considering you know nothing about your trip, the hotel you're staying, no return ticket..."
"My friend is picking me up at the bus station in Washington, he has everything taken care of and I trust that he does, so why do I need to ask for the hotel reservation number in advance and my return bus ticket?"
"Your friend is picking you up at the bus station?"
"Yes, he is."
"Right, not if your trip ends here tonight."

Great! It was past midnight when we had this conversation... I was tired, let me back on the bus so I can sleep!

"Let me make some clear, just because you're at the border here, it doesn't mean we will let you cross, you came here to 'apply' to travel into our country, doesn't mean we will permit. And if you cannot prove to us that you will return to your own country, we will not let you come across. See the cameras up in the ceiling? This inspection is being recorded and everything you said was being recorded. Let me ask you again, do you have a return ticket to Canada?"
"Yes, I do have a return ticket to Canada, just not on me."

The dude punched his keyboard pretty hard as he unwillingly 'allowed' me into HIS country! What a great way to start my vacation... thank God no more unpleasant incidents during the trip. The rest were awesome.

Thursday morning, finally got to Washington and Goh Goh did in fact picked me up at the bus terminal!

I finally got to meet my cutie cousin, David! Too bad we couldn't spend more time together and he wasn't feeling well when I saw him. I didn't even get to hold him!




There was a "storm" in Washington as the bus arrives at the bus terminal. It was really just 2in of snow, but the entire city seemed to be malfunctioning! Some roads were blocked off because of the snow, some museum entrances were blocked off as well. We wanted to have seafood buffet, but the buffet was cancelled for the day because of the "severe weather." We were basically laughing at them the whole day. To us, what is 2in of snow?? They probably would have cancelled school and university classes if more than 4in of snow had fallen.

Here are some places we visited during the "snow storm."

The Capitol
Our tour guide really wasn't much of a tour guide. The main entrance was blocked off because of the snow, we tried to sneak to the front for a photo but got yelled at by this dude with his machine gun so ready to point at us and shoot.

I know... I just had to blend in with the rest of the Washington-ians with my umbrella while it snowed away 2in of wet snow.

Washington Monument
Waiting in line to go up.



Smithsonian's Natural History Museum


Goh Goh's fav. oyster shells...


There were other places we wanted to visit but we didn't have time because everything in Washington basically closes at 5pm. Too bad, but next time! In the evening we went to Georgetown, didn't take any photos though, just a small little town with some shops and we had dinner there. That basically concluded our Washington trip.

Couldn't wake up on Saturday morning to catch the bus, so we only got to NYC on Saturday in the afternoon. Vincent, Venus, Ivan and Jason met Goh Goh and I at the bus terminal. Our first stop was up the Empire State Building. What a long way up! So many different elevators we had to take to go up, and it cost us $20. But the view was great, we spent a good two hours there and in the gift shop. The boys loved it, I'm glad they had fun.




Thanks Vincent and Venus for treating us to Japanese!


After dinner at Time Square...



We spent quite a bit of time at the M&M store! There were so many things we wanted to buy that we just had to go back again the next day.



Sunday morning was, of course, spent in the house of the Lord. We had service at the Princeton Alliance. A beautiful modern church...



Trinity Church... we just watched National Treasure 1& 2 during the Christmas holidays, so it was pretty cool I got to visit it soon afterwards, but there was no secret underground passage! Haha!



Wall Street...




Our one and only McD's meal during the trip before the musical.


The LION KING musical was just AMAZING! It was my all time favourite Disney movie, I really enjoyed it from beginning 'till the end. Everything, especially the costumes and the sets and props were very well done. Just amazing! Too bad we were allowed to take any photos in the theater.


Monday... This time, Goh Goh didn't lie to me, he really did take me to go on the Ferry, unlike LAST TIME! Got tricked into going on the "ferry" when it was a monster jet boat ride which they get you wet on purpose! The ferry was free, so it was especially enjoyable, didn't have to pay to get wet, haha!



Grand Central Station


Rockefeller


MET, very interesting!




Tuesday, we made a trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell (was also in National Treasure).









We also dropped by the United States Mint near the Liberty Bell. We couldn't bring our cameras in even if we didn't take any pictures. Venus has to stay outside so we can bring the kids in. Thanks Venus!

Last shot (of course, of the buses for Goh Goh) before we headed home for Ivan's violin lessons.


That pretty much concluded our trip to DC, NYC and NJ. It was really fun and relaxing, although my feet were sore from all the walking, but it was worth it. Crossing the Canadian border was

Now... back to Montreal, back to reality... back to work :( Also back to some real wedding planning! which is the most exciting thing to be back for.