Last day in DC

Thursday - the day after IPW. We packed in the morning (which was quite an effort, since we didn’t want to pay for an additional piece and had to figure out how to distribute our 80 kilo in total), took a bath and got ready to leave our luggage in the hotel and go for a walk. First stop was at Kraemer Books & Café, a popular legend at Logan Square, for breakfast, corned beef hash with poached eggs (on the right, our breakfast on the plane (Lufthansa):




Then we checked out the Constitution Gardens and walked the whole Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol with a couple of stops, e.g. at the White House, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument - to be seen on the pictures above. We especially liked the different hidden gardens along the Mall, which were in full bloom right now (pics below):

The weather was beautiful again, not too humid, just right. We watched the politicians and media for a while at the Capitol, where the hearing of the former FBI boss took place, and went on to Union Station and H Street Corridor, one of the up & coming neighborhoods. Around 5 pm we headed back to the hotel since we had booked with Supershuttle, for a pick-up at 5:50 pm. Were standing there for over half an hour and finally a back-up - a taxi - came and brought us to the airport without any additional stops. Much faster than the shuttle bus in the always dense traffic!

We arrived to Dulles Airport (pic) at about 7:15 pm, and the plane started with about 15 min delay at 10:45 pm. Flight was only 7:30 hours long and we even got two seats each in Economy class. Arrived to MUC at 12:30 pm on Friday and it took us over three hours to get home by two trains and streetcar and all our luggage...

At Work

Well, it's over now and we are sort of glad about it. It's been hectic, it's been interesting and it's been strenuous. On Tuesday we spent all morning, starting at 8:30 am, at press conferences, some highly interesting, some not so, but as a rule media is supposed to attend, and so we did. Pic shows the NYC&Co. director giving his speech.

After lunch, again with Broadway show presentations, we had a couple of appointments in the main exhibition hall (see pics) in the afternoon, some of them good, some of them rather frustrating. The bigger the delegations are, the smaller is the chance that you get a chance to talk to the right person, or, to the contact you requested. Sometimes the media person wasn't present or available and it seemed a bit, as if media isn't really what they want to have in the main hall (on pic).

Our last appointment ended at 6 pm and we headed out to get to the first of four parties in total this evening: the New York City party. Very fancy bar-restaurant, very dressed-up attendants, very crowded and a bit noisy. Had a drink (food was rather sparse) and walked over to the Oregon Party closeby in another bar-restaurant. Not as crowded there, more intimate, also, we knew more people there and met dear friends. Food and drinks were better, too, and Pendleton not only brought whiskey but, also, cowboy hats. Guess, who needed one?

The RMI (Rocky Mountain States) party involved a little walk but was in a nice restaurant closeby Logan Circle, a pretty vivid neighborhood. Superb beer selection and similar food as at the previous place: sliders and pizza. At about 9 pm we headed out with our friend Wolfgang to still take a look at the Sonoma/National Geographic Party, but lines were long, security (as always) strict and the party was crowded, therefore we skipped that event and called it a day.

Early start again on Wednesday, first appointment at 8:30 am (shuttle bus trip from hotel to the convention center took about 20 min and traffic was horrible, as always), followed by two interesting press conferences: New Orleans, last year's host city - always fun since they usually offer music and a lunch buffet. This year they had engaged a brass band from DC (!) - see pic above - and served gumbo and cocktails before and after the press conference.

Denver's conference was the "highlight", since the next IPW, in May 2018, will take place there. At the same time it's the 50th anniversary of the show and they informed the press about what great things are planned, even Denver's Mayor (the black guy on the pic) delivered a speech. I am sure they'll do a great job in Colorado!

In the afternoon we had appointments at the new African American Museum, in a spectacular building, but overwhelmingly large and diverse, with exhibits like a slave hut or Chuck Berry's car), followed by a hard hat tour in the Bible Museum (pic below), still under construction (it is supposed to open in November).

This is even larger than the previously mentioned new one, but for contents, not sure what it'll have to offer besides a lot of multimedia ,,, we'll see. The final party took place in the Nationals Ballpark, the baseball stadium in the Navy Yards District accommodating over 41.000 fans. At stands and boothes food and drinks were served (Bratwurst tasted best!), different activities took place, give-aways and tours, and at the end a big firework.

Busy times at IPW

IPW - short for "International (Tourism) Powwow" - the largest travel & trade show in the U.S., officially started on Sunday with the German Delegation's breakfast followed by Press Brunch in the Newseum (pic above) – a museum, which promotes, explains and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment on seven levels of interactive exhibits.

The Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser (pic), a charismatic woman, only 44 years old, welcomed guests (like us on pic) and after brunch we joined one of the mandatory press tours: "Breweries and Distilleries", which was fun, though a little slow in parts.

We got to know two distilleries (rum and wodka/gin/whiskey) and two breweries in the up&coming Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and enjoyed abundant tastings, though not too much food inbetween. Pics below show Cotton & Reed rum distillery as well as Blue Jacket Brewery:

Back to the hotel at 4:30 pm, we just had enough time to freshen up for the Opening Party in the National Air & Space Museum. Security checks slowed down the admission to the venue and it was a bit confusing to have three venues to visit: the museum itself, with buffets and bars set up, a marked-off area on the Mall with a stage where Aloe Blacc and other musicians performed and a strip on 4th Street, behind the stage, with bars set up (they aren't allowed to pour alcohol on the Mall...). Considering the 6,300 attendees (500 among them worldwide media), it's always amazing how organizers handle it.

We took a bus around 9:15 pm back to the hotel to get readyy for today's "Media Marketplace", a full day of appointments with U.S. suppliers in one big ballroom. Pretty hectic and often not completely sufficient 10-minute-appointments. Media reception took place at 4 pm with some bites to eat and some drinks to drink, before busses departed for the California party (one of many parties this evening) at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (pic above). More food and drinks before the concert of the X Ambassadors (pic) on the stage of the building started - and this was great music, as well as the food and wine California brought over.

Washington DC and the IPW

The night on the train was horrible. Expected to have comfy seats in the coach car, with footrests and pillows, like we knew from trains in the West. Not so in the East. Regular train cars as in Europe, slightly reclineable seat backs, no foot rests. Lights weren't shut off at night and passengers not sorted for destinations. Constant noise and light, therefore we didn't sleep much, if at all.

Arrived a little late, around 7 am in Washington, DC, and allowed ourselves a taxi ride to the Capitol Hilton, the German congress delegation's hotel. Fortunately, and completely unexpectedly, we already got a room there (though, towards the inner courtyard, without any view) and were able to freshen up and unpack before heading out again for breakfast in the Eastern Market (pics), where at the same time a flea and a farmers' market take place on weekends. We knew the market from previous visits and decided to have pancakes at "Market Lunch" there. Lines were moderate and pancakes delicious, we enjoyed them outside on a bench. Finally, we got 80+ deg. F and were fully enjoying the warmth.

We took the subway to the Native American Museum (on the picture), one of our favorite museums along the Mall, then walking parts of the Mall between Capitol and White House (Trump was golfing in Florida) and ended up in the Conference Center, where we registered and got our itineraries and materials. Back to the hotel to take a short nap and get ready for the Colorado Party, which is always great fun, because there are only selected guests and it feels like a family reunion. Also, food and drinks are always good, thanks to chefs, brewery and winemakers they bring over from Colorado.


Back to the hotel around 8 pm and now busily trying to keep up with work before the congress starts on Sunday morning at 8 am with the German delegation's breakfast, followed by Media Brunch in the Newseum and press tours.

Sandwich: Glassblowing and Rhododendrons

Friday morning, we left our luxurious hotel for breakfast in downtown with Paula, the local tourism rep, before we headed out, to Sandwich, already on Cape Cod, founded in 1837 and therefore considered the oldest Cape Cod town.

A gentleman by name Devin Jarves found deemed this town ideal for glass manufacturing, with enough timber to fuel the furnices and close enough to the wealthy city of Boston to market the goods. So, glass became THE industry in Sandwich, and, predominantly, it was the Sandwich Glass Company, founded in 1825, which became "Boston & Sandwich Glass Company" one year later, which became famous.

First, it was free-blown glass, later, the glass press developed as a new invention. Middle of the 19th century, the company was flourishing and so was the region. Mr. Jarves later founded Cape Cod Glass Works, having in mind the future of his son, who unfortunately died in 1869 and couldn't take over. The Sandwich Glass Company continued till 1888, produced lacy glass, pattern glass, cut glass, Trevoise glass and other specialty glasses to satisfy the changing market. The exhibition not only shows the complicated process of glass blowing (with a workshop and a master glassblower), but also shows nice objects of glass of different periods.

On to the Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich - didn't expect much, but were fully surprised. Huge botanical garden and three galleries, among them a unique collection of American cars, Folk Art, a vintage carousel and lots of artwork. The Automobile Gallery includes an impressive collection of American automobiles (pic) within a replica of the Shaker Round Barn from Hancock, Massachusetts.


The gardens feature a worldwide renowned collections of rhododendrons, reaching the height of trees (!), including those created by Charles Dexter, who did his ground-breaking plant hybridizing work here. Most of them were still in full bloom and just gorgeous! Besides that, the garden is known for its variety of hydrangeas, accompanied by daylilies, peonies(pic) and hostas in abundance.

The gardens date back to 1677, when Lydia Wing Hamilton Abbott lived on the land. Charles Owen Dexter was the next owner of the land, then known as Shawme Farm, in 1921. He turned the wooded farm into a country estate. Mr. Lilly planned to create an automobile museum in memory of his father, who collected things from the time he was a child, from weather vanes to artwork to automobiles.


What a great, sunny morning to be outside and get a garden tour! We really enjoyed it, before heading out to Boston at 1:30 pm - which was a pain i.t.a.: Instead of one hour, it took us two hours to get into town, then another 1/2 hour to find parking around South Station. Traffic was horrible, drivers are bad, honking and driving too fast and aggressive, up to 10 lanes, parking a challenge. Finally, at 4:30 pm, we had checked in and stored our luggage at the AMTRAK railroad station and had gotten rid of our rental car at Alamo's. We have driven over 1,000 miles in 10 days - not much in the West, but quite a bit in New England. Boy, what a drive! Would rate Boston # 4 after New York, Los Angeles and Houston when it comes to cities you should avoid driving.


Back to Boston, we explored the city some more, visited a large (cheap) farmers' market (pic) closeby the Boston Public Market, where we, eventually, had a beer and ate our last seafood. Sat on a bench and watched people at Quincy Market (pic) before we walked back on Harbor Walk towards South Station, where our train to Washington DC departed at 9:30 pm (with a little delay).

The Pilgrims' first settlement

We left MV on Thursday in the sunshine, what a pity! Would have loved to stay for one more day. Fortunately, we had at least taken a couple of pics still this morning before our gourmet breakfast à la carte in the hotel.

Picked up our car in New Bedford (pic above) and drove on towards Plymouth, along the coast, where most beaches (see pic above) are private and not easily accessible. Since we had a little bit of time before our tour in the Pilgrim Hall Museum, we explored Main Street Plymouth (pic), which is much more attractive than we remembered, with many bakeries, cafés, restaurants and shops now - and the waterfront and marina (pic), where the famous "Mayflower" a replica of the original Pilgrims' boat - who arrived here in 1620 - is usually anchored. Due to "Plymouth 400", the 400th anniversary of Plymouth in 2020 the boat was brought to Mystic for restauration. Plymouth was the second lasting settlement of Englishmen in the U.S. after Jamestown.

The museum showed very interesting with its original Pilgrims' relicts, good background for our following visit at Plymouth Plantation, a reconstruction of the original settlement Plimouth as well as a village of the Wampanaug, the local native americans. A thunderstorm went through and we had to run from one structure to the next to avoid getting too wet.

A seasonal farmers' market (pic) took place on the grounds this afternoon, and, to our full surprise, it was more of a gourmet market, with a band playing and foodtrucks, than a regular veggie/flowers market. But, we forgot that we are 1. in New England and 2. in Plymouth, where many baby-boomers recently bought property and settled.

Our hotel today was somehow "in the woods", in a neighborhood called Pine Hills, a coupe of miles outside town, very hidden and secluded. Didn't know, that we are facing a 5-star luxury hotel in the shape of a castle and, even better, we got one of the two rooms in the tower, with a large bathroom, a balcony towards the beautifully manicured gardens (with loudly croaking frogs in the pond). Also, a spa (which we didn't get a chance to try) and a bistro belonged to the new and immaculate complex.





Paul picked us up for dinner in Rye Tavern, a former farmhouse, also located in the woods. There, we had probably our last great seafood dishes, pan-seared scallops and black bass, delicious! Accompanied by good beer and good conversation in was a pleasant evening.

"Lobster Art" in downtown Plymouth: