Baltimore (or Balamer)

John Hancock, who's bold signature is on the Declaration of Independence, called Baltimore a filthy hole full of thieves and loose women.  Actually his remarks were more crude.  The city has improved since then.  We are staying at a marina tonight that is in the middle of downtown.  We are surrounded by a frenzy of human activity as the Memorial Day weekend starts.  There are hotels, restaurants, museums, street singers, jugglers, comedians, tour boats and water taxi craft all around.  The city is an exciting mix of building styles.  Modern mixed with old.  It is a colorful scene to say the least.  We found the 4th cottage light house.  Photo attached; it isn't white like the others.  This one is red!.  It was the Seven Foot Knoll Light before being moved to Baltimore as a museum and historical site.  I couldn't begin to name all the museums within walking distance of us - but for starters, the last war ship to survive Pearl Harbor, the light ship Chesapeake, the submarine USS Torsk, a replica of the US Constitution, Science Museum, Walters Art Museum, I'm out of breath.  Far too many to see in a week let alone a day.  Oh, the National Aquarium too.  And.....Rain forest under glass.

The photos are:

Seven Foot Knoll Light

Fort McHenry with downtown Baltimore in the background.

We saw a very unique aid to navigation (bouy) today as we were approaching the Inner Harbor.  There is a red/white/blue marker that identifies the spot where Francis Scott Key observed the battle at Ft. McHenry.  This battle inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner.  We saw the original flag at the Smithsonian last month.

The waterfront neighborhoods of Federal Hill, Little Italy, Fell's Point, Vernon, and Canton were just too much to see in one day.  A small part of Vernon and Little Italy was all we could walk in an afternoon.  I guess we'll have to come back.

The crab fishing has been a bust so far.  The northern bay has a low salinity level this time of year so the crabs are further south.  That's where we are heading.  We should be in good crab fishing territory by Monday.  Stay tuned.