America Day 7 & 8 - Arlington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charleston and Savannah

Before I update you on my 7th and 8th day of my American holiday, I have to fill you guys in on the night of my 6th day.

On the way to dinner, we stopped at the Marine Core Memorial. It was really beautiful! In Washington they light up all the memorials really lovely at night! The Contiki tour manager is also really knowledgeable and tells you stories of the themes and everything behind the memorials. He is amazing! 

Marine Core Memorial

We then headed to dinner at the Four Courts of Island. It was a cute irish pub. After dinner we stayed for drinks and karaoke! Sober I swore that I would not sing... after a few beers it was another story! I agreed that I would sing a song once the football was over and chose the song. Little did I know that my lovely friends on Contiki put my name up for me. Next thing I know my name was called and I had to go sing cause NO ONE backs out.

Bonus was... I picked the song 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers... a real crowd pleaser! Oh, if only Ducky was with me to sing. It was definitely his kind of thing to do! However, being that it was in an American bar, the crowd was VERY supportive. They love it. Quite clearly 'The Gambler' was the best picked song of the night. Everyone got up and danced and sung back up from the crowd. Literally the whole pub was involved. It made me feel better when I got off stage. The rest of the night I was known as 'The Gambler' girl by the locals. It was hilarious!

We then had loads more to drink, although beer is lower strength over here so I was pretty good and didn't get too drunk. Karaoke ended that night with an American singing 'I come from a land down under' by Men at Work which was dedicated to all us Aussie's that were there. That made my night!

ALSO... Just for Barry, Shell and Ducky's interest... I taught people the Gecko game (by the way you better of just threw yourselves against the wall). My friend Kerri then taught me a similar game called Shark. The concept is that when someone says the word Shark, the last person to get off the floor loses. Could be fun in certain areas with no furniture to get off the floor on! And, I got everyone addicted to saying, 'JUST SAYIN'!! haha

DAY 7

Anyway, back to touristy stuff. The next morning we left Washington, went across the bridge to the state of Virginia and visited Arlington National Cemetery. I thought it was a little weird going to visit a cemetery but it was actually really interesting. People who have served in the US military (in the past also their direct family members too) are eligible to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. There are almost 300,000 graves there. Also, they don't have to have died in service. There is almost 100 graveside services a week! I thought that was amazing. They also fire guns at the funerals. While we were there, about all of an hour and a half, there was 3 services!

Graves at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is also home to the graves of John F Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Robert Kennedy.

Final resting place of Robert E Lee

The Cemetery actually began because this was the property of Robert E Lee and his house was here during the civil war. Robert E Lee was the leader of the Southern military. The Northern forces began burying the dead on his property after it was ceased. This was to remind him constantly the cost of the war! I thought that was really amazing. Robert E Lee's house is still there... it is beautiful too of cause!

Arlington House - House of Robert E Lee

There was so much to see at this cemetery! As well as all the above, the cemetery also is where the tomb of the unknown soldiers are! The tomb has three unknown American soldiers. One from each, World War 1, World War 2 and the Korean War, They are their to remind America of the ultimate sacrifice of the American Soldiers for their freedom. The tomb is guarded 24/7 all 365 days of the year. It is amazing. Every hour of the hour they conduct a changing of the guard ceremony. I just can't imagine this happening at like 2am! It is full on!

Part of the 'Changing of the Guard' ceremony - done every hour!

We then left the cemetery and headed to Raleigh, North Carolina. On the way we stopped at Richmond for lunch. Really nothing to say about Richmond. 

We didn't get to Raleigh until after 5pm. It was like a full day of driving. Don't ask me much about Raleigh... I've been there and still couldn't tell you anything about it. That night we went to a big buffet dinner. IT WAS HUGE! After stuffing ourselves with food we all walked out with buffet babies and went back to the hotel. I booked accommodation with another girl to share in LA for the night we finish the tour. I also got to speak to Ducky which was nice cause it was so familiar. I booked a flight from LA to Monterey for 17th so I can go see my beautiful one and only, Duck-face!! Then I went to sleep so I was ready for a big driving day.

DAY 8

This morning we were up, clothed, feed and on the road by 7.45 on our way to Savannah! Sorry, if you don't understand what I am about to write (more for Barry, Shell and Ducky)! Funniest moment on tour for me so far was this morning when I stood up to get something out of my bag which was in the overhead lockers on the bus. I looked to the back of the bus and one of the guys was doing the birdman at me! Apparently I explained the concept of the game the night of karaoke. I now think the guy regrets starting the game cause I told him there is no way out and I have got him a few good times already!

On the bus ride, we watched the movie 'The Patriot'. I thought it was weird that Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger were the two main characters in a movie about the American revolution. They did well though. I spent the morning balling my eyes out over that movie. So so sad!

For lunch we stopped at Charleston. This is were a lot of the movie 'The Patriot' was filmed. Hence the reason we watched the movie that morning. The tour manager is really good like that. He themes the movies we watch and the music we listen to with where we are visiting.

At Charleston!!!

Charleston is beautiful. It was the place the Civil War started. It's like a little old Australian country town but it is coastal and has palm trees! It is so pretty though. My favourite spot in Charleston was a emblem in a balcony of Charlestown visitors centre. It made me miss my friends back home...

ohhhhhhh.....

We then drove HEAPS further and finally got to Savannah. This little town is famous for the square where Forest Gump sat on a bench and told strangers his life story while waiting for the bus to Jenny's house. Also, just for you dad, 'The Legend of Bagger Vance' was also filmed here. During the Civil War, the Northern Military captured the city of Savannah and gave it to President Lincoln as his Christmas Present. So it is now know as American's Christmas Present.

Since we got into Savannah so late, we won't be seeing all the city has to offer until tomorrow. Although me and Keri did go to get some dinner and saw what we believe will be the highlight of Savannah...

Christmas/Disco/Sparkle/Weird Car

Also went past one of the streets named after me...

Actually this is located in the 'Ghetto' section of Savannah... me and Keri have now learnt not to walk more then 20 minutes for food in a small town like Savannah... you turn out to be the only fair coloured skinned people... don't ask the full story!

Off to get some Southern Sleep now. Not sure how different that kind of sleep is to regular sleep.

To all my beautiful family and friends reading this.... WHY!!!??? haha.... miss you guys!