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I was about to comment on that -- just a year or two back there was a heavy advertising campaign on radio promoting tourism in Ireland that emphasized how visitors would be welcomed almost like distant family coming back home. Quote:Eating out is interesting. Especially portion sizes thatre clearly intended to be left unfinished
Oh, no. That's because restaurants believe (with some justification) that Americans are gluttons and that if they don't get enough food in a meal to leave them stuffed and rolling in semiconscious torpor on the floor they'll complain endlessly and ruin that restaurant's reputation/word-of-mouth.
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Bob has an excellent point. Don't be afraid to ask for something to take the excess home in. Every time I go out for Indian, for example, I end up with enough left over to have lunch the next day.
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Indeed - if you have a refrigerator in wherever you are staying, by all means, take the excess with you to serve as a leftover snack for later. No one will be offended. There's no such thing as an American restaurant that doesn't have take-home containers for leftovers.
Glad you got to see and got so much out of the Air and Space Museum. Amazing stuff, yeah?
The Apollo Capsules were very small. But by the standards of the times they were luxurious to the astronauts. Many of whom had done missions in the Gemini capsules which had no real room in them to move around in and kept them confined to a single reclined position. And it's a good thing none of the Mercury astronauts had to fly for more than a single day, since those spacecraft were so tiny you practically -wore- them.
In Apollo, you could actually get out of the couches and move around. Astronauts could float full length in the space behind (under) the couches and there was an area forward of the main control panels leading to the docking tunnel to the Lunar Module. Consider that as cramped as it appears to be on the ground, that in space in weightlessness, an astronaut can float in any orientation and the effective "usable area" inside the capsule multiplies significantly.
Which is not to say that you want to stay in there any longer than absolutely necessary! The places tended to smell like locker rooms (and worse) by the end of the missions and the astronauts were only too glad to get out of them and get a bloody shower on board the recovery ship!
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Quote:Logan Darklighter wrote:
Indeed - if you have a refrigerator in wherever you are staying, by all means, take the excess with you to serve as a leftover snack for later.
In fact, many hotels these days have both in-room fridges and microwaves. And with the size of some restaurants' entrees, you could probably end up with a full dinner for another evening.
-- Bob
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Then the horns kicked in...
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Are we sure we're not exaggerating the portion sizes? On the rare occasion I eat out, if there's any leftovers, they would barely qualify as a snack, let alone a full meal.
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Yeah, we have a fridge. Its also a simple matter of expectations. What's a large coke at home is a regular over here.
The Mercury and Gemini capsules where right behind the Apollo, so I did get a peak inside. They also have a mockup of the LEM cockpit and it seems too short to stand up in properly. Then again, they have the original spacesuits and they're pretty short...I'm not a small person myself.Skylab looks more comfortable. The ceiling was a lttle low due to a piece of plexiglass sealing the top end off, but it seemed far better than most caravans. Including a really clever seat by a meal- desk that worked by holding someones legs in place. Skylab looked positively palatial compared to the ISS on Hadfields videos.
Lincoln Memorial is a temple.... Its huge inside. Walking down to it from the Capitol is not recommended, however. Then halfway back again to the natural history museum, via the White House. Glad I bought a new pair of boots befor I left.... The old ones wouldve eaten my feet.
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Quote:What's a large coke at home is a regular over here.
Don't go to a Wendy's then. What I expect to be a large soft drink (by American standards), they call "medium". You'd probably call their large a bucket. Then again, they do have the best burgers of most any franchise in my opinion. Quote:Walking down to it from the Capitol is not recommended, however.
It took me a couple visits to Washington as a kid to learn that lesson. Don't try to walk to everything.
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Yeah. Those monuments are not close.... They're just really, REALLY big. It's like the inverse of the infamous Father Ted scene with Dougal and the cows. We've been relying on the Metro - which is really handy even if it's straight out of the 70's in decor and design.
We're abysmal at planning. Supposed to go shopping tomorrow, then Udvar-Hazy on Sunday, with Fords theatre and the Spy museum and a few others on Saturday. Monday, we depart for home
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Bob Schroeck Wrote:Quote:What's a large coke at home is a regular over here.
Don't go to a Wendy's then. What I expect to be a large soft drink (by American standards), they call "medium". You'd probably call their large a bucket. Then again, they do have the best burgers of most any franchise in my opinion. I ordered a large drink at Wendy's once. I kept the cup (it was a takeout order), and the next day I decided to find out how much of a 2L bottle of cola would fit. I ended up emptying the bottle - and there was still room for ice.
Now, that's the largest fast-food drink one can get... but it's still more than many folks can finish off in one sitting.
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Quote:Dartz wrote:
Skylab looked positively palatial compared to the ISS on Hadfields videos.
Consider that it was based on a S-IV stage not surprising.
Quote:Lincoln Memorial is a temple.... Its huge inside.
Consider it suitable grandeur matching the man it pays homage to.
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Which makes me wonder what couldve been acomplished if theyd used the Shuttle ETs as station parts luke theyd been designed? The link to Stellvia is expected.
On quiet reflection, I found the Lincoln memorial rather sad in a way. Because while it expresses the good ideals America was founded on, it can be hard to forget how the country has at times come up short. In the Air and Space museum, there was a Predator drone on display, with underwing missiles... Not far from Apollo, Skylab, and the Wright Flyer. But I'm not going to go to far into politics....that's heavy stuff for another day. It's not right to criticise someone in there own home...
Back to the topic of food...which is quickly proving to be utterly standout... Catfish and Hushpuppies. With a Black Bush to go with it. But those little balls are just addictive.
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Oh, yeah. I love hushpuppies. There was a restaurant in Myrtle Beach that Peg and I ate at a couple times when we visited there some years back which made just the best hushpuppies.
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On this day, I bought a lot of stupid things.
Some are destined to become gifts. Of thes, there is the Kennedy half-dollar, a Jefferson Cup, and a copy of the NYT from July 21 1969....
Othets are much harder to explain away, like the Minolta Hi-Matic E I found in the pavillion fpr 20 dollars. I dont know if it works, or if I can find batteries... But it just looked solid. But I dont know a thing about cameras.
I also spent a good five hpurs in the museum of American history... So long that the other things we planned to see sort of fell by the wayside. Considering there was the original Kermit the Frog, Dorothys slippers and a few other remarkable items to see, I'd say it was worth it.
Crypto museum is unfortunately too far out to get to, even if I like the idea of a museum where the exhibits view you. Had to argue hard for the Udvar-Hazy because its an hours journey out back towards Dulles. Tomorrow will be Fords theatre, and likely the y museum since they're close. I'll try get a chilli lunch but - well - one moron insists on trying to find one partcular pub that I'm convinced has dissapeared.
I'll try resist the hush puppies tonight and try somethimg else on the menu. However I expect to fail....
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Depending on how easily you can get maize meal back home.... I think we can hook you up with some recipes. 
Of course we could also hook you up with some recipes for succotash, using the "three sisters" Maize, Beans, and Squash. Get a little venison in there and mm that's good eating.
edit: Good news! It seems that you can get some of the primary ingredients at Tesco... if you can stand to shop there. You'd be using "polenta" as an ingredient for a close substitute for what we call corn meal.
Here's a link to an already-converted-to-metric recipe... fair warning, it's been modified by Jamie Oliver. Paula Deen's recipe might be more authentic, though.
Ingredients
6 cups peanut oil
1 1/2 cups self-rising cornmeal
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
Directions
Using a deep pot, preheat oil for frying to 350 degrees F.
Using a mixing bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda,
and salt. Stir in the onion. In a small bowl, stir together the
buttermilk and egg. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients
and mix until blended. Drop the batter, 1 teaspoon at a time, into the
oil. Dip the spoon in a glass of water after each hushpuppy is dropped
in the oil. Fry until golden brown, turning the hushpuppies during the
cooking process.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paul ... index.html
Give me a bit to convert to metric for you at some point, but the "self-rising cornmeal" can be substituted with regular cornmeal, baking powder and salt.
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Now I'll never loose weight.
Fortunately, I was able to pick up some clothes that fit. I'll give it a try when I get home, though my cooking is... Marginal. Nobody's heard of things like this at home, the general assumption being that most American food is what's found in McD's, or KFC or a variation thereof. But - aside from slimy coke and one places love of horseradish, the food has been plentiful and amazing. Especially with how cheap everything is.... Youd never feed 4 hungry people at home for 100 euro....not anywhere decent anyway
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And you wonder why we're fat.
Here's a rough conversion of the Paula Deen recipe to Metric. I'm unsure just how well it will work, since I'm assuming "self-rising cornmeal" is even harder to find in Europe than here in the US.
1.5 L peanut oil
240 g cups corn meal or Polenta
60 g self-rising flour
2.5 mL baking soda
12.5 mL baking powder
6.25 mL teaspoon salt
240 mL cup buttermilk
1 small onion, chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
Directions
Using a deep pot, preheat oil for frying to 177 degrees C.
Using a mixing bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the onion. In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk and egg. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until blended. Drop the batter, 1 teaspoon at a time, into the oil. Dip the spoon in a glass of water after each hushpuppy is dropped in the oil. Fry until golden brown, turning the hushpuppies during the cooking process.
The peanut oil is authentic, but to save money, corn or canola/rapeseed oil is just as useful.
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Dartz, I hope you're planning on visiting the Air and Space Museum this afternoon. Chris Hadfield will be there 2:00-4:00, according to his Twitter feed.
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Did it on Wednesday.
Already planned to meet someone elsewhere at that time....
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Yes, you've seen the place already, but ... singing astronaut!
(looks at time)
Well, too late now.
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I was in Fords theatre, and by the time I got back it was busy.
Just having a lazy day today. Theres 18 donuts in te fridge. It was cheaper than buying 'enoug for everyone'.
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There's something sad about seing Discovery sitting out of service. At the same time, she is massive - much bigger on person than I expected - when compared to the Gemini and Mercury. I also bought some SR 71 goodies like a Haynes Service Manual and model kit. Even sitting still, they're both impressive sights. One of the guides was busy ecplaining how a test pilot flew the 707 prototype upside down in front of delegates.
Winding down now, getting ready to head home early tomorrow
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And I'm home. And have been for about 12 hours.
Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas. I did my best to get to them, but time pressures and a few competing suggestions from traveling companions made it tough. Still, I'm glad I went.
My only real disappointment is not having more time - or budget to get out into nearby Virginia or Maryland. A few extra days would've made a real difference. Not spending a half-day walking around the National Mall would've made another real difference. It left everyone tired. But when we popped out of the Smithsonian, we saw the Washington monument and Lincoln Memorial 'Just There', and didn't realise how far all of them actually were apart until it was too late. Public transport in DC is excellent.... we basically used the Metro to get almost everywhere, for about $35 for the whole week.
The museums however, were amazing. The American museum especially demanded far more time than we really had to give it. There were so many little things to catch hidden in corners, or in other cases.
Like: ![[Image: WCUwxiB.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/WCUwxiB.jpg)
I'll try and grab some more photographs, but they're on my phone which is refusing to charge at the moment.
Everything went remarkably smoothly. The TSA didn't blink - except for finding a euro coin I'd lost in my jeans on the way home. The flights were on time, and reasonably comfortable (the Jetblue flight down from NY was really nice, especially with the evening lights coming on below). The food on the transatlantic leg was even fun. And we arrived so early, the customs agents in Dublin just didn't give a fuck and waved everyone through.
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Oh good! I'm glad everything went well for you!
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Jetblue is one of the best of the small airlines. I've flown them several times and have never been dissatisfied with their service.
Glad you had a good time.
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