Week of October 22, 2023 | Week 1 Map
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Tuesday
Well, we managed to sneak out without waking Pandora. She will not have ANY clue about where we are. I am sure she will text us soon though.
I was thinking about my last blog entry, and I forgot to tell you exactly WHAT a desert is. I bet most of you know that deserts are sandy and dry. They also usually have extreme temperatures (could be extremely hot or cold), and they typically have sparse vegetation. Did you know deserts are a landform AND a biome? Meri was a bit confused about what a biome was. A biome is a community characterized by dominant forms of plant life or climates. Some examples of biomes include deserts, grasslands, forests, woodlands, and others.
Meri and I had to be at the Phoenix airport by 5:00 a.m. Our flight took off on time at 7:00 a.m. We arrived to a nice cool day at our Nation's Capital: 50 degrees. Meri actually needed to put on her sweater! We arrived at Uncle GT's building at 3:00 p.m. (D.C. time), which is only 1:00 p.m. in Phoenix. Arizona doesn't participate in Daylight Saving, so this time of year, it is two hours behind Washington, D.C. We included a link about Daylight Saving at the end of this blog entry (if you want to learn more). Daylight Saving is a little confusing, but hopefully, this site and your teachers or friends can help explain it better. We are heading in now to meet GT. We will write more once we learn about this mission.
I was thinking about my last blog entry, and I forgot to tell you exactly WHAT a desert is. I bet most of you know that deserts are sandy and dry. They also usually have extreme temperatures (could be extremely hot or cold), and they typically have sparse vegetation. Did you know deserts are a landform AND a biome? Meri was a bit confused about what a biome was. A biome is a community characterized by dominant forms of plant life or climates. Some examples of biomes include deserts, grasslands, forests, woodlands, and others.
Meri and I had to be at the Phoenix airport by 5:00 a.m. Our flight took off on time at 7:00 a.m. We arrived to a nice cool day at our Nation's Capital: 50 degrees. Meri actually needed to put on her sweater! We arrived at Uncle GT's building at 3:00 p.m. (D.C. time), which is only 1:00 p.m. in Phoenix. Arizona doesn't participate in Daylight Saving, so this time of year, it is two hours behind Washington, D.C. We included a link about Daylight Saving at the end of this blog entry (if you want to learn more). Daylight Saving is a little confusing, but hopefully, this site and your teachers or friends can help explain it better. We are heading in now to meet GT. We will write more once we learn about this mission.
- Geo
The Washington Monument - we saw this from the sky.
Museum of African Art (on the way to GT's building)
Look at this beautiful view we saw during our walk
Daylight Saving
Use this link to learn more about Daylight Saving.
Tuesday Evening
Uncle GT wasted no time in briefing us on this mission. He shared an email with us that he had received from one of his colleagues requesting Uncle GT's help.
Hey GT,
Agent Ebolg here. We have a major problem on our hands. I hope you can help us before it is too late. Our agency's most talented cartographer, Louie Tollemy, has disappeared! All that I can tell you is that we really have no concern for foul play, we have received several text messages from him indicating that he was fine -- just did not WANT to be found. We honestly have no idea why he would run away. We hope that you can help us track him down. He has been working on a project for us mapping out the natural resources across the United States. We need him back to DC - ASAP!!
Thx
Agent Ebolg
Holy Idaho! I can't wait to begin. GT went immediately into his computer database and pulled up all of the information that he knew about Louie Tollemy. Here are the important facts that we found: Ever since his high school days, Louie has always been involved in grass root groups dedicated to preserving the environment. In the past several years, his passion has been to educate Americans (and those around the world) on the importance of using renewable resources for energy rather than burning fossil fuels. (Remind me to ask Geo what renewable resources and fossil fuels are). He has traveled the world, and makes many guest appearances/speeches at important conventions focused on energy awareness. GT also told us that during his travels, Louie's favorite hobby is coin collecting. Interestingly enough, my brother - Geo, also has a passion for coin collecting! Well, that was all that GT knows for now, so he sent us back to check in to our hotel, tour the city a little, and wait to hear more news. We will keep you posted on this exciting journey!
Hey GT,
Agent Ebolg here. We have a major problem on our hands. I hope you can help us before it is too late. Our agency's most talented cartographer, Louie Tollemy, has disappeared! All that I can tell you is that we really have no concern for foul play, we have received several text messages from him indicating that he was fine -- just did not WANT to be found. We honestly have no idea why he would run away. We hope that you can help us track him down. He has been working on a project for us mapping out the natural resources across the United States. We need him back to DC - ASAP!!
Thx
Agent Ebolg
Holy Idaho! I can't wait to begin. GT went immediately into his computer database and pulled up all of the information that he knew about Louie Tollemy. Here are the important facts that we found: Ever since his high school days, Louie has always been involved in grass root groups dedicated to preserving the environment. In the past several years, his passion has been to educate Americans (and those around the world) on the importance of using renewable resources for energy rather than burning fossil fuels. (Remind me to ask Geo what renewable resources and fossil fuels are). He has traveled the world, and makes many guest appearances/speeches at important conventions focused on energy awareness. GT also told us that during his travels, Louie's favorite hobby is coin collecting. Interestingly enough, my brother - Geo, also has a passion for coin collecting! Well, that was all that GT knows for now, so he sent us back to check in to our hotel, tour the city a little, and wait to hear more news. We will keep you posted on this exciting journey!
- Meri
The White House: where our President lives!!
Abraham Lincoln Memorial statue - it is much bigger in person
Sunset over the Jefferson Memorial - beautiful
Thursday
We spent the past 2 days learning more about the amazing capital of the United States. Did you know that D.C. was built on marshlands? I find it fascinating that our capital was built where there had been a combination of dense forests and low-lying marshlands! The location was actually chosen by George Washington himself. The district is surrounded by the states of Virginia and Maryland. The district also has three major naturally flowing bodies of water (the Potomac River, Anacostia River, and Rock Creek). In DC, we also saw the Washington Channel. It flows into the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Meri wasn't sure what a channel was, I explained to her that a channel connects two larger bodies of water. In this case, the Potomac and the Anacostia Rivers. D.C. has a ton of GREAT museums (4 of which we visited today). The museums were amazing and not too crowded. And of course, there are also amazing monuments. We took some photos; see below. We are still waiting to hear any news from Uncle GT.
Text from Pandora - Where U 2 at?
Text to Pandora - Cap on E Coast
Sorry for the interruption; Pandora has been texting us daily! Wonder if she will figure out we are in THE capital of the entire United States. While in D.C., we have been traveling on the Metro (subway). I think it is amazing how quickly this underground train can get from one side of the district to the other (when it is on time). Meri isn't as big of a fan; she would prefer a taxi to drop her off at the door than having to walk. I am glad the Metro isn't too crowded anyway. Today while waiting for the blue line of the Metro (after visiting one of the Smithsonian Museums), we saw a man looking at a map of the metro routes. The Metro has several colored routes: orange, red, yellow, green, and blue. Sometimes you have to ride one color line to connect to another, depending on where you are going. Our train was delayed by 10 minutes. After watching this man STARE at the map for over 5 minutes straight, I asked him if I could help. He told me that he was trying to get to the Court House exit off of the Metro and had no idea how to do it. I showed him the directions to follow. He wanted to thank me and had nothing but two sticks of gum. Meri and I happily accepted the gum, and I saved the wrappers (a strange habit, I know). I have attached a map of the Metro. Can you find the Smithsonian Exit (where we were located) and the Court House Exit (where he was going)? It is a bit easier if you zoom out with the map! What cardinal direction did he travel? What color lines did he ride? If you guessed the orange or blue line, you are correct. The Court House is west of the Smithsonian exit. Did you figure it out?
Just heard from GT, and we are to get on the Metro and head over to the Rosslyn exit, where we can catch a bus to Washington-Dulles Airport. We have no idea where we are going! We are currently at the Arlington Cemetery. Can you figure out which color line and cardinal direction we should travel to get to the Rosslyn exit off of the Metro? Remember, this map is easier to read if you zoom out!
Text from Pandora - Where U 2 at?
Text to Pandora - Cap on E Coast
Sorry for the interruption; Pandora has been texting us daily! Wonder if she will figure out we are in THE capital of the entire United States. While in D.C., we have been traveling on the Metro (subway). I think it is amazing how quickly this underground train can get from one side of the district to the other (when it is on time). Meri isn't as big of a fan; she would prefer a taxi to drop her off at the door than having to walk. I am glad the Metro isn't too crowded anyway. Today while waiting for the blue line of the Metro (after visiting one of the Smithsonian Museums), we saw a man looking at a map of the metro routes. The Metro has several colored routes: orange, red, yellow, green, and blue. Sometimes you have to ride one color line to connect to another, depending on where you are going. Our train was delayed by 10 minutes. After watching this man STARE at the map for over 5 minutes straight, I asked him if I could help. He told me that he was trying to get to the Court House exit off of the Metro and had no idea how to do it. I showed him the directions to follow. He wanted to thank me and had nothing but two sticks of gum. Meri and I happily accepted the gum, and I saved the wrappers (a strange habit, I know). I have attached a map of the Metro. Can you find the Smithsonian Exit (where we were located) and the Court House Exit (where he was going)? It is a bit easier if you zoom out with the map! What cardinal direction did he travel? What color lines did he ride? If you guessed the orange or blue line, you are correct. The Court House is west of the Smithsonian exit. Did you figure it out?
Just heard from GT, and we are to get on the Metro and head over to the Rosslyn exit, where we can catch a bus to Washington-Dulles Airport. We have no idea where we are going! We are currently at the Arlington Cemetery. Can you figure out which color line and cardinal direction we should travel to get to the Rosslyn exit off of the Metro? Remember, this map is easier to read if you zoom out!
- Geo
Capitol
Another one of the United States Capitol
Daytime view of the Jefferson Memorial
Washington, D.C. Metro Map
If you are having trouble finding the stops - remember to zoom out for a clearer view.
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