A week ago marked Mike & I’s 11th anniversary. Mike had planned a fancy surprise getaway, but when mom passed away the day before, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to maintain our plans. In the end, we did go as scheduled and it was actually a really lovely weekend and time to be together.
We stayed at the Gaylord at the National Harbor. It wasn’t far from home, but it was certainly a world apart from the one we live in. Mike booked a special “anniversary package” which, among other things, secured us an atrium-facing room. After having an “atrium-facing room”, I’m not sure any other view would do.
Friday night, we had dinner at the resort’s seafood place, “Moon Bay”. Dinner was good and I even discovered I like “sushi”! Okay, not really sushi, but “sashimi” which was simply “cheseapeake” rolls made with crab and avocado. They were very good.
We had a nice dinner, wandered around a bit and then headed back to the room to .. uh.. take advantage of the free cable 
Saturday was another gorgeous day. We wandered around the National Harbor again checking out all the sights. It was fun to see “The Awakening” sculpture in it’s new home. We went into Cake Love and snagged some yummy looking cupcakes for later. Then we headed back to the hotel for our 12:30 appointment at “Relâche” – the resort’s spa. First, I have to say – isn’t that the most rediculous name? It’s like somebody said “Let’s make up a fancy french-sounding word that will people feel soothed and relaxed.” Anywho, Mike had booked us an hour-long couples massage which was, the bomb. They give you fancy plush robes to wear and we had adjoining massaged tables set up in this gorgeous room over looking the river. Not that you do much looking around. Mostly, you lie there and just melt while they work you over. It was very very nice. (I regret that I didn’t ask one of the gals to take a picture of us laying in our semi-comatose state in that beautiful room).
After we recovered from being so relâched, we went out and caught a late lunch at the newly opened “Ketchup“. We were shocked when we were told it was a half hour wait for a table at 3pm – who eats then? We decided to wait anyway and got seated pretty quick. As we scoped the place out, I told Mike I thought it was probably a trendy restaurant that started and L.A. Turns out, I was right. Furthermore, I speculated that it seemed like the kind of place a celebrity like Ashton Kutcher would have his money in. Turns out I was right again. As we watched the restaurant hustle and bustle around us, we tried to guess who played what role. It turns out two of the guys we’d been watching were the owners – one was “Boogie” from Big Brother! It was kind of fun to be celebrity spotting.
Anyway, lunch was good and we were stuffed. We decided to check out a furniture store back in VA (because I was interested in a piece and it never seemed like a good time when the kids were around). After doing that, we went to the movies and watched “Up” – a cute animated film. We came back to the National Harbor and walked around again – amazed at how busy everything was. We finally found a seat at the bar back at our seafood restaurant and enjoyed some more cocktails and chesapeake rolls before retiring for the evening.
Although it was a very pricey “staycation”, it was a treat to be out and enjoy some quality time with my beloved. We were especially thankful to Bear & Mel and Grandma & Grandpa for watching the kids so we could get that time away.
Enough blah blah, here’s the pics:
The view from our atrium facing rom.
As you can see, the inside is enormous.
They do cool light shows on the fountains you can see down in the courtyard.
Mike, checking out the view.
Wandering around the atrium, we saw several sand sculptures. This one was outside the Nationals sports bar.
Since we live on the western side of the river, we don’t often get to see the sunsets from across the Potomac. It was spectacular.
The sunset, reflecting on the atrium.
Saturday brought about another beautiful day.
We walked around the National Harbor area and of course had to stop and check out “The Awakening”.
Nice bicep!
The resemblance is uncanny, no?
I remember visiting the sculpture as a child at it’s former location at Hains Point.
It’s pretty cool, although Mike rightly noted that the positioning of the body parts is not proportional in this location.
We had a nice weekend “away”, but Mike couldn’t completely disconnect from his Crackberry.
While walking the Harbor. We stopped in at Cake Love and picked up some yummy cupcakes.
I thought this sign was funny, but feel the “stick” figures should be more rotund.
Mike, after we enjoyed our amazing couples massage at the “Relâche” spa. Doesn’t Mike look relâched?
We then wandered some more and caught a late lunch at “Ketchup”
It featured three different kinds of fries with five different flavors of ketchup. As you can see, Mike didn’t care for it one bit 
Another gorgeous sunset.
We had a great mini-vacay!
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