I had to get to the Capitol as early has I could because I had to leave by 11:30. The GPS got me to the Visitor Center, but didn't show me a parking spot. I wound up circling the Capitol itself and couldn't find a place that looked like I wouldn't get towed. I finally found a garage south of the Visitor Center.
I wasn't overly impressed with the visitor Center. It took a while for me to be greeted and by then I'd found the brochures I needed. The woman on duty had to ask her boss how I could enter the Captitol!
It was a warm, sunny morning, with a bit of a breeze that made the walk more pleasant. I passed the Pentagon Arsenal and the lovely grounds south of the Capitol.
The Capitol is the tallest in the country on purpose- they were trying to beat Nebraska. It is very ornate, with lots of symbolism. It isn't quite the Art Deco style I'm used to, but it is interesting. There are 50 steps in front with the states engraved in them in the order in which they joined the union. The first 13 have no dates, but the rest do. Oddly, Connecticutt is first, not Delaware, even though I'm fairly certain Delaware is considered the first state by others. The top step has E Pluribus Unum carved into it. When Alaska and Hawaii joined, they carved them on either side of the top step.
I walked around inside on my own, but I did get the greeter, who was from Plant City, Florida, to show me where the bullet hole is from the shooting that resulted in Huey Long's death. I couldn't help but notice that both the House and the Senate had steps downward to the presider's desk, which looked much like an altar. I suppose they do in every state, but here it just seemed more pronounced.
It takes two different elevators to go up the tower. The first is rather nice and takes you to floor 24, where you get out and walk across to another, smaller, rougher elevator to the 27th floor. The observation deck wraps around the building. I felt quite safe, in spite of my fear of heights, perhaps because the wall was solid, not a railing. To the north, the petrochemical plant looks huge. The river view was wonderful and I could see very far north and south. To the northeast, it looked like all trees, as if it were undeveloped. To the south, I could see the campus of LSU and even at that distance, the stadium looked huge! Before heading back down, I stopped at the cutely named Shop at the Top for a Capitol pin.
I was back down by 11:30 and I moved as fast as I was physically able to get to the garage. It was 8 sweaty minutes, but I did it.
I was parked at the LSU visitor garage 2 minutes before my planned noon arrival time. Unfortunately, there was nothing when I came out that would tell me where the student union was. I finally found a group of guys, who said they too had had trouble, but pointed me in the right direction, even telling me the extra detail of how to get to the ClarinetFest registration.
Sometimes, it really pays to know people. I saw the Executive Director who told me her assistant had the day pass my husband had arranged. When I was waiting in line, he saw me and immediately went for the pass. This saved me a lot of time and it meant I could eat lunch before the 1 pm concert. The union had a couple of places open, but I had a hummus pita roll with me, so all I needed was my Coke Zero. However, I saw a chocolate chocolate chip muffin and couldn't resist. I'm so glad I got that!
A golf cart shuttle was ferrying people up to the School of Music. I was amazed by the long line to get into the concert hall. I've been to these Board Recitals before, but never has one been totally packed like this one. Each board member played a piece. My husband did his with his undergarduate clarinet professor. They'd had only one rehearsal together, but still sounded great.
After congratulating them on their performance, I caught the shuttle back to the student union. Before heading out, I called a craft gallery, whose card I'd found at the Visitor Center. Good thing I did, as it was closed today. So, I headed back to the hotel. As I was pulling in, I saw a guy wearing a baseball cap and dress shirt walking across the parking lot. Just as I thought how practical the hat was, I realized it was my husband! I wound up giving him a ride back to the School of Music for the next concert.
Back in our suite, I spent a while trying to decide what plantation house I wanted to see, where I want to go tomorrow, etc. My husband texted inviting me to dinner with an old friend of his, but I knew that wouldn't be enjoyable for me. Again, it was a good thing. Friends from Russellville came down for the husband's piece that is being played tomorrow. We'd talked in Russellville about getting together for dinner tonight. So, I went and got them. I insisted on driving, because they'd had that long drive today.
We went to Mike Anderson's on Lee Road.I got a salad with a delicious garlic, parmesan dressing. I also ordered Crab Fingers, which I've seen on other menus. There were about 15 tiny claws, with the shell off enough so that the meat was just attached to the tendon and could be sucked off. I ordered them sauteed. They were delicious and had a bit of heat.
After lots of great talk, I offered to show them where they needed to go tomorrow. I think, it will make it easier for them.
After dropping them at their hotel, I went to a Walmart Neighborhood Market to get my husband Community Coffee, which is made here in Baton Rouge. I roamed around the store and even managed to find my name on a bottle of Diet Coke.
Not a bad day!
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