The BIG Road Trip ~ Maryland [MD]

If you’re new to The BIG Road Trip – all the information can be found on this page. Curious how this series came about? Find the ‘why’ in this first announcement post. All BIG Road Trip posts can be found archived here. If you want to submit a guest post about your state, or if you want to share state-related art, stories, inspiration or links, email me at bigroadtrip[at]maritspaperworld[dot]com

 

It’s time to leave Delaware and get to Maryland. No guide in Maryland either, so I tried my best to find out facts and fun stuff about the state. First thing I found out is, that Maryland is friendly for its cyclists. Now that’s nice; a bicycle will be my transportation then!

Now come with me and let’s explore Maryland…

First, here’s a map of the state:

What did I found out?

The thing that may be clear to Americans but that is a bit vague to us, Europeans, is: what’s that with Washington (the State) and Washington DC? I learned this: “Washington DC, formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, “the District”, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the Residence Act approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country’s East Coast. As permitted by the U.S. Constitution, the District is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Congress and is therefore not a part of any U.S. state.”

What else… well, as you can see on the info on the map, Annapolis is the capital of Maryland and Baltimore is the biggest town.

Where to start when you’re from The Netherlands, and don’t know anything about the state?
Erm… we Dutch, we cycle a lot so let’s just cycle around a bit. You can find bicycle maps of Maryland on the website of the department of transportation.

As you probably know by now, I love beaches –  but there’s more to explore… take a look!

I love what Maryland has to offer on scenery and nature.

Now that we cycled around in the countryside a bit, let’s see what the bigger cities have to offer.
What fun things are there to see or do in the capital of Maryland – Annapolis?
I don’t even know what the city looks like, so let’s look for photos first.

Annapolis

Oh my goodness… the city is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River. That means there’s a lot of water and even a harbor. As a ‘wannabe mermaid’, I am fond of cities that are located nearby the sea. It also looks like it is a ‘green city’ with lots of trees. Awesome!

With all that water, no wonder we find the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

I found out there’s a movie called Annapolis which is situated on the navy base.

Annapolis is a 2006 drama film directed by Justin Lin and starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Donnie Wahlberg, Roger Fan, and Chi McBride.

“Jake Huard, from a shipbuilders family, promised his dying mother he’ld make it to Anapolis Naval Academy. Thanks to tenaciously bugging a Congressman, he’s selected despite dubious grades. Once inside, Jake soon proves sub-standard academically. Constantly challenged to his limits, repeatedly made the ‘over-cocky’ reason for the entire class to suffer, Jake nearly quits, but after facing his utterly un-supportive father’s gloating returns just in time.”

I have not seen this movie – in fact, I had not even heard of it – but then again, I am not much of a movie-watcher…  However, I cannot leave a film with a name like that unmentioned in this post.

Let’s find out now if there are museums in Annapolis. Searching for museums I find: “If history heads your vacation ‘to do’ list, you’ve picked the right place. Annapolis is a Museum without Walls, where every step along our brick-lined streets puts you in touch with four centuries of architecture and history.”

Right… but I’m looking for a MUSEUM – you know, a building with walls and a door… and yes, the city has those too. The Historic Annapolis Museum recounts the history of Maryland’s capital city. The Annapolis Maritime Museum focuses on the Chesapeake Bay and the watermen who made their living on it. The Banneker-Douglass Museum chronicles the story of African Americans from Maryland’s founding to the present day.

These museums handle a lot of history, but when I look further I find a website with addresses of smaller art galleries.

Now check out the 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery

they feature an artist in their gallery every month, you can eat and drink in the bar and there’s live music almost daily… a place to my heart!!!

Next – I travel to another big city: Baltimore

This city looks like it has a complete different atmosphere to it… and it is BIG.

With a BIG Museum – The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA)

and a BIG sports team – the Baltimore Ravens – who play football in a big stadium.

Oh, and did you know the team’s name was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven?
Poe  lived in Baltimore for some time and when he died in 1849, he was buried at the Westminster Cemetry in Baltimore.

Looking at all the above, Maryland has a lot to offer to an artist. Inspiration can be found everywhere and here’s some more inspiration for you.

When you see the ‘inspiration logo’, it means that there will be some tips to spark your imagination and get creative.

Soo… show me art journals/layouts/paintings etc. that are inspired by:

• Maryland and/or it’s cities

• Cities – countrysides – beaches

• Edgar Allen Poe

• American Football

• Anything else in this post

or

• Songs about bicycles

Bicycle Race – Queen (lyrics)

Bicycle – Jason Reeves (lyrics)

Bicycle Named Heaven – Catie Curtis (lyrics)

•  Songs about Maryland

Maryland – Vonda Shepard (lyrics)

Maryland My Maryland – Dixielandspain (lyrics)

Maryland Bridge – John K. Samson (lyrics)

• Songs about Baltimore (strange… I could not find any songs about Annapolis…if you know some, please let us know!)

Good Morning Baltimore – Hairspray (lyrics)

Raining in Baltimore – Counting Crows (lyrics)

Streets of Baltimore – Gram Parsons (lyrics)

The Lady from Baltimore – Johnny Cash (lyrics)

It’s your turn now! Share your tips, stories, art, photos, links and everything else that fits this Maryland post or the given inspiration. Email your submission for this blog series to bigroadtrip[at]maritspaperworld[dot]com

In next week’s ‘follow up post’ I will show YOUR art, photos, stories, links and tips. I hope to it come in my email box in the next days. Please send it to me before Sunday morning (April 14).

Also: I’m looking for artists from Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia to write a guestpost for this BIG Road Trip blog series. Find all the info and the list of states HERE.