The Charm City Charmed us - Baltimore

Baltimore has a bit of a reputation for crime and unrest - a few years ago we diverted to avoid the city when driving from New York to Washington. We had read about riots and gangs in the news and our US friends talked of a TV show called 'The Wire' about drug crime in the city - none of this painting a pretty picture. That just goes to show how preconceptions and out dated information can be misleading as Baltimore is now one of our most loved destinations in the US. 

We opted to go to Baltimore when the weather started to cool down and we decided we wanted to stop in a marina for a while. Andrew started reading up on marina options in the Chesapeake and we liked the idea of being close to a city and an airport to fly off to see family for a while. Baltimore's inner harbour is one of the safest hurricane refuges in the Chesapeake bay. We started asking a few local people and the response we got was quite different to our earlier impressions - the result was a lovely friendly liveaboard marina in one of the coolest historic districts on the East Coast - Fells Point, Baltimore.  

Hendersons Wharf Marina - Askari just to the left of the crab

Our view at night

One of the many Fell's Point Pubs - several have live music every night and there's always a meal offer somewhere in town

All you can eat crab for 2 hours $30 - coated in Old Bay Spice -such fun

Beautiful Fells Point

Baltimore downtown waterfront

Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse built 1855- was out in the Chesapeake Bay until 1988

Returning to Fells Point in a water taxi- there's also a free bus service all over the city 

Observatory Pagoda in Paterson Park - a Baltimore icon

While we were in Fells Point a two day festival with live music took place at the end of our street attended by over 100,000 people and the celebrations around Halloween were just incredible.  We took a day trip to the Annapolis Sail Boat Show and also spent a day at the wonderful Aquarium in town.  Add in a yoga studio 5 mins from the marina, a board walk that runs all around the harbour, wonderful restaurants, great pubs and a Wholefoods Supermarket - no wonder we didn't have time to update the blog..... 

Fells Point Fun Festival

Fells Point Fun Festival

Annapolis Sail Boat Show

Annapolis Sail Boat Show - Oyster Yachts team as always fabulous

No getting ideas Andrew - although she was lovely.....

We donated the price of our free tickets and got Askari on the transom

Halloween at Fells Point.....

Halloween in Fells Point - all sides of life here - inc a few homeless :-( 

Halloween in Fells Point

Halloween

You've got it - night stand!?!

Halloween - gay pumpkin!

Halloween

 Aquarium Day

National Aquarium - just great

National Aquarium - we got a guided tour at the end from the lovely volunteers

We took a two week trip to check in on the family - especially James who had just started at the University of Bath. While we were away our new family at Henderson Wharf looked after Askari like she was one of their own - we were sad to say goodbye to an amazing community of special people. We left our Halloween pumpkin and hugged everyone before making a move down the bay to Annapolis for a couple of nights before heading South.

James in his new home

Lunch with my Mum and Dad at the Hamble during a great walk

Pink Ferry in the Hamble - UK

With Jonathan and Remi

With A's Mum and Dad at a very original English pub

Ledbury Market Square with A's Mum and Dad

Back in Baltimore - we have seen too many flags flying half mast in the US

Pride of Baltimore as we left - Henderson's Wharf Marina behind

Despite significant rejuvenation and investment, the city still does have problems and you need to know where not to go. We spent an evening talking to a young teacher who works in the north of the city and she described a very different picture to the one we experienced where many children have family members who have been murdered and several have no teeth. I would still encourage anyone to visit Baltimore, especially the Fells Point area as its been our favourite city in the US.