We had some family come in this weekend, and since one of the people who came in was in the navy for a few years a thousand years ago he said he really wanted to see the Naval Academy in Annapolis because he feels he has a close association with that branch of the service, even after all these years.

So we went down there, found a parking spot, walked through a pedestrian gate, and came up to a marine. He was there to check our IDs. Or check to see that we had things that approximated IDs, at least. After he did that, I told him we were there to check out the museum and asked exactly where it is, thinking that is the place to go to, like, check out Navy and Academy history and stuff.

The marine, who was extremely cordial, informed us that the museum is closed for a year for renovations. He even pointed it out down the street where the building was surrounded by a temporary fence to keep non-construction personnel out. Then he told us that the only other thing worth seeing if you’re a civilian, the chapel, is closed to the public on Saturdays because it’s used for weddings. Sure enough, a wedding was going on there when we walked past on the way to the visitor’s center.

The visitor’s center is pretty much a campus bookstore without the books. You can buy anything imaginable with a navy logo on it there. And none of it is really all that cheap, although it is tax-free.

Anyway, the moral of the story is if you’re wanting to check out a service academy in Annapolis, MD that you help keep in business with your federal taxes you’re more than welcome. The thing to remember, however, is that nothing is really there for you to do but blow cash on overpriced tchotkes.

But I guess if that’s not the american way then nothing is.