Nat Your Average Story: We Couldn't Beat Them on a Boat, We Couldn't Beat Them & Their Goat!

Oh y'all - we had to get up early on Saturday! I mean, my alarm went off at 7 and that really felt like 6 to this girl. It was all worth it though; we had a date with Annapolis to watch the Air Force/Navy football game. Annapolis is about 90 minutes from my parent's house and so we got all gussied up in our AF finest, piled into the car and made a quick Starbucks run before we were on our way to Annapolis. After a quick breeze through DC, we arrived and the fun began!

Finally getting to wear my AF headband - Go Falcons!

Ready for some AF football! Go Air Force, Sink Navy!

The first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season, a rowing team on the Potomac in DC, my awesome owl ring and the Washington Monument getting a face lift!

Riding the Park & Ride bus to the stadium in downtown Annapolis...

The Navy stadium is in downtown Annapolis...literally in the middle of the town. It is kind of nuts, but hey - whatever works, right? We sat on an area of the stadium called the Hill. It is literally the hillside at one of the end zones and everyone just spreads out blankets to watch the game. It's definitely different...and pretty neat. Except a heat wave rolled in and it was 93 degrees on game day...and the game started at 11:30! Yikes! Here I thought I was coming to Virginia for cooler temperatures (although Saturday I was in Maryland, but hey - same difference!) There were similarities in the way the game unfolded - the Midshipmen came onto the field just like the cadet wing does at USAFA and each time they scored (which sadly, was often) they Midshipmen did push-ups. One difference at Navy? They shoot a cannon off every time there is a kick-off, a touchdown, a first down...basically they shoot a cannon all the time. Insanity. Although it was fun to watch people jump when the cannon let out it's BOOM!

Sights around the Navy game - and yes, Navy's mascot is a goat. Which makes no sense.

In the stadium - love the flowers!

Smiling in the blazing heat, Lindsey doing push-ups for an AF touchdown, the Midshipmen sitting in the student section, two Navy alumni wearing their hats (which were pretty cool, I must admit) and the stadium, which featured the names of numerous Naval battles from history.

Once the game was over - sadly, Air Force lost - we went into Annapolis to explore the town and see the Naval Academy campus. I have to say, while I love the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy is beautiful. They are really such different places that it's hard to make a comparison. The Naval Academy opened on October 10, 1845...so it's been there for quite some time. The buildings are all evidence of that with their elegant architectural features; you can feel the history seeping out of the buildings and into the campus and it's amazing. Sorry Lindsey - I love the Air Force campus, but I was pretty darn impressed with the Naval Academy campus too!

Exploring Annapolis Harbor before going through the gates into the Naval Academy!

Bells outside Bancroft Hall, architecture on Bancroft Hall and houses for the Commanders on the Naval Academy...

Inside Bancroft Hall - which is the dormitory for all 4,400 students. Seriously - it's like a museum. Marble floors, a rotunda...it's absolutely breathtaking. And HUGE. Seriously - 4,400 people live in the building.

Inside Bancroft Hall...gorgeous chandeliers and murals on the walls.

Naval Academy Crest

Lindsey giving the Tecumseh statue a thumbs down!

The Midshipmen paint the statue before each game - apparently The Hunger Games was the theme for the AF/Navy game. I think they were a little confused though...if AF is the mockingjay...then Navy is the Capitol...and so their metaphor is all a mess. Silly Navy. It looked cool though. Also - please notice the Snoopy on the back of the statue.

The Naval Academy chapel

The mascot - a goat. It's like Dr. Suess, I swear. We will eat them on a boat, we will eat them with a goat. Ha!

The Naval Academy crest outside the entrance to the Academy.

Once we'd finished exploring the Academy, we went into Annapolis - walked into Annapolis - it's literally right outside the gates of the Academy, and we got some supper at The Federal House, which was delicious! With full bellies, we made the drive home as the sun set, another great day coming to a close!