I didn’t have much time to prepare for my trip to Baltimore, as it was a sudden decision, but I did manage to read a little about some places to go during my visit. I decided I’d try to visit the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Walters Art Museum, The Basilica of the Assumption, the George Peabody Library, and the American Visionary Art Museum. I also hoped to walk all around the Inner Harbor and to Fells Point. Of course, I also wanted to visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine so I could get a stamp for my Passport to Your National Parks. I would also meet Terry, my roommate from nursing school, for dinner one night. Besides that, I’d be open to any other opportunities that presented themselves.

Baltimore Inner Harbor & the Aquarium
I had read a couple of books set in Baltimore long ago (see books below with star ratings). Anne Tyler is a famous Baltimore author, and I found one of her books, Clock Dance, on my shelves, unread. I would take it along. I would also take American Nomads, which I was reading and wanted to finish by the end of February. I hoped to laze around a bit and read during my escape.
Books set in Baltimore:
- The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler ****
- Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler ****
- Clock Dance by Anne Tyler (currently reading)
- A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
- Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler
- Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
- Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
- Digging to America by Anne Tyler
- Noah’s Compass by Anne Tyler
- Morgan’s Passing by Anne Tyler
- Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
- The Clock Winder by Anne Tyler
- Celestial Navigation by Anne Tyler
- A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
- The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler
- Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
- The Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler
- An American Summer by Frank Deford
- Ten Indians by Madison Smartt Bell
- Charm City by Madison Smartt Bell
- Charm City: A Walk Through Baltimore by Madison Smartt Bell
- Charm City by Laura Lippman
- The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons and an Unlikely Road to Manhood by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
- The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton (1965-2010)
- The Corner by David Simon and Ed Burns
- Chesapeake by James A. Michener
- 111 Places in Baltimore That You Must Not Miss by
- Walking Baltimore: An Insider’s Guide to 33 Historic Neighborhoods, Waterfront Districts, and Hidden Treasures in Charm City by Evan Balkan

Streets of Baltimore
There are a number of movies set in or filmed in Baltimore. The ones I’ve seen have star ratings in the list below.
Movies set in Baltimore:
- Marnie (1964)
- Diner (1982)
- Tin Men (1987)
- The Accidental Tourist (1988) ****
- Avalon (1990)
- He Said, She Said (1991) ***
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993) ***** (parts filmed in Fells Point)
- Homicide: Life on the Streets (1993-1999)
- Liberty Heights (1999)
- The Sum of All Fears (2002)
- The Wire (2002-2008)
- Hairspray (2007)
- He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) ***
- Putty Hill (2010)
- I Used to Be Darker (2013)
- The Shape of Water (2017) ****

Street art in a gritty neighborhood
Finally, I prepared a small journal with my intentions.

my journal and travel guides to Baltimore

my intentions for Baltimore
I would head to Baltimore from February 21-23, 2020. 🙂

Fells Point
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“ANTICIPATION & PREPARATION” INVITATION: I invite you to write a post on your own blog about anticipation & preparation for a particular destination (not journeys in general). If you don’t have a blog, I invite you to write in the comments. Include the link in the comments below by Thursday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. EST. When I write my post in response to this challenge on Friday, March 27, I’ll include your links in that post.
This will be an ongoing invitation, on the 4th Friday of each month. Feel free to jump in at any time. 🙂 If you’d like to read more about the topic, see: journeys: anticipation & preparation.
I hope you’ll join in our community. I look forward to reading your posts!
I don’t know anyone more organised when it comes to travel than you, Cathy! Love your journal, and it really does look a very attractive place. I like Anne Tyler and was struggling to remember if I’d read Clock Dance, though I know I’ve read the other two. (memory like a sieve 🙂 )
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Thanks, Jo. I love to organize. 🙂 Anne Tyler has written so many books set in Baltimore it’s hard to keep track of which ones I’ve read. There is another of hers called Clock Winder! Clock Dance, Clock Winder, who can keep them straight? 🙂
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There’s a lot of history in that city
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There certainly is, Alice. I’ll have to go back for another weekend, as I still didn’t see everything I wanted to see. 🙂
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There’s Laura Lippman on your list; I do like her stories. Who’s the director–Barry Levinson, I think–who likes to set his work in Baltimore. I see that poetry is given as a means to respond to your experience in Baltimore. Cool!
I look forward to the next part, Cathy. And I hope you’re very well.
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Glad to know you’re such a Laura Lippman fan, Christopher. As for the poetry intention, I always write some intentions about poetry and prose for every trip I take. It helps me to think more deeply about the place and the culture. I like the challenge. More will come in time about my trip there. I’m so far behind from last year, so it will come slowly, slowly. Enjoy your Sunday! 🙂
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I love Anne Tyler’s books. I haven’t read them all, certainly not Clock Dance which doesn’t sound familiar at all. Tori Amos won a prize for writing a song about Baltimore when she was a teenager.
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She’s written so many books it’s hard to keep up with them all, Anabel. I’ve only read two of her many books and am reading one now. I’d like to hear that Tori Amos song. 🙂
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Marvellous!
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Thanks, Sue!
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