When I arrived, I stopped in the visitor information center to get a map of the grounds. A sweet older man was in there and decided to give me the history of the gardens. In what seemed like a warning, he told me that these gardens "aren't for pleasure, but they're for research." It was hard not to laugh!! Can these two things not co-exist when it comes to flowers?!?!? Anyways, I listened to his story, thanked him for the maps, and headed out to NOT enjoy the walk through the garden. :) What an odd thing to tell someone! I almost stopped back by the center to let him know that I'd enjoyed the gardens even if they are solely for research, but decided against it.
Just down the road from the garden is the North Carolina Museum of Art. They're doing construction all around it, so it was a bit of a challenge to get to, but it was well worth it. I spent most of my time there in the European art section. As you know, I have a fascination (some might say obsession) with hands. :) I was amazed at the detail some of the artists put into the hands in the portraits & pictures. Some, you could actually see veins and tendons! Of course, having the morbid thought processes that come along with my line of work, I was judging how many sticks it would take to get IV's in all these pictures' hands. :) I also thought it was funny to see how some of the artists totally side-stepped the difficult job of painting detailed hands by making just that section blurry. Or, sometimes they'd make the back of the hand "fat looking" so you wouldn't expect to see the detail. The only problem with this method was that some of the "fat" hands were on otherwise skinny people. All in all, it's a nice museum, and I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around inside it for a while.
Before I went downtown, I decided to stop & get some lunch at this Mexican fast food restaurant I was introduced to while living in Birmingham . . . Qdoba's. YUMMY!!!! After having my innards set on fire by lunch, I set out for downtown. :) The beach had been brought to Raleigh the week before where someone had done this sand sculpture in the mall area. 
I found the Raleigh Visitor's Center, mainly looking for a downtown map since I'd forgotten to print one before I left that morning. Well, I met a "Chatty-Cathy" behind the information desk! (shocking, I know!) Amidst learning about where she & her husband are from, where all they've lived, how much she loves NC, and what she gives her friends for Christmas, I got a map of the downtown area and a couple of my questions answered. :) If she didn't have to stay at the desk, I'm afraid I might have had company on my self guided tour of Downtown Raleigh! After spending so much time with her, I didn't have much time left before places were going to start closing, so I just hit the highlights - namely the old capitol.
The NC flag still catches me off guard. It looks like someone turned the Texas flag upside down and put a few letters around the star! It messes with my head. :)
Since I was parked in a public lot, I thought I should probably get back to my car by 5pm just in case they closed the lot then. The lady at the visitor center didn't know anything about when the public lots closed, so she told me where she parks everyday and what time she leaves. So very helpful! :) I remembered driving through Oakwood when I came through here back in the spring, so I thought I'd go check it out again. The majority of the homes have been refurbished and are beautiful! Sorry, no pictures of them as I haven't mastered driving through a neighborhood and snapping pictures without running into cars and/or people. :) Maybe I'll get a chance to walk through it someday.
Between this neighborhood and the governmental district sits the Governor's Mansion. I did get information from the visitor center lady about how to get a tour of the mansion - which requires 2 weeks notice. That will be put on my "To Do" list . . . especially if I extend my contract and am here after it's decorated for Christmas!! Unlike the White House, I'll be allowed to take pictures inside of all the Christmas decorations. :) How fun! I did get a couple pictures of the outside of the mansion. The detailing on the roof is interesting. I'm sure there's a story behind that, and I know where to go to get more information if I don't mind having to sift through a LOT of personal history to get it.
While looking online, I also saw a newer mall not too far from there that has some of my favorite stores. Unfortunately, I'd forgotten to write down where it was, but I remembered it was along HWY 540 (which isn't a very long highway). I found it without too much difficulty and discovered a great coffee shop! Caribou Coffee YUM!! I'd put it above Starbucks on my "coffee ranking scale". I told them that they needed to expand into Texas and share the wealth! :)
After getting my mint chocolate coffee and a cookie, I headed home so I wouldn't miss the Grey's Anatomy premiere. A very fun day!
