19 - Washington D.C.

MONUMENTAL INDEED:

Touring Washington D.C. we were surprised (and pleased) with it's open plan layout. Unlike New York, there were no skyscrapers to be seen here. In fact there is a law that no building can be higher than 10 storys so that no building stands taller than the freedom statue on top of the Capitol Building. As one guide stated to us, "Nothing shall rise higher than freedom itself"...


 

Lincoln the Greek? Lincoln's Memomial is inside a parthenon like building which was purposely designed since the artist felt his image should be known as the one who defended democracy which originated in Greek times.

 MONUMENT MILE:



The Washington Monument was constructed in 2 different periods of time; 1848-1854 and 1877-1884, thereby taking 36 years to complete and using two different kinds/colors of stone, which can be seen in the change of color partway up. At over 550 feet tall, it is the world’s tallest stone structure.

Did you know: There is actually a set of stairs inside and an elevator. The elevator was used to carry materials during construction and was later modified to carry passengers. It was originally powered by steam and was for men only, being considered too dangerous for women, who were required to take the stairs, (897 steps).



Despite DC being a well planned out city, with lots of organized thought behind it, we found the drivers there had to be the worst we've ever experienced!!! It's not that they drive fast, but slow and no signalling, no merging sense, just not very "organized" or "efficient". We also heard the streets in the heart of the city are also very congested around rush hour too, good thing we arrived on the labor day weekend - no one will be around!

THE BIG CHEESE:

Hey is that the president smoking a cigar out on the balcony???

Our first "open top bus tour" day took us to all the monuments. We talked to a couple who said the day before they were in DC and were able to see President Obama out on the balcony of the White House for about a nano second before secret service ushered everyone away from the area. Driving by the White House it isn't uncommon to see snipers perched on the roof as part of regular security. What a life the president and his family must lead, not being able to do what many of us take for granted like stroll along your front yard, or have a private moment gazing over the balcony, without the shroud of security or the constant worry always in the back of your mind.  On the flip side, as "joe public" we too feel the wrath of overprotectiveness when we want to go to the same place as the president, who do you think wins that contest???

After touring the modern art exhibits, I left looking like this....what were they thinking?

On our second day we self toured several of the Smithsonian museums, including the Natural History museum and the National Gallery of Art, which were all free of charge. 

Stopping by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, many waterfalls which symbolized his love for water (he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy in WWI)

Along the Pontomac river on our bikes

Location, location, location...it was interesting to learn many monuments were place in certain areas in the city for specific & symbolic reasons.

On our third day, we took the bikes on the metro (subway) and cycled along the riverbanks and stopped into the Spy Museum. Although the spy museum had a lot of information regarding the cold war period, I was kind of expecting more modern gadget style techno bells & whistles rather than the different types of listening devices (bugs). I guess James Bond had tainted my way of thinking and that I was expecting to see more of the inside of Q's labratory...The spy museum was a popular destination, quite crowded with many families (or were they really families or double agents "acting" like families???)....

Jefferson Memorial

We know Thomas Jefferson wrote & signed the Declaration of Independence & was the 3rd president, but did you also know he greeted people at the White House in a robe and slippers, made formal White House dinners more casual affairs - these things earned him the nickname "Man of the People," great intellect, learned several languages, often considered a very private man - he burned all the letters between himself and his wife after her death, a terrible money manager, was heavily in debt most of his life, including at his death!

After viewing all the monuments, I felt a little lacking; these men had done so much in their lifetimes and achieved greatness - what have I accomplished?... but then again, those were different times back then, but we must still reflect back and consider how we want to be remembered!

Why go to Disney when you can go to Cherry Hill Park?!?!

Our campsite, Cherry Hill, is the closest one to the capital city. Just 3 miles from the metro station (which is a 40 min train ride). The campsite conveniently has buses stopping there to take campers to the metro station. We chose to drive to the station, saving us the time waiting for a bus. The campsite grounds were very well laid out, there were many amenities offered, (swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, restaurant, meeting hall, laundry, games room, hiking trails, general store & rv parts, bus terminal, etc).  With all those perks came a healthy price tag, over $52 a night...one of our most expensive places to stay. I met one person staying for 3 weeks and he said they would not give him a discounted rate for staying that long...

 Dr. Martin Luther King, consisting of a mountainous block of granite, from which a large piece has been removed and on the face of it, a likeness carved of Dr. King. On the side reads: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope”. Behind the granite is a stone wall with excerpts from 16 of his speeches.

I can't hear you Dave, there's a flower growing out of my ear!



The heat and humidity was getting a little high for us (okay for me!), so we decided to move on, hoping for a reprieve -we decided to head where it all started for Americans...