Less than a week after returning home from the great smoky mountains and all the adventure there, we are off again, this time to our nations capitol, Washington, DC. I have never been and I can already tell you i would very much like to go back and spend more time there. There are a lot of things I loved about it but not the weather, it was a little cold with a large side of rain, not how I like my weather. Anyway, we arrived and went right to seeing and doing things a little stop here a little stop there and had a great lunch at Pizzeria Paradiso, it was fantastic, a lot of great beer on tap, as well as wonderful wood fired pizzas. We then took a walk down the National Mall.
I am a bit of a skeptic, but even beyond all the people all over the place and the field trips and gift shops, I could feel the history and the heritage around me. I stood in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln reading his first and second addresses on the walls, and I cannot even explain the feeling that came over me, maybe it was a longing to have true leaders like that again for our country. I also stood on the steps and looked out toward the Washington Monument (the reflecting pool was under construction...) and thought about the pictures from days before when it was filled with people protesting war or injustice or listening to people speaking. All I can really tell you is if you have never been there, and if you have any feelings toward real patriotism, you should find time to visit. No matter how many pictures you see, or even how well they are taken and the objects depicted, you cannot understand the feeling of these "objects" until you stand before them.That night we went out with friends and had a great time. It turns out that this city also has a great night life as well...
On my second day in DC I had most of the day to myself, so once it finally stopped raining too hard and i rolled out of bed, I took off in my usual fashion... Pick a direction and start walking. There were things I intended on seeing but I wasn't going to limit myself by setting the gps on my phone and following it with my head down. I was correct in my natural direction finding and was on my way to the Capitol Building. I wandered about for quite a while making it to many of the places I wanted to see including; The Capitol Building, The Library of Congress, The National Archives, The Smithsonian. I wandered by many building that I did not even know I wanted to see...
I laughed very hard at this one because just before I was thinking it would be cool to see. I almost walked right past it because it is so plain. When you look a bit more carefully you start to notice the cameras and security surrounding it....
I don't know what this building is but I found the vehicle sitting outside of it a little unnerving...
Here have a better look.
Yep.
I did not previously realize that The Lincoln Memorial, The Reflecting Pool, The Washington Monument, This Statue, and The Capitol Building all make an almost perfect line... The Capitol Building is slightly off center.
Speaking of which...
The front of The Library of Congress.
The Fountain out in front of it. It struck me as a little odd and/or angry...
Including this little guy...
DC was filled with statues and memorials most of which were very beautiful.
After my little 4 hour walk around the city I went back to take a nap and shower before dinner, which happened to be the best Italian meal of my life. It was at "Al Tiramisu".
Unfortunately this was my last day in Washington, DC. for now, but I am sure that I will have to return to see even more.
After some traveling to Baltimore I hopped on a plane headed towards Grand Rapids, Michigan. Next time I will be talking about my trip home, a couple of road trips, and a short stay in Mammoth Cave National Park.
"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
~George Washington
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