I had a chance to go on a trip to The Other Washington in August. We had a 3 week heads up that we were going. Hubby was going to work, I went to play, Granny graciously took the babes. In the short time to plan my activities, I asked those that had gone before, for advice, what not to miss.
DC is land of the "free" experiences. I say "free" because we pay taxes. On my list were Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, WWII, veterans war, Korean war Monuments, the American History museum, the flight and aviation museum, Museum of Natural History, The Archives, the capital building, the white house, the Georgetown neighborhood, and Mt Vernon. I really didn't think I would even get to see a fraction of it because I didn't know the scale of the city nor how long it would take to get through everything, especially because I wouldn't have to stop for potty breaks for 4 other people and diaper changes for another. I kept on getting told you know you could go to relax, you know go swimming and sleep in. It really wasn't an option. I only had 3 and a half days. I did see everything I wanted to and more.
Bonus: I got to ride in a cab for the first time. Welcome to adulthood Sarah.
Day 1 Museum Overkill plans Killed
I had reserved a time slot at 10:00 to go to the Rotunda in the Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of RIghts- The Magna Carta was on vacation. I slept in and woke up at 9:30! With the time change and flying cross country I was really tired. But I rushed a quick shower and ran out the door by 9:45. (I forgot this is possible) We were a good distance away so I knew I had to hop on what they call Metro- the subway there. I quickly asked the bellhop where the closest station was and booked it to where I needed to go. Having never done this before I had to figure out the whole system in zero times. Just figuring out how to pay, which one of the million payment options to choose from was overwhelming. I got to where I needed to go, even making a major transfer. That place was crazy i can't imagine NYC subway, and I'm glad it wasn't a busy time. My superior navigating skills got me there without any hitches, on time even.
The documents were cool even though they are so faded you can't even read them. I was surprised at how ornate all the writing was. Handwriting is NOT what it used to be, not that that is bad though.
So after the Archives I headed down to the American History museum and I have to say my favorite spot was the Presidents Wives section. It highlighted the important role each first lady has played, each unique to her personality. It also displayed gowns from inaugural balls and memorabilia. I thought it was cool. I don't know what they are going to do when they get a first dude. What will they even call him?
It was in this building on the third floor that I experienced the 6.8 earthquake centering in Virginia. I had never felt an earthquake. No one knew it was an earthquake until minutes after. Everyone automatically thought a bomb went off in the city since terrorist attacks were their frame of mind. We were fine though, and I was surprised how well those historic buildings did, all except the Washington memorial, which they are still assessing damage.
Since everything indoors was closed I hit the outdoor monuments
Washington Monument had helicopters flying around it assessing damage.
This is one of my favorite war memorials. Korean War Memorial.
Jefferson Memorial- It was amazing. The pool between the Jefferson and Washington memorials is being reconstructed. (thats why I didn't take a picture)
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
This is the brand new Martin Luther King Jr Memorial. I liked it. It was a stone cut out of a mountain with a larger than life full body sculpture of him with some of his most famous quotes etched in the stone. It was going to be dedicated the day after we left but with a hurricane on its way they postponed the dedication for a later date. The placement of this one is great. There are terrific views all around it.
With the turn in events we ditched our evening plans for the museums and headed to the Georgetown neighborhood. I heard it was a cute little town to walk around with shops and old historic homes. We enjoyed it very much there and saw the oldest house in the district and saw where George Washington negotiated the sale of land where DC now stands. We also went to a little cupcake shop that has one of those shows on TLC or whatever. They were OK, I have had better cupcakes. Hubby seemed to enjoy them more than me. I would highly recommend walking around Georgetown just to see the old historic homes that just put you in another time.
Day 2 Mount Vernon / Night time bike tour of Monuments -MY FAVORITE THING WE DID
OK this excursion was what was tricky for me. I wanted to go to Mt Vernon to visit George Washington's home. Having no transportation, I had to rely on the Metro and the buses. It took an hour to get down there because I was too cheap for a cab. I am really glad I went to the effort to go. It painted a more intimate picture of George Washington and I feel like I really got to know him. By the way his teeth WERE NOT MADE OF WOOD. I saw them, Actually i saw one pair of them, he had several throughout his life. He was a lover of new inventions, Im sure he would be blown away to see iPhone and iPods. I loved this trip out. It gave me such an understanding of this amazing man.
My sweet hubby didn't have as easy of time trying to maneuver himself to where I was later in the day when he got off work. He didn't have the benefit I had of getting my bearings. He had to hit the pavement running. This pic was after one of the " Im lost conversations we had." I found it was way easier just giving one option for directions. It less confusing that way.
I finally met up with him and we did another museum and hit dinner. I don't remember the name of the place. It was kind of upper scale and yummy and the flan was to die for. Im craving it right now just thinking of it. It was noisy and the couple next to us were really snooty and kept staring at us. We ordered two desserts, because we wanted to try different things. The lady kind of rolled her eyes and then they came out and she was annoyed at her husband for not getting her the flan. We paid our bill with cash and she about dropped on the floor. It like she had never seen paper money before. The tables were obviously very close, and this is all probably a memory exaggeration but it was funny at the time.
Jefferson Memorial- Hubby's favorite.
We decided to take a night time bike tour which is the BEST WAY TO SEE THE MONUMENTS. They are lit up and very majestic and they are so spread out they are difficult to see in one day if you are walking and want to do a lot of walking. This was so much fun. We found a bike share program where you pick up the bike in one place of the city and return it in another. It was very fun riding with my hubby and get to chat along the way. Our favorites were Jefferson, WWII monument, Korean war monument and Jefferson. We were disappointed in the White house. We saw it when they were working on it I suppose. There were a lot of work cars out and construction out and they didn't even have the grounds lights on so it just looked like a tired old house. We saw it later and it looked better. Riding bikes around the city was my favorite part of the trip.
Day 3 Capitol, Library of Congress, Museum of Natural History
I went to the Capitol and took the tour it was really cool. The security detail was intense. There were cops with really big guns walking around. Inside, Paintings and statues pay tribute to those that have preceded us. I went to the room where John Adams I think was a tricky little guy in the congress. he sat in one particular spot of the room where sound reverberates of the ceiling and floor and he could very clearly hear the whisperings from the opposing party across the room. It was very funny. He kept this secret for many many years. I went to the original Judiciary Court. Legend has it that the original Judge set the clock 5 minutes fast, so that no judge had the excuse of being late. The clock is still run 5 minutes late.
It POURED this day but it didn't slow down this Washingtonian. Mostly everything was inside anyway. I hit a bonus trip to the library of Congress, which I really enjoyed. I didn't see however the Jefferson library due to the earthquake, they were still assessing damage. I really would like to go back to the Library. Its funny its a very historic institution in its own right and they were very proud of the fact that national treasure was filmed there.
The Natural History Museum was my Favorite Museum. I wished i went here first, because I was a little museum burnt out. I loved the diamond Exhibit. We saw a little mouse run across one of the exhibits. We thought it was part of the exhibit. We talked to the worker there. He didn't seem too alarmed. He mentioned its a common occurrence, what with the cafeteria down stairs. We didn't eat there.
Day 4 Holocaust museum & travel home. Caution *spoiler* details on Holocaust Museum
My hubby didn't have any meetings so he was free to tour with me, and our flight didn't leave until 5. We wandered around town and he wanted to go to the Holocaust museum. I kind of avoided it because I thought it would just be really depressing. I am SO glad he insisted. It was very well done, the graphic stuff was covered by tall concrete walls only adults can peer over the edge to see. We walked through a train car that hauled people to concentration camps. The smell was uncanny....Still.
Another exhibit that was very powerful was one room with nothing in it but collected shoes from victims killed. Thousands and thousands of the same shoes taken just before they were gassed. Each of those shoes represented to me a life innocently taken. Plus someone sorting them, matching them only to be reused by another soul. It was very powerful. I learned of the gas chambers where hundreds of men women and children had to be stripped down, shaved, and sent to their death, not knowing beyond the door, the "shower" wasn't a shower it was their death.
There was also a tribute to those that assisted those fleeing. Some hid children, some delivered food under fences for concentration camps, some smuggled them out, many put their own lives in jeopardy for their neighbors.
It really was the perfect ending to the trip, it really balanced it for me. I really held these men who were paid tribute in the museums and monuments up on a pedestal. They were individual people that stood up for their country, had the courage to blaze the way. They were extraordinary people, that our country needed at that time.... and here was an example of where our country failed miserably. We were given the opportunity but we didn't stand up until the end. The phrase "too little, to late comes to mind" So many people did not do the courageous thing. They just ignored the need. As one example, even when the United States saw the need they didn't give exile to those fleeing persecution. Our exile policies changed after this experience.
What I really got out of the trip is to stand up for what you believe and be an influence for good in your own life. I saw God's hand at work in these peoples lives. I really saw that good things come of hard work, labour, industry, creativity, honesty. It made me long for political integrity today. I enjoyed my trip. This was not a trip to take small kids on. The moms and dads that were carting around tired children looked miserable. I got worn out myself and I can't imagine what it would do to little feet, tiny bellies, and small bladders. Someday I will take my kids when they are teenagers, because I feel like it needs to be part of their education.
Freedom is not free and will not last unless people stand up and fight for it.
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