WASHINGTON DC

As I said before, we stayed at Cherry Hill Campground in College Park, Maryland because of the bus service into DC where we could connect with tour buses.  We chose the Hop On, Hop Off Tour bus, but if we had it to do over again we might take the subway system instead.  There was so much time wasted in the DC car traffic!!  But the things to see were awesome and more than  you could do justice in two days.



Union Station Bus Terminal





Many eating facilities in the terminal.  Amazing, even fine dining!







Police K-9's all over the terminal this day!



On to the White House for our first stop, we got in quickly in spite of the school children tours. 



Wonder of Wonders, the WORDS are still there!!



Painting in the dome of the Rotunda.



Center floor in the Rotunda where they have the "Lying in state" of former presidents and other dignitaries.



We toured the room used by the Senate for many years, and later by the Supreme Court.  Then we moved on to the room on the opposite side of the Rotunda where the House of Representatives met for years.  There as well as in the Rotunda, the Guide showed us the many statues that have been put on display by the states, two per state.  Most depict important "past" of that state.  She also demonstrated the acoustics of the room used by the House of Representatives because of the curve in the ceiling!!  Most interesting that we could hear her using a soft toned voice from across the room.  It is said that is how John Quincy Adams was so knowledgeable about everything!!  He could hear much while at his desk!!  

The plaques in the floor indicate where desks were for Congressmen who later became President.  However, in Adams case he was President before he was a Representative for Massachusetts.  We are standing here looking across the room at our guide, just as you are.

Library of congress.

From the Capitol we walked the tunnel to the Library of Congress.  Then we got back on the tour bus and went to the Holocaust Museum. 

There was so much to read there, but many things that I had not heard before.  We have learned much in our years of TV and reading, but there is so much more!!  I stood in awe of the many atrocities, but yet some of the things mentioned bring to mind things taking place in our own country today.  One was the fact that medical histories of the all of the people in Germany and Poland were recorded on paper, sounded like the computer chip that they speak of using here to record our medical records (for our benefit)?  There were three walls commemorating people who hid and saved people at the risk of their own lives.  It was interesting to read what they did in life and how they hid them!!  Would we risk our own lives for others in the same way?  Many in our country did in the past through the Underground Railroad, but would we?  It sure is something to give some thought to.  There were displays of many shoes left from those moved on into the ovens, as well as a couple ovens!!  It did not leave much doubt in my mind as to what happened there.

We were disappointed that we only had enough time for these two tours before we had to scurry back to the bus terminal for the last bus back to the campground with five minutes to spare!! We did drive by many monuments and buildings and they are pointed out by the bus narration, but it is not like getting up close.  So we had to think hard about what we would see the next day to make the most of our time.  

Day two began with a tour of the American History Museum, but we decided to take off on our own and see more in our time there. 

Many, many things to see and read about, including all of the First Ladies inauguration gowns.  As well as the homeless getting a little shut eye.  Her bags are along the wall behind her neighbors.  At least it is warm and dry!!

We decided that the eight blocks to the Ford Theatre would be best spent on foot.  Less time waiting on traffic. 



Ford Theatre where President Lincoln was shot.

Across the street was the Ford Theatre Center, but not much there.  The Narrator at the Theatre was very good and new her stuff!!
We lucked out there and caught the Hop On bus taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine by sitting in the top of the bus to head back to Union Station.  So much easier to see the buildings!! 




Old Post Office





Archives of the United States





Bureau of Engraving and Printing.



Smithsonian Castle



Um- m-m.  Wish we had time to stop for lunch!!  But we were worried about getting back to the bus in time.  So we kept on trucking, making mental notes on what we want to go through on our next trip in the area.  We will have to allow two weeks or more to take much more in!!



The bottom line is that the Capital of our country is not exempt from the homeless in the streets.  It is sad when you think what could cause this in each and every one of our lives. 

But we moved on to the Union Station and had time to visit with others from our park.  It had been overcast much of the day and the wind was picking up.  We could feel it through the terminal.  Just as we pulled into our campground it began a light rain.  But then it poured down for a while and we waited it out in the camp's store, before we walked to our motor home.  You see, we had not taken our Jeep off of the dolly for these two days.  We thought we could save work.  We did, I think.  Just had to dry out.  I told Gary it wasn't anything that a hair dryer could not take care of!!  I did worry about his cold getting worse, but he lucked out.

Take care and we will be back real soon.  So much going on for us in such a short period of time!!