OL's DC Digital Trip Report

OL, I remember the tears shed there!

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still working...check back later. )))

OL, I remember the tears shed there!

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It was overwhelming for sure. The whole city and trip actually. I was in awe of our forefathers and their vision everywhere I looked.

Grayt looking family!!

this doesn't work for me

this doesn't work for me

I see. I'm trying to do something but it's not letting me. I uploaded all my photos to photobucket but they're not in chonological order like I wanted them to be.

This might take a while. ;-)

Thanks for the compliment!

still working...check back later. )))

Grayt pic's!! Thank you for sharing..............

Can't wait!

Here's the link to pictures. Except for a few at the beginning the story goes backwards. We visited Arlington the morning that we left and we started our Monument and Memorial Tour on Tuesday. We took most pictures with Sam's camera since it was pocket size and mine is a little bigger. We tried to travel as light as possible!!!

Enjoy.


http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm63/olbunnyfunn/?albumview=grid

Monday morning we left Ohio about 8:45 am. After stopping a few times we arrived in Washington around 4:00. We were on the George Washington Pkwy and got a nice view on Gerogetown and the city and got really excited. We were staying on the other side of the river and passed the Pentagon and Arlington Nat'l Cemetery on the way to Alexandria. We found the Sheraton Suites easily. We settled into our home away from home for the next 5 days and then ventured off on foot to scope out the area. We could see the river from our hotel window so we first walked down there. It was COLD. The wind was blowing, we had our winter coats on but I needed gloves. It was kinda dreary down by the water. We started to walk to Old Town but very suddenly it looked like a bad neighborhood...right in the middle of a really nice neighborhood! weird. We turned around pretty quick. Someone started following us. I'm sure we looked like tourist bait. It was the only time the whole trip I felt unsafe. We never made it to Old Town even though it was like 2 blocks away! We walked to the grocery and bought a few things for the week. It was a really sad dinner night. We were tired. Nothing really around that we wanted to eat so we had soup in the room.

The next morning we took the hotel shuttle to the metro station. The shuttle was a curse and blessing at times. More later on that. We bought metro cards and boarded the train. Dylan brought his Flip video camera and made 110 videos the subway train being the very first. We took it to the Smithsonian stop. Ya know it's the best thing since sliced bread. Wish we had one. It was pretty amazing to walk up the escalator and just be right in the middle of the city and look up and the Washington Monument is right there! At first we walked around to the bureau of printing and engraving but the tickes were already sold out for the day...same goes for the Holocaust Museum. This was our first hint of spring breakness.
We then started walking to the Washington Monument. That was to be the first of the memorial monument tour. We didn't really have a plan until then. Once you start on that walk there's no turning back!!!!

Next post....

Thanks for sharing your photos.
I haven't made the trip yet - this is nice. Great shots of the rotunda and of the Washington Monument. Well done!

Thanks Justalocal.


Okay so we start off on our tour. We walk up the hill to the Washington Monument. Both kids are surprised at how tall it is. They couldn't stop talking about it. Tickets were sold out of course to go up to the top. I was already planning on taking Jdarg's advise and go up in the Old Post Office Tower later. Looking back, no regrets there. We walk on down to the World War 2 Memorial. It is really beautiful. The fountains are gorgeous. Bazillions of people everywhere. School groups, families, veterans, just lots of people. Oh, did I mention it was an absolutely gorgeous day? A little chilly but not a cloud in the sky. Grayt for picture taking. So glad we chose this day as out mostly outside touring day. After the WW2 we walked down to the Lincoln Memorial. A very long walk. After we got there we stopped at the Vietnam Memorial first. Had I known at the time that the Albert Einstein mem was close we would have gone there too but sadly never made it as it's kind of out of the way.
We walked down the wall. Another really amazing thing to see and remember our soldiers. I've seen it in the movies so many times and was anxious to see it in person. My mom had given us a name to look for. it took a little while to find it even though we looked him up in the book. He was number 113. We were looking from the top when we should have been looking from the bottom. Sam ended up finding him. We took pics for mom.

We walked up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. Another awe moment. Standing there looking at the statue and reading the Gettysburg Address was really something. We stayed a while and relaxed on the steps and ate our ceral bars. I thought I might be handing them out to homeless folks but really only saw 3 our whole trip. I was surprised at how clean the city was. My MIL said it wouldn't be.

We started off again toward the Jefferson Memorial and stopped at the Korean War Mem and the FDR which was so cool too. See pics. The walk around the Tidal Basin was beautiful. I said a little prayer of thanks that the blossoms were open and not just buds like I thought they would be.

After seeing Jefferson we sat on the steps again. We were very intrigued by a man and his cat. He had her on a leash and he was taking pictures of her on the steps with Jefferson in the background. When he was ready to go he would take a few steps and she would stop and roll over and rub against the steps and then just lay there in the sun. He popped oepn this little camp chair and just waited until she was ready to go again. A very caring pet owner. Can't say I would be so patient. We took a picture b/c Sam and I did not want to forget this man and his cat.

We walked over the bridge and back close to the mall. We were starving by this time and walked to the Old Post Office food court. After we ate we took the tour to the tower. Good views for sure.

After that we walked to the Museum of Natural History. By this time it was around 4:00 and we were exhausted. We walked though a little, went up to the gem area, fought our way through to see the Hope Diamond and a few other things then left and vowed we would go back. I can't tell you how crowded it was! We were all feeling really clastrophobic.

We took the Metro back to the airport. That's where the shuttle picks up in the evenings. Reagon Int'l is about 10-15 min from the hotel. They pick up every 1/2 hour...or so they say. We get off at the airport. Wait 15 minutes, shuttle arrives, many people hustle towards it, it fills up, we are SOL. :angry: Driver says he'll be right back or immediately send another shuttle. Not. 50 minutes later....Curses. Mention this to front desk upon arrival...sorry it's spring break we're at full capacity blah blah blah.

We pretty much fall into bed that night. And again, no decent food in our bellies.

That was a fun walk through history. The rotunda is beautiful. Need to see that in person. I don't remember it as a kid. The kids look like they enjoyed themselves and Sam looked very fashionable with her blue hat and purse.

That was a fun walk through history. The rotunda is beautiful. Need to see that in person. I don't remember it as a kid. The kids look like they enjoyed themselves and Sam looked very fashionable with her blue hat and purse.

They really did. At one point we were standing in the middle of the mall and they said they felt like they were at Disney World. (no laughing SHELLY) With the subway and all the museums around...I felt that way too.

Grayt shots! I can remember going to the Nat'l Air and Space Museum when it was in the castle. I think that was back in '74.

When did BB loan this to the Museum of Natural History? LOL!

Grayt shots! I can remember going to the Nat'l Air and Space Museum when it was in the castle. I think that was back in '74.

When did BB loan this to the Museum of Natural History? LOL!

I can't see the pic but I can guess what it is!!! I thought of her when I entered this room...it was pretty incredible. Except for the hoards of people that were there. We did go back 2 days later and it was a little better. Not as crowded further back where the less precious gems were.

I can't see the pic but I can guess what it is!!! I thought of her when I entered this room...it was pretty incredible. Except for the hoards of people that were there. We did go back 2 days later and it was a little better. Not as crowded further back where the less precious gems were.

HA HA HA HA!!!! You are spot on! I accidentally linked to the slide show. Hey, BB! Missing something? LOL!!!

Awesome ! Did you EVER get anything to eat?

Awesome ! Did you EVER get anything to eat?

This trip was not known for the food. We were always too tired to get cleaned up to eat anywhere. One night we actually sat down and had tex mex at Austin Grill in the Penn Quarter. Oh, we did eat at a decent place at Union Station too but I can't remember the name of it. Other than that it was food on the go.

This trip was not known for the food. We were always too tired to get cleaned up to eat anywhere. One night we actually sat down and had tex mex at Austin Grill in the Penn Quarter. Oh, we did eat at a decent place at Union Station too but I can't remember the name of it. Other than that it was food on the go.

I hear you...too much to see! I just got worried thinking about you huddled around a can of soup and eating cereal bars.

Wednesday morning. We have an appt for our Capitol tour at 9:00am. We set our alarm for 6:00am. The alarm goes off and I spring out of bed!! Not. OMG, everything hurts. My feet, ankles, knees, hips. I am so OLD. I hobble to the shower in hopes of things loosening up. It might have helped. Everyone else is feeling okay. We get to Capitol South by 8:10. Man, we could have slept another 1/2 hour!!!! Oh well, better to be early than late. We walk around a little then went into the Cannon Building where our representative's office is. We met up with some other Ohio peeps and started the tour. This was everyone's favorite part. The pictures speak for themselves. The Rotunda was probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. (I don't get out much compared to some of you world travelers;-)) our tour guide was great and shared lots of good info.

My biggest regret is not going to the Library of Congress that was nearby. :angry: I hear it is more beautiful.

We got back on the Metro and went back to the mall. We went in the castle and back into the gardens there. It was so nice to see the flowers and other signs of spring. Soooo pretty. We walked down to the air and space museum after that. The american history museum was closed for renovation. Big bummer cause both kids are studying the revolutionary war right now. They did have a few items displayed in part of the air and space tho. I really liked it and wanted to see more. :angry: The air and space was just so so for me and Sam. They boys liked it. Dylan especially liked his astronaut ice cream. ( tasted like lucky charms to me) And again, it was packed.

We hopped on the metro again and headed for Union Station. This was around rush hour I think. It was so crowded on the metro that when it was time for our stop...Mr OL got off but we didn't! People wouldn't let us through. Mr OL had his arm in the door like it would open for him. LOLOL I told him to go! We'd catch up with him...I knew what to do. Good thing we didn't need our metro card b/c he always carried them in his wallet for us. We got off on the next stop crossed to the other side and waited for the next ride back. 20 minutes later we arrived. A little adventure never hurt anyone.

We started to eat at a Pizzaria Uno at Union Station and ended up walking out. The table was sticky and the menus were sticky and we just decided we didn't want to eat there. We ate at a nice restuarant in the middle ..can't remember the name but I had a seafood/linguini dish. It was okay...nothing to write home about. After dinner we went to the National Postal Museum right next door. You know we couldn't miss this since Mr OL works for the USPS. I mentioned before we were geeks now you know for sure. We looked around, made our own postcards and mailed them, looked at rare stamps, visited the gift shop and bought some for my step dad who is a collector. A neat store really. This is where Dylan also picked up his "bag of money" since we didn't get to see the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.

We headed back to the airport and on this day the shuttle was close to being on time. We fell into bed again.

Thursday...we plan on taking this day a little slower. Sleeping in was a must. I'm still hobbling but fight through the pain. I'm strong like that.

The National Archives was a priority of the day. We took the Metro to the Archive/Gallery stop and walked around the Navy memorial that is right there. Very pretty and cool. We then walked around the archive building to the entrance. There was a line out the door...a really long line. It was about noonish and we thought it might be less crowded later so we left and went to the National Portrait Gallery. Pretty cool but in retrospect we should have gone to the Library of Congress. Oh well. We saw the Hall of Presidents, some very old portraits, Katherine Hepburn memoriabilia, and talking trash cans. Maybe the highlight of the museum. LOL Sam and I discovered them first and had funn watching Dylan throw something away for the first time..yes, we are easily amused.

We did see the spy museum close but didn't make it this trip. At least there's things left to do when we go back. I'd love to go back in the early summer sometime.

By the time we got back to the national Archives there was still a line! It was about 4:40 I think. The museum was open until 7:30. You had to be at a certain point before 6:30 or they would not let you in. The slow down in all the museums is going through security. It seemed the most serious here. We waited in line for maybe an hour if that. Once we got in, it wasn't crowded at all. We looked at several things and then headed toward the rotunda where the Charters of Freedom are on display. It is dim and the documents are bookended with armed guards. Visions from National Treasure are running through my mind. We had to watch the movie again when we got home.

Off to the metro then to the airport. It was 8pm when we arrived. Our shuttle ended up coming at 9:20 to pick us up. Curses again! We could have stayed and done the night tour if we would have known. We were just so tired and were planning on seeing Arlington Cemetery the next morning. We did get free breakfast at the hotel out of it. Mr OL NEVER complains about anything. He went down and talked to the manager after we got home. At the airport we watched several shuttles go by like 3 times. There was just no excuse. We find out later...they took a break. :roll:

Wonderful trip report & pics! Thanks for sharing. You were busy! I am exhausted just reading this. I think you need another vacation to just relax.