They say that a trip of 19,000 steps begins with one step. They would be correct. On July 8th, I hitched up my left footed Richie brace and headed out with my long legged hubby to explore our nation's capital. I ended the day having made over 19,000 steps. But not without complaining that my feet hurt.
We began the morning trying to drive into Alexandria for breakfast. It turned out that although our hotel had free parking, was near a Metro station, and was helpful in many respects, it did not offer free breakfast. We were on the wrong side of the tracks to get to Alexandria without taking a major road, so we gave up and decided to head to DC on the Metro (subway). We bought an unlimited pass. I suggested that Union Station would be a good place to get breakfast before our first appointment for the day. We ate breakfast at McDonalds at Union Station, the first of many meals we ate in the food court there.
After breakfast we set out for the Capitol. I had booked us a tour. It was sad to see the Washington Monument cloaked in scaffolding. The earthquake that caused all the problems happened weeks after I was in DC a couple of years ago.
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We had a 10:30 tour booked. I had been under the impression that unless a tour was booked, we could forget seeing the Capitol. But they had plenty of walk up spaces without much of a wait.
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We began the morning trying to drive into Alexandria for breakfast. It turned out that although our hotel had free parking, was near a Metro station, and was helpful in many respects, it did not offer free breakfast. We were on the wrong side of the tracks to get to Alexandria without taking a major road, so we gave up and decided to head to DC on the Metro (subway). We bought an unlimited pass. I suggested that Union Station would be a good place to get breakfast before our first appointment for the day. We ate breakfast at McDonalds at Union Station, the first of many meals we ate in the food court there.
After breakfast we set out for the Capitol. I had booked us a tour. It was sad to see the Washington Monument cloaked in scaffolding. The earthquake that caused all the problems happened weeks after I was in DC a couple of years ago.
At night they light it up like a piece of artwork.
We had a 10:30 tour booked. I had been under the impression that unless a tour was booked, we could forget seeing the Capitol. But they had plenty of walk up spaces without much of a wait.
The security at the Capitol was the toughest of anywhere. No food, no liquids, no sharp objects. This is the crypt and that white spot is the center from which all of Washington goes out. This crypt was made so that George Washington could be buried here, but he apparently didn't want to be here because in his will he put that he wanted to be buried at Mt. Vernon.
There are statues all over the Capitol. Each state gets to donate 2 and then Presidents can be another and then some special groups have also donated some. I was happy to see the man from Springfield. It was nice to see a familiar face down in the crypt. I grew up in the Land of Lincoln.
Up above in the rotunda was crowded and busy. I last saw this when I was a kid, I think.
Looking up at the dome.
Here was my friend from Springfield up in the rotunda too. It was a Lincoln kind of day.
After the rotunda we went into statuary hall. This was formerly one of the houses of Congress.
With all those grown up serious statues, it was nice to see this little girl from Alabama. I have been to her house and have seen that well. Helen Keller looks so sweet in this bronze.
I recognized my Hawaiian friend, King Kamehameha. I wondered if Father Damien was still the second statue or if he had been replaced by someone else. I remembered seeing Father Damien in the Capitol sometime when I was here.
We left the Capitol walking back to Union Station for our next appointment, after lunch. The reason why they call it Capitol Hill is the Capitol is situated on a hill that can be seen from all over the city.
This was the first fat squirrel of the day.
Here we are back at Union Station. In case you didn't know, as I didn't before my last visit, Union Station has a huge food court with all kinds of places to eat. You could eat there for a week and not repeat a place unless you wanted to. (And we tried, although not for a week.) Trains really do still come into Union Station and the Metro has a stop. It is a short walk from the Capitol and I recommend that if you are touristing in DC, try Union Station for lunch (and breakfast and dinner...and snacks...) We had lunch at a Chinese place. It was delicious.
After lunch I had tickets for the DC Ducks. They are actual WWII amphibious landing vehicles that are used in various places to ferry tourist around. I have done the Dells Ducks and the DC Ducks before. But, my husband had never been to DC and the Ducks is a good way to see the city.
But, as our time to ride the Ducks approached, the rain came down. We could have cancelled or delayed the Ducks, but we decided to tough it out and just go.
The rain stopped just before boarding time. We went past the White House.
We went over the Potomac. That white building is the Kennedy Center.
Here is a closer look at the Kennedy Center. There are free concerts every night. But, we didn't go to any. With my sister two years ago we went to a free concert that sounded screechy like cats fighting.
Across from the Pentagon we went into the water.
It is a little freaky to be driving along in a vehicle and then just waddle into the water.
We went past the Pentagon.
I am fated to catch bad pictures of the Jefferson Memorial from the Duck. It is one monument that I have never actually been to.
We went past the Department of Agriculture.
And the FAA. Hi, brother! (He was working from home that day.)
The Capitol is the showpiece of Washington.
It demands attention.
When the flags are flying, the houses are in session. They were that day.
And one last look at the Capitol as the Duck pulled up to Union Station again.
I had intended to do the whole day in one post, but I give up. We had miles to go and another look at the White House and encounter with Mr. Lincoln before we came back to Union Station to eat and the hotel to sleep.
....to be continued....