Washington DC....our nation's capital, hence much history to explore- in addition to explore nosotros did! Matt spent the entire calendar month of May working inwards DC, hence the girls in addition to I tagged along for the in conclusion ii weeks. Unfortunately, Matt worked most of our stay, but the girls in addition to I got later on the sight-seeing. We walked for miles every twenty-four hours (80 miles over the ii weeks, to endure exact!) in addition to this metropolis daughter loved every infinitesimal of it!
Ahhh, dorsum inwards a large city. Living inwards Alaska, I oftentimes mean value of the neat scene inwards the Parent Trap where the twins play a joke on Vicki inwards to camping ground with them. Vicki had simply been sabotaged for the in conclusion fourth dimension in addition to runs away yelling "Get me out of this stinkin' fresh air," which is precisely how I experience sometimes. So nosotros stopped on this street corner to accept some deep breaths of exhaust, pollution, restaurants in addition to all the delightful smells of a city. Here are a few of our highlights from a real memorable ii weeks....
The Pentagon
We were hence fortunate to have got our ain individual tour of the Pentagon. This identify is massive! There are over seventeen miles of corridors, well-nigh xxx restaurants, a large gym, convenience stores, etc. Not to advert well-nigh 30,000 employees!
Our expert friend Chaplain Mansberger position upward our tour with his friend/historian in addition to nosotros enjoyed every moment! We were stationed with Chaplain inwards Albuquerque, as good as Japan, in addition to it was hence expert to pick out grip of up.
Outside, the 9/11 Memorial Garden was beautiful identify for reflection in addition to reverence.
Memorials
There simply mightiness endure to a greater extent than memorials inwards DC than inwards whatever other metropolis around. I mean value nosotros saw them all, in addition to and hence some! One of my favorites, in addition to an icon landmark, is the Washington Monument, in addition to it is also the tallest rock construction inwards the globe at 554 feet.
The World War II Memorial was a beautiful in addition to peaceful identify to sit down in addition to ponder. We followed the path of the pacific state of war from Pearl Harbor to Japan.
Speaking of World War II, nosotros saw many vets to a greater extent than or less the mall that day, but when I saw that this human being was a WWII vet, nosotros simply had to encounter him. When the armistice to terminate the state of war was signed, he was on a send somewhere betwixt Hawaii in addition to the Philippines. He in addition to hence went on to endure stationed at Yokota Air Base, simply as nosotros had, in addition to he worked at the Dai Ichi edifice inwards Tokyo inwards an component straight to a higher identify General MacArthur! He was 96 years quondam in addition to was as abrupt in addition to spry as could endure (he walked the surface area piece most other vets, much younger than him, used bike chairs). It was an accolade to encounter this human being in addition to give thank you lot him for his service.
The ghost-like character of the Korean War Memorial,
in addition to the seemingly never-ending listing of names at the Vietnam Memorial. We visited both Vietnam and South Korea during our fourth dimension inwards Asia, hence it was expert for the girls to regard these memorials in addition to call back the terms of freedom.
Squinting in addition to walking towards the Lincoln Memorial.
Inside the memorial, I began reading the words of the Gettysburg Address aloud to the girls. Near the terminate of the speech, where it states "that nosotros hither highly resolve that these dead shall non have got died inwards vain," I started crying. I couldn't read those divinely-inspired, beautiful words without becoming quite choked upward with emotion. So at that topographic point I was, a crying mess inwards the memorial gathering lots of curious looks from bystanders (including my girls!), but that's okay.
I pulled myself together for a selfie with the President. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 wise in addition to godly man.
Discussing the New Deal in addition to the Great Depression at the FDR Memorial.
And hangin' out with the honorable Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Even though nosotros are an Air Force family, nosotros paid our respects at the Navy Memorial... simply this once!
We loved this Japanese lantern, whose twin sits inwards Tokyo's Ueno Park which nosotros have got visited many times. Nippon donated all of the beautiful cherry trees as a gift to the city, as well. I would honey to see Washington during sakura (cherry blossom) season. Bucket listing item for sure!
Paying our respects to President Thomas Jefferson, the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence.
"We grip these truths to endure self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed past times their Creator with for sure unalienable rights, that alongside these are Life, Liberty in addition to the pursuit of Happiness."
Museums
We spent almost all twenty-four hours of every twenty-four hours inwards some sort of museum. We learned LOTS of history, to a greater extent than than nosotros volition ever remember! (Almost everything nosotros did was free, too!) We were non able to accept the White House tour, because our trip was fairly curt notice. If you're planning a trip to DC, it's recommended to apply for a White House tour 6 months inwards advance! Next time.
Learning all things infinite in addition to flying at the Smithsonian Air in addition to Space Museum.
Paying our respects at the sobering but necessary Halocaust Memorial Museum.
Soaking upward a fiddling 'Gay Paree' at the outdoor Sculpture Garden.
Sizing upward our get-go President at the Museum of American History.
Exploring all things scientific discipline at the Natural History Museum.
Appreciating the wisdom of our Founding Fathers at the National Archives in addition to seeing the of import documents firsthand was awe inspiring!
Pal-ing to a greater extent than or less with Vincent Van Gogh at the National Gallery of Art.
Brushing upward on conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln, at Ford's Theatre.
And crossing the street to the lowly Peterson House where our neat President took his in conclusion breath on Apr 15, 1865.
Discovering what stacks of 6.4 million dollars, inwards sheets of xx dollar bills, looks similar at the Bureau of Engraving in addition to Printing. (PS- the $2 neb is yet inwards circulation. Please accept yours out of your drawer in addition to pass it. They are non rare, they solely seem to endure because everyone saves them. So, if nosotros all simply pass them, to a greater extent than volition endure made.)
Crawling through an air duct, a la James Bond, at the real fun in addition to interactive International Spy Museum. Ella was peculiarly intrigued in addition to spent the residue of the twenty-four hours guessing who was inwards disguise on the metropolis streets. She also mused that our household unit of measurement would endure real inconspicuous under-cover agents. I agree!
People-watching inwards the historic Union Station, in addition to watching the morning time commuters curlicue in.
Taking a fourth dimension out for dejeuner on the National Mall on a gorgeous day.
Speaking of lunch, you lot know you've lived overseas (or inwards Alaska), besides long when you'll become to neat lengths to rail downwards a Chick-fil-A. It was several subway scheme stops out of our way, but hence worth it!
Checking out the elegant beauty of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts which holds over 2,000 performances annually inwards several dissimilar theaters. Next time!
Taking inwards the royal gothic beauty of the National Cathedral.
And a breathtaking thought from the top!
Friends
One of the perks of military machine life is having friends all over the globe, in addition to DC was no exception. Wayne in addition to Darci, along with my sis Erica, lined Matt in addition to I upward on a blind appointment 16 years ago. And the rest, as they say, is history. Thanks guys!
And the Blau household unit of measurement were expert friends in addition to neighbors inwards Japan. It was hence fun to pick out grip of up, in addition to the kids picked upward correct where they left off a twelvemonth ago.
US Capitol
No see to Washington DC would endure consummate without a tour of the USA Capitol building. We contacted our province Senator, in addition to were booked for an "almost" individual tour.
We fifty-fifty got to ride the special undercover senator's develop to acquire to the primary capitol building.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 replica of the Statue of Freedom, located at the real top of the building. I had no thought this statue existed!
And the intricate particular of the dome, both inside,
in addition to out.
The actual rotunda itself is ever awe inspiring.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 selfie can't create it justice!
The master Supreme Court Gallery.
Ike in addition to Eva. (**side note- Eisenhower specifically requested to endure memorialized inwards his Army uniform in addition to painted green. He is the solely light-green statue inwards the hall.) Our large excitement inwards the Hall of Statues was seeing Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, walk past times twice, surrounded past times quite an entourage.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 beautiful building, within in addition to out.
Mount Vernon
The abode of George Washington was the highlight of this trip for everyone.
The gardens were simply as lovely as the abode itself.
Washington's thought from the dorsum porch remains unobstructed to this day.
The in conclusion resting identify of a neat man.
Etched into the walls of the mausoleum were the initials of many Union soldiers who passed through the surface area during the Civil War. I enjoyed reading them in addition to wondered well-nigh the life of A.R., who is forever remembered here, as well.
The girls were enamored with the farm animals,
in addition to nosotros learned to a greater extent than well-nigh life inwards early on America.
Washington also owned a manufacturing flora in addition to whiskey distillery, which have got been restored, in addition to are operating today using the master recipe in addition to method. You tin fifty-fifty purchase a bottle of Mount Vernon whiskey for $95 inwards the gift shop. We passed.
Arlington Cemetery in addition to Trump himself
We were lucky plenty to see Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, in addition to seeing the decorated graves did non disappoint.
We parked at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, which is following to the cemetery, in addition to I savage inwards honey with the base of operations housing. The homes looked EXACTLY similar the abode nosotros lived inwards piece stationed at F.E. Warren inwards Cheyenne, Wyoming.
This was our abode inwards Cheyenne. Practically identical! Government housing had much to a greater extent than flair inwards the belatedly 1800's than it does now!
We were hoping to regard President Trump lay the memorial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Security was tight in addition to lines were long, but nosotros were admitted inwards in addition to headed to the tomb simply inwards fourth dimension for the changing of the guard.
We waited in addition to waited, but finally the annunciation was made. President Trump had arrived! Luckily the girls ended upward inwards the front end in addition to had a expert view. Matt had a expert view, as well.
This was my view. Oh well.
And the wreath, when all was said in addition to done.
The large error of the day? Had nosotros chosen to sit down inwards the following ampitheater, nosotros would have got heard Trump, VP Pence, in addition to General Mattis speak. Instead, as before long as the wreath was laid, nosotros were rapidly escorted out of the surface area in addition to could non fifty-fifty stand upward to a greater extent than or less to remove heed the speeches.
So close! We volition know meliorate following time.
John F. Kennedy's grave.
And as as important, are the almost 5,000 unknown soldiers buried at Arlington, as well.
Random wandering- my favorite
My favorite affair to create is randomly explore a metropolis with no position agenda. Though our stride was fast in addition to furious at times, nosotros left plenty of fourth dimension for wandering. On Memorial Day, piece strolling the National Mall, nosotros happened upon marching bands from all over the province practicing for the upcoming parade. Loved this!
And nosotros caught some of the parade too. Crowds were surprisingly depression in addition to nosotros walked correct upward front end in addition to watched.
Roaming the streets, in addition to falling inwards honey with, Old Town Alexandria. My type of outing, for sure!
Coming from Alaska, nosotros joked well-nigh seeing wild animals inwards the city. As it turns out, the joke was on us!
On our walk to the National Cathedral, nosotros flora ourselves inwards the Cleveland Park Historic District, in addition to savage inwards honey immediately. The homes were motion-picture demo perfect in addition to nosotros all enjoyed choosing our favorite.
This was a globe real dissimilar from our own; a life of gardeners, cooks in addition to housekeepers. We all had fun daydreaming. And this abode was my personal favorite. It's solely well-nigh 8 1000000 dollars, give or take.
While perusing Chinatown,
nosotros tried some egg tarts (our favorite Asian treat),
in addition to the girls had much discourse as to the authenticity of the dumplings.
One twenty-four hours nosotros unexpectedly happened upon a fiddling identify called Watergate in addition to had an impromptu history lesson.
Watergate also began the purpose of the suffix 'gate' to refer to anything scandalous; (ie; Monicagate, Deflategate, at that topographic point are LOTS, etc.) I mean value my explanation of this clever play on words was lost on the girls at this point. Someday.
*****
Whew! And with that, our fourth dimension inwards Washington DC came to an end. Eighty miles logged, in addition to to a greater extent than memorials in addition to museums than nosotros could count. What a neat American city, definitely i of my favorites! We loved every 2nd in addition to can't hold off to return. But first, dorsum to the Last Frontier in addition to the "stinkin' fresh air".
When nosotros got off the airplane nosotros took a deep breath in addition to the air was crisp, create clean and.....fresh. Quite refreshing, actually. Could it endure that this metropolis daughter is changing her ways? Only fourth dimension volition tell.....
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