Day 10: Washington D.C.

Today was the first time in ten days that we didn’t have to be anywhere. We were so exhausted that we actually got to sleep in until 9:00am. We got dressed and moseyed down to the Cinnabar for breakfast. It seems everyone in D.C. is very health conscious. After we ate we went back to our room to decide where we wanted to go. We would’ve liked to go back and see things in the National Archives and the National Gallery of Art, or to have returned to the Smithsonian but we were too exhausted so we settled for a nap instead.

Around 1:30 we woke up and tried to find a place to eat for under $40. The doorman was kind enough to direct us to a 1950’s diner that was within walking distance. Lunch cost us only $25. Yeouch!

After lunch we walked back to our room to read more books, discuss the Amish some more and eventually decided to retire for the night. We ordered Domino’s and had it delivered. Somewhere around sunset the wind and rain started up and it was quite severe. It rattled the windows and we could hear it whistling around the corners of the building like some angry demon trying to get in. Top all of that off with humidity and we were ready to leave Washington D.C.

Day 9: Arlington National Cemetary, The White House, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, FDR Memorial,

Today we hit the ground running again, 6:30am breakfast, departure 7:00am.

Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery. Here we viewed the gravesites of several heads of state, dignitaries and heroes. Our tour guide, Larry, took us on an excellent walking tour of the grounds and we saw the changing of the guards, which I know had a lot to do with ceremony, pomp & circumstance but some of the animation seemed almost comical. Still I understand the premise behind it all and the respect the 8000 unknown soldiers deserved. The wreath laying ceremony was very emotional for me and I cried at that. Larry told us that during the day the guards weapons are unloaded but that they are allowed to use deadly force if need be, however, at night they are in fatigues and armed because people have defaced the tomb with red paint, If you can believe that.

We saw the exterior of Arlington House (General Robert E. Lee’s old home), the Kennedy grave sites, there are four by the eternal flame, a baby girl they never named, a son that only lived two weeks, Jacquelyn Kennedy and John F. Kennedy. It is a beautiful gravesite and I believe he was a great man who inspired many in this country, but in the light of the honored dead that also gave their lives it seems a bit ostentatious . RFK’s site was more dignified and appropriate. We also saw the gravesites for Joe Louis and Lee Marvin. Next on the list was the Women’s War Memorial (see pics).

After Arlington we drove to the south lawn of the White House for a photo and to see the visitor’s center. It was a sad substitute for us especially when we came so far to see it. Then it was on to the Korean War Memorial, and Vietnam War Memorial also known as The Wall. Someone on the tour actually got a rubbing of someone they knew. There was a David Cutshall but no Berntson’s were there. I couldn’t help but cry when I saw the vast number of names that were snuffed out during that horrible war. They are building a new memorial at the wall for all the soldiers who died because of Agent Orange. Wanda said that if it were similar to The Wall it would have at least as many names probably more. After this somber moment we saw Embassy Row, the National Cathedral (outside only) and then the FDR Memorial which I found both beautiful and profound. His words still echo as true today as they did during his presidency. After this last memorial we dropped off Larry and headed back to the Hyatt Regency Chystal Hotel to freshen up for dinner at Tivoli’s and to say our good-byes to everyone on the tour.

Day 8: Mount Vernon, Washington D.C., Smithsonian

This morning we visited the beloved home of the 1st President of the United States, General George Washington, when we had time to explore his estate, Mount Vernon, and the beautiful plantation grounds he so adored. On the way there Wanda put in a DVD called The Crossing. It was about General Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River. I bought a copy in the gift shop.
Later, we arrived in D.C. to spend only 3 hours at the Smithsonian Institute which barely gave us time to scratch the surface of this incredible museum. In the 3 hours we had left to us we managed to see the Air and Space Museum only to discover that it wasn’t the one we wanted. The one we wanted to see housed the Space Shuttle, and the Enola Gay but it was 30 minutes away near Dulles Airport. So, we looked in on the Museum of Natural History and saw the Hope Diamond (we were not impressed), the jacket Harrison Ford wore in the Indiana Jones movies. We didn’t have time to stop and see the Library of Congress or the National Archives where the Declaration of Independence is kept. We hope we have enough time to come back and see some more tomorrow. Unfortunately, due to 9/11 the White House was not open for tours as was many of our nations’ famous buildings in D.C. We could however walk in front of it and view it from the street. Eric and I decided to sit on a park bench and eat hotdogs. Ironically our next tour stop was to get some lunch. Wanda took us to the Kennedy Theater where we ate a sandwich, salad, and drink for about $50. It was unimpressive and overly priced.
Tonight we went out to dinner and then took a twilight tour of Washington’s famous monuments and memorials including those dedicated to Jefferson, Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and Iwo Jima and others.