A Soggy Nation's Capitol...

Cherry Hill RV Park

We checked into the Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park, MD Wednesday and are looking forward to touring the DC area.  George has been here many times so he will be the perfect tour guide.  We sat down last night with brochures in hand, taking the forecast into consideration, and made plans for the next two days.  We purchased 2-day tickets online from the Big Bus Tour Company.  This is one of many  "hop on/hop off" buses where, you guessed it, you can "hop on and hop off" at any stop on the tour.  

There are 3 tours, the RED which encompasses most of the museums, some memorials plus the Capitol Building and the White House.  The BLUE tour loops around the Tidal Basin and Potomac River taking in the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, WWII Memorial and the Holocaust Museum.  The YELLOW loop covers Georgetown and everything north of The White House.

The Capitol

So, on this rainy Thursday, we donned our raingear, took the Metro into Union Station and choose the RED loop for today.  First stop was the Capitol Building and Botanical Garden, then the American Indian Museum. 


Next was the Air and Space Museum where we "hopped off" to check this one out.  The line was quite long but under cover so no big deal, right?  So glad we did as it didn't disappoint.  Saw the Spirit of St Louis, the Apollo II capsule, the Lunar Rover and much more.





We also went to the IMAX Theatre to watch "Journey to Space" in 3D.  "Hopped back on" the Big Bus to finish the remaining 18 stops on the RED loop.  The museums we wanted to visit had long lines which were outside in the rain so we decided to hold off until tomorrow when the weather is supposed to improve.

Washington Monument

The weather was definitely better on Friday.  It was still cloudy but at least no rain so today we got off the bus and walked around the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; then caught the BLUE loop  around the tidal basin, past the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, over the George Mason Memorial Bridge which spans across the Potomac.  We drove passed the Pentagon and you just can't imagine how HUGE it is until you see it in person. 




Next stop - Arlington National Cemetery.  We walked up the long hill to the JFK burial site and, the closer we moved toward the eternal flame, there was a serene quietness amongst the people.  When it was our turn to walk up to the gravesite, my emotions got the better of me and tears came to my eyes.  My thoughts turned to that day back in 1963.  I was 17 years old, standing at a store front window in downtown Chattanooga, alongside strangers, starring in awe at what was happening on the television in the window.  It didn't seem real...innocence lost and the unthinkable had happened.  Now, here I am, years reversed (I'm now 71) experiencing similar emotions which made me wonder what if....what if this great man had lived, what great things would he have done, how would our lives have changed.  So many thoughts...so many tears, so many years ago.  I wasn't prepared for such an emotional experience, however, George warned me as I was also overcome with tears when we visited Gettysburg several years ago.




Just as heartbreaking, a few yards away, was the lone gravesite of Bobby Kennedy, the lone gravesite of Edward Kennedy and the lone gravesite of Joe, Jr.  It just doesn't seem fair that one family should have had to endure this much tragedy. 






Navy Band




Naval Funeral of a fallen soldier

We then walked toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and, along the way, encountered a full blown Naval funeral complete with a band, followed by a horse-drawn carriage transporting the flag draped coffin of a fallen soldier.  Navy cadets and family members were walking behind the carriage.  What a moving event adding more drama to an already emotional day.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Finally making it to the top of the hill, we witnessed the "changing of the guard" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Honestly, this is the most amazing place and I'm just in awe looking north, south, east and west as perfectly aligned gravestones span in all directions.  Visiting Arlington National Cemetery is a MUST SEE and by far the most meaningful place I've experienced.