Washington DC

Yes, we made it to DC and there was so much to see and do that we suffered from overload, I think.  But it made us proud to be an American and ponder on the sacrifices so many gave for our country and our freedom.


Smithsonian Air and Space Museum - so many people there! (Lots of school tours).  We spent a 1/2 day touring this huge museum - it stayed open until 7 PM that day, so we took advantage of the extended hours.
On Friday it was wall to wall kids and a few politicians.  The only way you could tell the difference is the politicians wore suits and ties. 

Old planes...

Newer rockets...

Washington Memorial - it's huge!

Abraham Lincoln's Memorial - very impressive and really makes you think about the great statesmen that served our country!

You'd have to be a real hard butt not to be moved by this memorial.

Again, so many people there and all very reverent - people from every state and nationality and from many foreign countries.

The White House - we learned all about it in the WH Visitors Center - we walked over there also - getting our exercise (and Don got a blister!)
The White House was interesting but I was disappointed by the care (or lack of) of the lawn.  Apparently thistles and clover have equal rights with grass.  In fact much of the National Mall area had a little bit of a "worn" feel.  I know that 9/11 changed how tourism is done in DC but you'd think that by now they could have come up with a plan that didn't involve portable cement barriers that look like they were salvaged from a road construction project.  After all this place draws millions of visitors a year from all over the world.    On a more positive note, all the Smithsonian Museums were fantastic as were the memorials.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

We stayed an extra day and biked to the Smithsonian Museum of American History.  This is the Transportation section.  I enjoyed the display of the First Ladies gowns and the inside stories of the White House over the years.  Being our age, we recognize many of the former Presidents, back to Eisenhower  and Truman.

Our marina, Capital Yacht Club, Est. in the late 1800's, was close to the National Mall and most of the memorials.  Just 1/2 block away was this unique fish market, where we got crab legs one night (delicious!) and there was always a traffic jam there in the afternoon and evening of people getting their fish.

This is Mt.Vernon, George Washington's home.  A very impressive home and farm!

George and Martha Washington's Tomb

They charge $2 a foot to tie up at the George Washington dock so we anchored and took the dingy in. 

And we're back on the water again..The osprey are making nests in all the waterway markers and just sitting there watching us go by as they remain on their eggs in the nests.

We're behind on our blog.  We're writing this while sitting in Starbucks in Annapolis, home of the U.S. Navel Academy.  That's another blog next time...

Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend - take some time to be thankful for our freedom and our Great Country!