Washington Pt1

Well we've been back a while, and the regular reader (who accompanied me...) is complaining.

So after unpacking the car of AGM stuff, we started to pack the bags of holiday stuff. An easy run up by coach to heathrow and we got on the coach with wings! It was the first time I'd been on BA (heck a scheduled airline) for years so it was nice to have all the trappings of a non-budget airline (multi-channel video, Alcohol, vaguely better meals!).

We arrived at DC, when on the wierd Mobile Lounge (it wouldn't look out of place in a 70s Sci fi movie). Then stood in the queue for imigration and finger scans ... I'd forgotton how long it takes to get into the US!!! So we finally arrived in Downtown and the YH just before bedtime...

Tuesday morning, and the jet lag meant an early wake up before we had a bit of breakfast and hunted out the Smithsonian which would form most of our amusement. Then spent the day in the Air & Space. Its the largest of the smithsonian's on The Mall, and the one that held most interest for us. The food shopping for self catering supplies afterwards.

Wednesday and we used the jet lag to good effect by getting down to the Washington Monument to 'stand in line' and got our free tickets up (you need to get there before the booth opens to get tickets as the queue is long!). So as they were lunchtime we used the morning to see all the memorials along the reflecting pool. I think of the ones we visited the Korean War Memorial touched me the most. The Vietnam is well known, but didn't stir emotion as much as the cast men walking as if in the war with the ponchos and packs of the Korean. We also saw Lincoln & WWII.

Then after the amazing views from the Washington Monument, which is an ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) National Historical Civil Engineering Landmark. Can we have some of those in the UK?

After all the heights (its just taller than Spinnaker Tower) of the Monument, we headed to the second Smithsonian, National Museum of the Native American. Its the newest one on The Mall, and my favourite of the buildings. It was an interesting museum covering First Nations (which is the term the Canadians use, and I prefer) of both the US along with Canada and South America.

... more in the next installment