Washington DC

By the time we got to DC today we wouldn't have had much time to visit any of the museums so we thought it best to get all of the sight-seeing done today. After checking into our hotel we walked down to the metro station. We studied the map debating the best route to take, it was pretty complicated! Ten minutes later, thinking we had it figured out, we hopped on a line heading into downtown.  Exiting the station we realized the stop was not as close as anticipated to the National Mall.  My impatience got the better of me while Dustin was deciphering the map and I decided to figure it out myself, hopping to find signs pointing us in the right direction. We walked almost eight blocks before Dustin pointed out that I had taken us the wrong way.  He got a pretty good laugh at my expense!  He loves it when I'm wrong :) I then decided to relinquishing my map rights  for the rest of our trip.  

The Capitol building was the first stop.  I immediately began to sing, "Oh I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill, and I got as far as Capitol Hill..." (I wonder how many other awesome-minded people do the same thing.)

Our second stop was the Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle). What a disappointment! The outside promises exhibits of wonders inside. Sadly, that is not the case. The Castle was mostly filled sweaty tourists sitting around avoiding the heat. On our way to the Washington Monument we stopped into the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to escape the heat ourselves.

The Spirit of St. Louis. Flown solo by Charles Lindbergh, was the first monoplane to make the transatlantic non-stop trip from New York to Paris in 1927.

The 1903 Wright Flyer.  To see the actual instruments, documented experimentation and research and its outcome in person was remarkable!  Dustin of course was very interested in the engineering studying every hands on display in the exhibit.

                         

The Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle. "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"

HML/A 167 representing in the Smithsonian!

The Washington Monument was our next stop.  We gave our feet a break laying in the lawn while admiring this grand phallic structure and taking silly pictures.  

Vietnam Memorial.  What can you say about this piece that hasn't already been said? This picture of course does it no justice.  Something everyone should not just see but examine. 

On a lighter note, here is good ole Abe! So many people here that we literally walked up, took a picture and walked down.  I was going to take a picture of the reflecting pool but I just seemed to catch photos of people who walked in front of me.  Egh!  The water was super green with algae anyway.

ALBERT! My main man! After a long day of walking I almost opted out of going to see this fella but knowing that we would be down that far again, I sucked it up.  Im so glad I did!  Look at this guy!