Washington DC and Cathedral

Washington DC – the White House and other significant sites

Arriving Monday night, 21^st July in Rockville, Maryland was exciting – to see Glenda and Clyde. There was Glenda looking so pretty and so well!! Although, Glenda is still working through some debilitating issues as a result of diabetes and coping with kidney failure, it is wonderful to see the progress she is making. Clyde is a wonderful support while also carrying a responsible job in the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Glenda was an exchange student through AFS and lived with us in 1982, returning for a visit in 1992 and 2002. We enjoyed their hospitality. Glenda’s mother, Ardith and her husband were there, too.

Tuesday, Ian and I spent the day at the Smithsonian Museums – Air and Space Museum and the Museum of the American Indian. These museums are on the National Mall and are surrounded by the Botanical Gardens. Beautiful layout. Ian has written on that visit. The next day, Wednesday we hired a guide and drove around the centre.

It is so easy to write that but it leaves out negotiating the metro, arriving early, buying coffee and finding the `loo’ in Union Station which is entertainment in itself. We meet our guide, Dillon at the Freedom Bell and wait while he gets the car, watching the world being dropped off and picked up.

We are then off down Pennsylvania Ave and there it is – the White House. We stopped and walked down towards it – cameras clicking. Now if you don’t follow politics and how it all interacts you may wonder why I was so eager to see it. Two years ago, Karin gave us a complete set of `West Wing’ –DVDs. This sitcom is set in the White House, I love it. Played each episode 3 times with subtitles. We heard how the White House was the first building in Washington. George Washington appointed the architect for the city.The White House design is based on manor houses in England, France and Ireland. In 1812 the British burned the city down including the White House. It was rebuilt and painted white and became known as the White House. We saw the marine guarding the oval office door which indicated that the President was at home working.

The Korea War Veterans Memorial was next. We loved this with its life size soldier figures and granite wall etched with photos of war/serviceman personnel. Why they needed a memorial when `Mash’ is played on TV somewhere around the world everyday?????

The WW2 memorial is new and is set between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Memorial but cleverly does not interrupt the vista from LM and the Washington memorial. The wall of 4048 gold stars represents the 400,000 who died fighting in this war.

The Vietnam Memorial is impressive with its black polished marble V shaped wall etched with all who died in the Vietnam War.

And of course the Lincoln Memorial – Abraham Lincoln enshrined in the hearts of the American people. The design is based on the Pantheon in Greece . We read the Gettesburg address engraved on one wall. Twelve hours to travel on the train from Washington to Gettesburg , during which AL wrote the address and 2 minutes to deliver it. The content of which is known by most Americans. Again a privilege to have seen the memorial and all it symbolises.

In the afternoon, by the time we wandered past the Washington Monument, took a wrong turn and found the Dept of Commerce instead of the American History Museum, righted the direction, spent sometime looking at displays we were ready to called it a day. Being very tired in the legs we were so pleased to find a `tricycle’ to ride on, back to the nearest metro station –home again to Glenda and Clyde’s.

Friday, we went our separate ways, Ian to the Dulles airport and the Aero Space museum and Ardith, Richard and I to the National Cathedral. The tour guide was entertaining and one is in awe of the Gothic design. The size of the columns and arches and length of the cathedral is amazing. Loved the leadlight windows – such an intense blue features in each window. One window is dedicated to the astronauts – space, earth, moon and centred by a piece of moon rock. Beautiful modern design. The cost was covered by the Director of NASA from his speaking fees in dedication to all the brave astronauts. Admired the marble carvings on pulpit and screen behind the altar and on the Indiana sandstone that the building is built of. We were informed by the guide of the damage caused by the 2011 earthquake. It will take 22 million dollars to repair the damage. After viewing the scene and cathedral from the 8^th floor, we wandered in the gardens – beautiful and peaceful. Sitting in the gazebo we enjoyed the gardens and the cathedral framed in the arch windows. We loved our day out.

Enjoyed a restaurant meal, one night and Brunch on Saturday with Glenda and Clyde, Ardith and Richard. Thank you all for such an enjoyable stay. And then off to Spotsylvania.!!!!!!