Gary-Summer: March 24, 2023

Friday, March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023 - Washington DC

Title: March 24, 2023 - Washington DC

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Tourist

Walking: 3.2 miles

Description:

General Puraski

It is raining here in DC this morning. I do not think that our outdoor activities are going to happen. So we might try a few indoor things like museums. I did get up at 8am to see if we could get tickets for the Holocaust Museum, but I do not see any availability. I guess I am still tired after 9 hours of sleep as I flop on the couch, waiting for Sherri to get up.

This will allow us to have a relaxing morning with pancakes for breakfast. Then we will figure out which museums to see today. We work through a list and come up with a short list of places which we have not been too yet:

We head off to our now favorite Metro Station: NoMa. We take it to the Metro Central station and climb out of the pit of the beast onto 14th Street. From there we meander towards the White House Visitor Center. Along the way, we come across a statue to Brigadier General Puraski. I think he fought with distinction in the American Revolutionary War.

World War I Mural

Before we get to the Visitor Center, we see another memorial. This is the one to the Americans-both men and women who participated and fought in World War I. This turns out to be more moving than I thought it would be. One of the criticisms of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was its simplicity and lack of celebratory aspects. But that is what made it so powerful is how understated it is. The same goes for the World War I Memorial. There is a statue of General Pershing. But this is a stark plaza. Beyond a small waterfall is a mural, which will have a bronze casting of the story of the Americans, there are bare walls and a depressed area. This leaves the words etched in stone. The starkness gives the words potency. It evicts a sense of the sacrifice and the dedication to the ideas of America. I am glad the words speak for themselves without the need to interpret.

Sherri and the White House Visitor Center

We continue on to the White House Visitor Center. I get more National Park Passport Stamps there. We spent about an hour and a half there. What impresses me is how most of the past families which have lived in the White House had a sense of awe and an understanding of the privilege they had living there. They looked at it as a means to express what was good for the people of the United States. I guess with how guarded the White House and the restrictions placed upon entry-justifiably-there is no longer a sense of the people’s house. It is good to hear how the Presidents are affected going into this place.

George and Us

As we are about to leave, Sherri meanders over into the gift shop to look around. I tag along and do not find too many things of interest. As I circle past the cashier’s counter, one of the ladies asks, can I help you? My response? My wife has tried for 46 years and has not succeeded. This starts off a ten minute gabfest of one liners between me and the three ladies there, all are cracking up. We still did not buy anything.

Emerging from the Immigration Office

We are still full from our late breakfast. So we head down to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. I am expecting it to be a somewhat linear retelling of American history. Instead it is thematic, but roughly linear within the theme.

The first exhibit we visit is what I remember about this Museum from 54 years ago: the Flag. Today, it tells the story of the Star-Spangled Banner. How the flag was sewn by a woman and how it shrank after the War of 1812 by bits of it being given away. And then comes the flag. I remember it hanging at the end of a vast auditorium. Now, it is laying on an incline. One of the signs explain that when it was taken down for renovation, it had become so fragile the curators realized it could never be hung again.

We “race” through an exhibit of home life through the ages. Race is a relative term as we do not doddle, but we do spend about 20 minutes on it.

Washington Monument

But the next two exhibits: Out of Many, One! and American Democracy were of interest. They seem to have parallel tracks of thought. How we are stronger as a nation since we are diverse and can compensate for weakness through others' strength. But there is a sub theme in there as well. We need to work through our differences rather than looking down on those who are different.

It is around 5pm when we get out of the museum. Also our bodies are tied and complaining that “we want nourishment.” But where? So far we have not found food, except for food trucks, around the mall. But we do notice there is a Panera’s a few blocks north. That is acceptable. So we travel up to where Google says it is. And there is the US Customs and Border building. What does this mean? When we double checked with Google, it says it is here. So in we go, and go through security. It looks like there is a food court down below, so down we go. We do not see Panera’s, but we spot a hamburger place doing a good business. We ordered a couple hamburgers, fries and drinks. Either our senses have been deprived or this is pretty good stuff. We do not remember what the place is called and Google is not of a lot of help. (Figured out later it is Flamers Charbroiled Hamburgers and Chicken.)

We are now feeling more energized-it is amazing how good one can feel when you get food in you. It is starting to get towards twilight and the city’s lights are coming on. So it is a good time to walk down the Mall towards the Lincoln Memorial. We stop at both the Lockkeeper’s House and Independence Island (its real name is (56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence). The lights are starting to come on and it looks amazing.We will have to hang around some night to get the full effect.

We climbed the steps tonight up to Lincoln sitting in his chair. On one level, the Lincoln Memorial is seen so much, that it is hard to be in awe. But when you enter into the presence of his gaze, I could not fail but to go silent. You realize the greatness of this man’s actions in saving the Union from remaining divided. Even as the shadows fall, the words from his Second Inaugural Address and the Gettysburg Address seem to provide their own light. After the American History Museum, this is a good way to end the day.

We find a Metro station and drop down into the pit. But I can tell I am still learning how to get around. When we get on the Red Line, after a few stations, I realize we are going the wrong way. So off we go and get onto a train going the right way. It is comforting getting back to our rooms to rest and enjoy.