DC Trip - Day 4

We're up to our final day in DC.

This day we would actually use the Metro system without our trusty guide.  Don't worry - we totally nailed it.

And we're both on our phones!

We first went the the Smithsonian on American History.  We wanted to see all the important stuff like Archie Bunker's chair

Along with Bob Dylan's jacket and Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves

and the Ruby Slippers

Not to mention all the First Lady gowns.

Michelle Obama's

We also saw the original Star Spangled Banner (the flag that flew at Fort McHenry.)  It's quite large, a funky shape, and obviously very fragile... but so cool to see a piece of history like that.  A Side Note:  My grandma's maiden name was Key and as you should know Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner.  We always said that we were related to him... but after my aunt did some digging... turns out we aren't... but I may fudge that sometimes (shh don't tell anyone)

Some other cool things we saw

Kermit the Frog and me... I'm dark, but hey, I'm there!

Some pink flamingos

The first computer model

Julia Child (hey there's mom again!)

Julia Child's kitchen

Some train and other transportation techniques

Voting posters

A really old boat that was used in the Revolutionary War (they built the walls of the museum around this sucker it's so big)

The crock pot my mom still uses

and an old stage coach wagon thing

This is about when we decided to check out the simulators they had... we paid $7 a piece to ride and let me tell you - SO NOT WORTH IT... not that exciting at all and we went on one of the "exciting" ones.

We were going to get lunch in the cafeteria there... but surprise... there was a giant line (have I mentioned the lines in DC yet?!?)

Instead we went out to a concession stand on the mall and had hot dogs for the second time of our trip.

Way back in the distance there was a demonstration regarding same sex marriages which was being reviewed by the Supreme Court while we were there.  This particular demonstration was in anti-same sex marriages... we got to hear 'Marriage is between a man and a woman' quite a few times... quite aggravating if you ask me!

After our gourmet meal we went over to the Holocaust Museum.  When we got there however we realized they had already given out all the passes for the day, so we would not be able to see it.  At the Holocaust museum they only let in a certain amount of people to keep it more quiet and introspective... but it was a bummer we missed out!  That's something to do differently... we should have gone there first and then to the American History museum... total bummer!

When we realized that was a bust we decided to head over in the direction of the White House, Ford's Theater and where I thought might be a Souvenir shop.  We kept seeing all these teenagers (on spring break) with these really cute DC hoodies in lots of different colors, but could not figure out where they had gotten them. 

On our way in that direction we got stopped at an intersection close to the White House and a motorcade came through.  They had police in the street (later realized it was Secret Service) and had traffic blocked in all directions including pedestrian traffic.  Then several police on motorcycles, two or three black SUVs and a limo came through.  Once the motorcade was through the intersection all the police disappeared and everything just continued on it's way.  It was quite exciting to experience!

Maybe it was the President?!?

If we wanted to see the White House we realize now we should have done things differently (such a learning curve with DC huh?) but I did find where people were getting the hoodies - so that was a win.  (see the white vans/trucks in the pic above... that's where!)

We walked over to Ford's Theater... and what did we find?

If you guessed line you'd be correct!

It was another one of those enter the line when your ticket says this time sort of thing... so annoying.  We decided to head back to the metro and make our way back to Keith's... which we did perfectly!

That night when Keith got home we went to a local bar that has a Taco Tuesday and had that.  They were really yummy tacos (and margarita).  I would show the the pics, but are super dark.

For dessert we went to this Burmese restaurant which has a special little cake - ShweJi - which consists of cream of wheat, coconut cream, raisins, sugar, and poppy seeds.

As you can see the poppy seeds are white

Yum - ShweJi... it really was pretty good - light.

We wrapped up our trip by going back to Keith's place and playing some more Scattergories.

It was such a wonderful trip and I'm so happy that Keith moved to a city with so much to do.  I can't wait to go back and see some more of the sites!





PS... I forgot to post about the Cherry Blossoms in my Day 1 post... sadly they were close, but hadn't quite popped yet.  Here's a good, pretty picture of the buds.

so close!

Here's some, but not on the mall and not like you're suppose to see them... oh well, maybe another time!