The flight path into Reagan National has to be one of the best. Coming from the west, it sweeps over the Potomac turning south as you look at Rosslyn, Arlington, Arlington Cemetery and Crystal City.
The main purpose of this long weekend was to spend more time on the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
400,000
Ended up walking loops across its 639 acres.
John Paul Stevens, Thurgood Marshall, Potter Stewart, Warren Earl Burger, Ruth Ginsburg
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Reading names, ranks, military branches, wars.
The cemetery started during the Civil War on Confederate General Lee's plantation.
Union troops took Lee's plantation and started burying the dead so Lee would never return home.
The house goes back to Lee's wife's family who goes back to George Washington's stepson.
George Washington Custis, adopted son of George Washington (Martha's son from her previous marriage) built the home in 1778.
Imagining the lives they lived.
So many stories.
21 steps, turns to tomb, 21 seconds, turns back, 21 seconds, repeat
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tried and failed to find the gravesites of Pershing and Marshall.
It's a tradition to get a picture at this spot.
One of the top 3 Presidents.
Old Executive Office Building
Looping around NW of White House.
1600 Pennyslylania Avenue
So, on the south side you can't get near the fence even though the building is quite a distance. But on the north side....
Lafayette Square has had some bad things happen lately.
MLK Memorial
FDR Memorial
Walking around the Tidal Basin.
There are restaurants, shops,
and entertainment
And you can buy a s'mores package. That is me toasting a marshmallow.
Walking back to a subway station.
Penn Quarter of DC.
The actual gun.
Replica top coat and actual blood stained pillow, theatre box door and door stop used by John Wilkes Booth.
"Now he belongs to the ages."
Speaking of books, see one I haven't read....
St. Patrick's Catholic Church is DC's oldest established in 1794.
An old department store.
Chanel, Hermes, Vuitton, Paul Stuart, Burberry, Bvlgari, Armani, Tiffany & Co
Peanut Butter Mash and Marscapone and Berries
Just a little bit of window shopping.
Federal Triangle
Completed in 1899, this Romanesque Revival was DC's post office and national post office HQ until 1914.
The tower is now administered by the National Park Service.
Have actually never been in the Smithsonian Castle.
This used to be the sole Smithsonian, now they have 19 buildings.
National Archives
There is also a sizeable museum.
Ollie's Trolleys is a DC institution.
The Ollieburger is one of the best burgers I've ever had. 100% angus ground on site every day, grilled medium rare, special spices.
If the chunk of the Berlin wall is still in the lobby. It is.
Smithsonian Museum of American History
One of my 3 favorite Smithsonian's.
The amount of knowledge and artifacts is staggering.
Wonder how long it would take to read and look at everything.
Remember these?
Julia Child's Cambridge, Mass kitchen from 1961 until she donated it to the Smithsonian in 2001.
Michael Dell's early PC.
From Presidents to wars to First Ladies
The top hat Abraham Lincoln was wearing that fateful night at Ford's Theatre. The Springfield museum also has a rare top hat of his.
Security around the Capitol is nuts.
Gone are the days of walking up to it.
Why does one always have to go to Union Station?
Because of this.
And this.
And this.
Union District Market is what we've seen in NYC (Meatpacking District), Chicago (Fulton Market) and Milwaukee (Broadway/Third Ward).
Some of this more modern stuff I sorta get.
A wholesale area starts to transition to restaurants and boutiques.
DC's is still maybe half wholesale and retail while the aforementioned cities are totally shopping and dining now.
Union Market goes back to 1931.
But probably didn't look like this then.
At The Creamery with Pistachio and Lemon Blueberry. The most dense I've had.
They have an actively used rooftop.
To peer down on the District.
It was fun to walk around seeing all the delicious foods.
My jowels did that quiver thing.
Walk, subway, walk back to hotel.
Then past Netherlands Carillon, a gift in 1952 for their liberation.
Usually referred to as the Iwo Jima memorial,
from depicting the famous raising of the flag after a hard battle. Most of these joyous boys would not make it home.
Walk continues through Rosslyn.
Over the Potomac.
Into Georgetown.
Try to make it here during every trip to DC.
Down an alley to Kafe Leoplold for a breakfast of merguez sausage, sautéed veggies, za'atar
Have to take a peak at the steps used in The Exorcist. Remembering the first time finding these.
Then stroll around the Georgetown University campus.
Monday, September 5th, 2022
Walking past Arlington National Cemetery.
Little further a glance to the right.
It is the US Marine Corps War Memorial, in honor of all Marines who have given their lives for the greatest country in the world.
Through the residential neighborhood of rowhouses.
It's 62K. Plus room and board.
Walking through Georgetown again and then an electric scooter.
Another stop for DC trips is the Washington Hilton. On March 30th, 1981 President Reagan gave a speech to the AFL CIO in this ballroom.
At 1:45PM he exited a side door (the carport was added after this event so no dignitary would be exposed when entering) and Hinckley fired 6 times in 1.7 seconds. A President’s character was verified, lives changed and presidential protection forever strengthened.
These are the buildings across the street in that still scary video.
Dupont Circle. Campers must be Californians.
Back in Penn Quarter / central DC.
Lunch. Green Matcha Tea, Banana and Halvah & Pistachio
In this building Clara Barton got her start and soon formed the Red Cross.
National Building Museum
National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial
Built 1882 to 1887 to house pension offices and be an event space.
Judiciary Square
National Gallery of Art, West Building
Andrew Mellon donated much of the original collection and funds to build this grand neoclassical built in 1941.
There are over 150,000 pieces in the collection.
How amazing to see Gilbert Stuart artwork!
The Washington Family, Edward Savage, 1789-1796
Monet
Cezanne
Van Gogh
Gauguin
Van Gogh
Self Portrait, 1889
Just amazing skill.
Lower level has more artwork, furniture and sculpture.
East Building
Built in 1977. Right?! Looks newer.
Others....
Rooftop sculptures.
National Gallery of Art – Sculpture Garden. Don't get it....
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Another one worth repeating again and again.
They've redone the exhibits to be less stodgy and academic.
Which I prefer, but if the new way engages more folks...good.
Time to walk.
World War I Memorial
Swinging by the White House to see if they have ice cream.
Through Lafayette Park.
The church that caused all that ruckus.
Dolley Madison house.
Neat building.
And another one.
National Portrait Gallery. It was originally the patent office.
Divided in two, this is the Portrait Gallery side.
Rooms off the long hallways categorize. Explorers, inventors, leaders, etc.
General Grant and His Generals
Ole Peter Hansen Bailing
1865
The American Presidents gallery.
The third floor.
These spaces were used to hold the required models from inventors applying for patents.
And there was barely anyone here.
Katherine Hepburn's Oscars.
Zaytinya
CRISPY BRUSSELS AFELIA
Brussels sprouts, coriander seed, barberries, garlic yogurt
Brussels are a go to item, and these had crispy bits, some tender, some a bit chewy; all masterfully accentuated by the other elements giving taste and texture contrast.
OCTOPUS SANTORINI
Grilled Mediterranean octopus, marinated onions, capers, yellow split pea purée
Another go to item was perfectly cooked, complimented with the creamy puree, briny capers and punches of fresh.
WALNUT DELIGHT
Walnut ice cream, yogurt mousse, honey gelée, orange-caramel sauce, caramelized pine nuts
I'm speechless.
Emerging from the subway to rush through the rain to the Longworth House Office Building.
Last time doing a Capitol tour arranged with Congressman Sensenbrenner, got to take the little underground train that goes under Independence Avenue.
Under the original Senate.
Original Supreme Court.
Underneath the Rotunda, this is referred to as the Crypt as it was originally intended to be George Washington's final resting place.
Entering the Rotunda.
Last time I was in the Rotunda was 5:20AM on June 8th, 2004 for President Reagan's lying in state.
Statuary Hall.
Where you see live shots on TV.
Old Senate Chamber
1810-1859
Cannon House Office Building
Supreme Court remains closed due to threats. Sad times. Have been in there a few times.
Library of Congress. Used to be able to walk in, now need timed tickets.
Doesn't do it justice.
Built 1890 to 1897.
In awe. Thomas Jefferson's collection that started the Library of Congress.
Librarian of Congress 1897 to 1980.
Reading Room.
Close up.
Gutenberg Bible
A rare version printed on vellum, a fine parchment made from animal skins.
It took 2 years to print 180 copies of this 1,282 page Bible.
Prior to printing, it would take one scribe 3 years.
Abel Buell’s 1784 first map of the newly independent United States. Only 3 copies are known to survive.
Walking around Capitol Hill.
In 1805, Thomas Jefferson’s Presidential Proclamation established public markets across DC. Eastern Market was relocated to this site in 1873.
Imagine what this building has seen.
Subway to Rosslyn to check out Assembly, A food hall concept that has one counter for ordering and paying for items from all vendors.
I asked the lady, "Ice cream? I thought shoes are cheaper than therapy. At least I like both."
That is Fresh Ginger.
Smoothie of kale, pineapple, apple, cucumber. And the real stuff, not the sugary powder mix.
Some great shots flying out of Reagan National.
