A hot day out in the capital

After a good night sleep, we both woke up at the sound of the alarm clock. We had a beautiful cloudless day ahead of us, and the heat hadn't settled yet. We were dropped off by Nico on is way to drop L. to a Flemish class, and we emerged sometime later somewhere near the White House museum.

It is a free museum that I found interesting for displaying the different influences and some quirky quotes of the presidents that stayed there. There were also mundane things such as dinner menu, exit speeches, and paintings illustrating the coming of the electric bulb in the households or mere customs of the times. Also it was a perfect spot for toilet break.

 After a nice break in the shades, it was time to go admire the real thing.  Outside, a squirrel was having an unusual breakfast.

It was still around 10:30 but it was also a Saturday so commuters were not in town and were replaced by tourists traveling.

Walking on grass was more enjoyable than walking on the road, so we just followed the patch up to the obelisk (Washington monument), admiring the various sportsmen and women playing ultimate Frisbee or soccer. Further up, an inter university softball tournament was being setup and I looked for the Hokies but only found the UVA team. On our right was toward the Lincoln Memorial, which I saw sometime in 2002. And on our left was the National Mall with its museums and the Capitol. I could not remember walking to the Lincoln Museum although I seemed to remember the statue itself and the reflecting pool leading to the building.

So we went for the structures on our right, toward the Lincoln Memorial. After the great lawn where students were preparing for their game, we came upon the World War 2 memorial. 

A.was being the stereotypical tourist by even rounding up servicewomen and serviceman for a photoshoot. I was starting to be sweaty and had to use my umbrella as a parasol, taking in the mist from the various fountains to cool down.

We took the path under the shades to the memorial, and could not see the reflecting pool as they were renovating it apparently. We were starting to feel a bit tired under the heat and our water supply was running low. I was already wondering how I would return to the museums, since my new silver sandals were not really made for long walks.

Looking back on our way we could see the dome of the Capitol. Ahead of us, the Lincoln Memorial was bathed in the sun, on top of its stairs that we had to climb.

There were even more people inside the memorial as everyone was getting away from the sun. It was another opportunity to take a toilet break, which was situated at the bottom of the steps, on the side of the building. We refilled out bottles as well and proceeded on our way back. It was a fine day and we decided to follow the path under the trees once again, and trying out the side roads to explore. 

We chanced upon the Korean war memorial where statues of soldiers were eerily marching painfully it seemed, and silently toward and unknown destination.

 I reflected upon the use of water in all those memorials, and found the calm body of water or even the rushing of water soothing, even if they didn't wash away the sadness or horror of these events. I wondered if the architect was also using water not just as a cooling device but as a way to ease the pain or memory.

As we walked past the Washington monument, lunchtime suddenly screamed in our stomach, and we were eager to reach the Smithsonian castle and museum at the beginning of the mall.

 We first headed for the public phones since I no longer had a mobile phone, and needed to notify K. about where we were. She was to meet us with the kids but needed a point of rendez vous. Unfortunately, none of the 2 public phones in the entrance were operational, and I felt helpless for a few minutes, trying to find more phones. The nearest public phone was in another museum and I wasn't even sure it would work. Eventually I had to beg the person at the reception to use the phone for a local call. Eventually I got through and told her we were at the castle.

We were then free to look around, and took the opportunity to grab lunch and take a rest. While A. went exploring the National Museum of African Art, I discovered the back garden of the castle and settled on a bench to watch the birds and the bees.

Once we finished, K. and the children were still not in sight, so I stayed around the castle to wait for them while A. was wandering and exploring on her own. I directed her to the National Air and Space museum towards the Capitol, and we decided to meet there alter once K. would have arrived. 

The National Air and Space museum is my favourite museum in Washington DC, because it documents the dreams and achievements of humankind in the conquest of space. I was happy that A. got to see the early models of planes, and rockets, as well as lunar modules. There were different educational workshops, including one on the solar system, or the principle of dynamics used in flight of an aircraft.

I could stay a whole day in this museum and still come back for more.As K, L. and Max finally arrived, we also came to the the air and space museum and once again, I touched the moon, like many others. I advised L. that some dreams that could seem unlikely eventually come true, and I showed her the moon rock at her reach.

We did many workshops in the first floor, where the concept of drag, pressure and lift could be experienced, among excited children and amazed adults. 

After much play, it was time to head out to the carrousel so that L and Max enjoy some old technology and catch up in a quieter environment.

It was mid afternoon and the clock was unfortunately ticking against A. who needed to catch a flight back to Paris that evening. We regretfully walked into the metro and settled for a ride back to the house. However the train got stuck and the wagon were so congested we were not even sure to be able to get into the next one. So we got outside and tried to hail a cab. I wasn't even sure where we were, and I could not call anyone since there were no public phones. It was a bit stressful for a moment, until we stood at a major intersection and managed to stop a taxi. K.L. and myself hopped on the cab while K and Max took the metro since she parked the car somewhere near the house and needed to drive it back home anyway.

We finally got home and A. had to pack her bags and say goodbyes. We then drove to Dulles airport, and I waited for her to confirm that she got a seat because apparently the flight was very full. She managed to get a steward seat and we said our goodbyes. It was a very full day and I hoped she got some rest in during the flight. 

Back at the house, we had a nice dinner and went straight to bed after a full day out.