Monday, May 6, 2013

Washington Day 1: Being a Tourist.

As you know I was recently in Washington, DC with the Colorado Farm Bureau. What a great experience! This city is alive!

I landed late on Sunday night but didn't waste much time on Monday and hit the pavement to partake in some sightseeing. I'll spare you the details about how I had some trouble getting to my hotel from the metro drop off and had to beg a taxi to take me to my hotel with a pack of gum. He went for it, btw.

Being in Washington and seeing our national monuments is moving and very humbling. It's a great reminder of how far we've come. I forget how much can be accomplished when people work together. The timing was great in that, I felt lost and a bit hopeless after the Boston Marathon bombings.

The National Mall is amazing. I'd never seen anything like this before aside from the open fields on my college campus.  The clean, green fields, the view of the capitol building and the Washington Monument made me want to camp out the whole week right in the middle of it all.  It was all just so gorgeous.






First stop was the World War II memorial. This picture is of my favorite quote within the memorial.
More than 400,000 men died in the second World War. Here is a picture that depicts a few of the 48 pillars that represent the US States in 1945. 

The Vietnam Memorial was my next stop. This memorial was one that I had to see. My father is a Vietnam Veteran...a very disgruntled Vietnam Veteran that will not talk about his wartime experience (I don't blame him) so, that leaves me in the dark and very, very curious. I wanted to go here to honor him and his service since he doesn't really let me do that in person.

 
I made my way to the Lincoln Memorial which has the power to make anyone feel small. Not only literally, but figuratively. The Lincoln Memorial was truly breathtaking.
It is definitely a must-see of DC.
The afternoon followed with a bit of sightseeing of the buildings on Constitution Avenue which let to the White House where I got this picture! :)
 
I'll be in touch to tell you how our meetings went on Day 2 and 3 soon along with the rest of my sightseeing on Day 4 and 5. :)

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Glad you had time to do some sightseeing while you were there. I think D.C. is one of the best cities to be a tourist.

myblackfriendsays said...

I'm sure it was the gum and that dazzling smile of yours ;)

Frazzled Farm Wife said...

I was in DC a few years ago when my sis-in-law got sworn in as a congresswoman! Lots of history in that area...totally loved it. The holocaust museum was on of my favorites. Enjoy your time there.