We arrived safe and sound at Cherry Hill Park at College Place, MD on Thursday (Just outside Washington DC). The park is wonderful, and their hot tub is still open!!! Was a welcome relief 1st night, and had it all to 
ourselves:-). Next morning, we drove to the Park & Ride, and took the greenline subw
ay (metro) into DC. We got off downtown and walked about a mile to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, (Really hard and emotional for Al) , W
orld World II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Women's Memorial and the Washington Monument, then walked back, took subway back and we are pooped. Will go back tomorrow. There are SO MANY monuments, museums, etc., to see! The buildings are beautiful and massive!
Trouble is, I don't remember which ones were which in the photos!
Next day, did same trip, and went through one floor of the Museum of National History, (saw exhibit of First lady's d
resses and accessories (the jewelry was Michelle Obama's, I think worth $2.5 million...donated to her), 
dating back to Dolly Madison, Mary Lincoln, etc.), President's Exhibit, Civil War Exhibition, . Dorothy's shoes from the "Wizard of OZ", Muppets
, Dumbo from Merry-G0-Round at Disn
eyland, 
Muscial Instrument Museum 
( I was interested in the wooden flute with the different barrels). Decided to save the other 2 floors for a rainy day since it was nice outside. We thought we were headed for the Smithsonian Castle, and ended up at the Holocaust Museum so decided to go through it. WOW!!! What an eye opener! We were there for over 2 hours and ran out of time before we finished 2 out of 3 floors! Really incredibly done, and so real. Scarey to realize how people had been categorized by race, age, religion, work, etc., LONG before they were captured, and how much info is out in the internet available to anyone who should want to organize something like this again! And they were all filled with Propaganda so they didn't realize what was happening. Makes me want to pull all my info off! BE careful with your personal information!! Big Brother is watching!!!!
ourselves:-). Next morning, we drove to the Park & Ride, and took the greenline subw
ay (metro) into DC. We got off downtown and walked about a mile to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, (Really hard and emotional for Al) , W
orld World II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Women's Memorial and the Washington Monument, then walked back, took subway back and we are pooped. Will go back tomorrow. There are SO MANY monuments, museums, etc., to see! The buildings are beautiful and massive!
Trouble is, I don't remember which ones were which in the photos!
Next day, did same trip, and went through one floor of the Museum of National History, (saw exhibit of First lady's d
resses and accessories (the jewelry was Michelle Obama's, I think worth $2.5 million...donated to her), 
dating back to Dolly Madison, Mary Lincoln, etc.), President's Exhibit, Civil War Exhibition, . Dorothy's shoes from the "Wizard of OZ", Muppets
, Dumbo from Merry-G0-Round at Disn
eyland, 
Muscial Instrument Museum 
( I was interested in the wooden flute with the different barrels). Decided to save the other 2 floors for a rainy day since it was nice outside. We thought we were headed for the Smithsonian Castle, and ended up at the Holocaust Museum so decided to go through it. WOW!!! What an eye opener! We were there for over 2 hours and ran out of time before we finished 2 out of 3 floors! Really incredibly done, and so real. Scarey to realize how people had been categorized by race, age, religion, work, etc., LONG before they were captured, and how much info is out in the internet available to anyone who should want to organize something like this again! And they were all filled with Propaganda so they didn't realize what was happening. Makes me want to pull all my info off! BE careful with your personal information!! Big Brother is watching!!!!
Next day, we went on Metro again, and went to Arlington National Cemetary, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Marine Iwo Jima Memorial,, President & Robert Kennnedy Memorials, and more. Got to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb, and see the exhibits of medals there. 
Wednesday, we had an appointment with an Intern from Oregon Senator Wyden's office to get a tour through the capital. That was an amazing experience! Noah, the Intern and a young newcomer named Gaylen took us through the theater, the Old Senate Office Building, and the new one. Got to walk around in the Rotunda, 
stand on the star in the center which 
is supposed to be the center of
Washington, DC, and he explained the pictures, statues, and the architecture. Then, on to the House Chambers to sit in the auditorium. Both the House and Senate were off today, so we
didn't get to see it in action. 
Got to see the tomb in which George 
Washington was buried in the center of the Rotunda. He did not want the Capitol to revolve 
around him, but to always be the center of the current regime, so they moved him out, and it has remained empty in a special vault. The tiles of the floor, elegance of the draperies, everything was so amazing. We were not allowed to take our cameras 
into the House Chambers and certain areas, so 
cannot show what we saw. The capitol has its own 
subway under the 
buildings, and we took the slow car in, and the express car out.
Shown is "Freedom" statue which sits on top of the Capitol, and The replica of the Magna Carta. The draperies in the Rotunda were added to help with acoustics, as the room had previously echoed badly, and sound carried so well that whispers were heard across the room that were not meant to be heard. (Hence, the statue of John Adams is posed leaning over to hear the plans across the room).
stand on the star in the center which 
is supposed to be the center ofWashington, DC, and he explained the pictures, statues, and the architecture. Then, on to the House Chambers to sit in the auditorium. Both the House and Senate were off today, so we
didn't get to see it in action. 
Got to see the tomb in which George 
Washington was buried in the center of the Rotunda. He did not want the Capitol to revolve 
around him, but to always be the center of the current regime, so they moved him out, and it has remained empty in a special vault. The tiles of the floor, elegance of the draperies, everything was so amazing. We were not allowed to take our cameras 
into the House Chambers and certain areas, so 
cannot show what we saw. The capitol has its own 
subway under the 
buildings, and we took the slow car in, and the express car out.
Shown is "Freedom" statue which sits on top of the Capitol, and The replica of the Magna Carta. The draperies in the Rotunda were added to help with acoustics, as the room had previously echoed badly, and sound carried so well that whispers were heard across the room that were not meant to be heard. (Hence, the statue of John Adams is posed leaning over to hear the plans across the room).
Tuesday, we went to Annapolis by car, and got there to realize Al had not brought his wallet. Since Picture ID is required, we turned around and drove back to the RV Park. ( I drove since I had my driver's license, and Al read GPS directions). Glad we didn't get stopped while he drove in. It rained so hard , we probably wouldn't have enjoyed walking around the Naval Base anyway. so, we relaxed for the day.
Next day (Wed), back to DC in the morning via Metro. Got on it about 8 am, and transferred from green to orange line to get to the 8th & I Marine Barracks. Had a 10 am tour and weren't sure how long it would take. Got there before 9, so stopped at 
Dunkin donuts for coffee and walked around the area. Not much to see, and nothing was open, but did like this mural.
Dunkin donuts for coffee and walked around the area. Not much to see, and nothing was open, but did like this mural.
The tour of the Barracks was very interesting. there were only 5 of us who braved the rain and wind for the tour so we got a lot of personal attention. 
The 8th & I
Barracks is the oldest working barracks in the nation. The mug collection each have the name of the officer who drank out of it there. You had to be an invited guest to drink in the closed bar. The Comandant's home (big white house) is 15,000 square feet. The 1st comandant lived there for 38 years and believed it was his own and willed it to his family. When he died, the family had to be evicted for the next comandant to live in. There are personal possessions and history of each comandant except one, who was evidently quite a drinker and was relieved of his position. There is no reference to his even being there except one empty place on the wall where his plate was supposed to be. The gravestone for Corpman Chesty IX is one of the previous mascots (bulldog). The current mascot lives at the barracks with a member of the Marine Band (as their position is permanent, and the dog has a long-time family). There is a grave for Chesty VII on the other side of the doorway, but Chesty VIII ran away and was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corp. The current Chesty is an actual Marine Officer and gets the same pay as the human officer. His pay goes for his upkeep, food, medical, etc. :-)
After leaving the Barracks, we took the Circulator Bus to the White House. We knew we could not go inside, as reservations must be made at least 3 weeks in advance, but we did get to the Visitor Center and see a film of the inside and got pics of the outside.
Then when no one wa
s looking, we snuck in and got a few pictures in the Oval Office.
The 8th & I
Barracks is the oldest working barracks in the nation. The mug collection each have the name of the officer who drank out of it there. You had to be an invited guest to drink in the closed bar. The Comandant's home (big white house) is 15,000 square feet. The 1st comandant lived there for 38 years and believed it was his own and willed it to his family. When he died, the family had to be evicted for the next comandant to live in. There are personal possessions and history of each comandant except one, who was evidently quite a drinker and was relieved of his position. There is no reference to his even being there except one empty place on the wall where his plate was supposed to be. The gravestone for Corpman Chesty IX is one of the previous mascots (bulldog). The current mascot lives at the barracks with a member of the Marine Band (as their position is permanent, and the dog has a long-time family). There is a grave for Chesty VII on the other side of the doorway, but Chesty VIII ran away and was dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corp. The current Chesty is an actual Marine Officer and gets the same pay as the human officer. His pay goes for his upkeep, food, medical, etc. :-)
After leaving the Barracks, we took the Circulator Bus to the White House. We knew we could not go inside, as reservations must be made at least 3 weeks in advance, but we did get to the Visitor Center and see a film of the inside and got pics of the outside.
Then when no one wa
s looking, we snuck in and got a few pictures in the Oval Office.
Today, Thursday, the RV Park had a Thanksgiving Dinner for all the guests. It was wonderful food and we felt a lot of love went into the fixins. Tomorrow, Friday, we will pull out and head the RV back to Annapolis for a day, then head down into Virginia. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Bye for now!
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