Tag Archives: #Washington_DC

USA, Vietnam War Memorial, Washington DC

Washington DC, Day 33 of 43

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We went to the Washington Giftshop where they have a fake pressroom and oval office set up for photos. Hilarious and great fun.

And therefore:-
And therefore:-
So, The President is in the oval office.
So, The President is in the oval office.

We went to see the White House today and took the obligatory pics in front.

Us at the White House
Us at the White House
My photo of the White House
My photo of the White House

We went back on the Hop on Hop off bus today because our second day was free and that took us back to stop no 10 – the Lincoln Memorial but also in that vicinity was the Vietnam Memorial, which I wanted to see.  I had heard that it was at Arlington Cemetery but it wasn’t – it was near the Lincoln Memorial.  The Vietnam Memorial is a highly polished wall in a wide V shape covered in thousands of names of the fallen.  The are in alphabetical in order in the year they died.

Vietnam War Memorial
Vietnam War Memorial

There are books that look like phone books on stands covered with perspex so that the vetrans or families can locate their loved ones and it gives them the panel number where they can find the name they are looking for.  Some people do a rubbing of the name to keep.

Vietnam War Memorial - rubbing
Vietnam War Memorial – rubbing

The city was wonderful to look around and the weather was phenomenal.  We have had 2 days of rain in the whole time we have been away.  That is pretty amazing I reckon.  Thanks for reading.  Any feedback or comments are welcomed.

 

Arlington Cemetery, Iwo Jima Statue, Lincoln Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington DC, Washington Monument

Washington DC Day 32 of 43 Part Two

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Arlington Cemetery

Field after field of white monuments.  It is a sad and confronting place.  So many lives lost.  Such a waste of talent and so many lives lost without proper planning, training or consideration of the outcomes.  Much was done for the right reasons, however, the loss has been staggering.The men and women killed were aged between 17 and 23 on average.

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The tomb of the unknown soldier in four wars is guarded 24 hours per day every day of the year, rain, hail, snow, or terrorist attack without fail.  Even of the day of the attack on the Pentagon, the soldiers stayed at their post.  The changing of the guard happens every hour. The guard marches 21 steps along a rubber mat which has foot prints in it from the hours of repetition.  At the end of his 21 steps he turns, changes his weapon from one sholder to the other , waits 21 seconds and returns to the other end, and repeats this for an hour.

Changing of the Guard, Tomb of the unknown soldier. Rain, hail, snow, shine, or  terrorist attack; nothing will stop the soldiers guarding the tomb.

Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the unknown soldier
Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the unknown soldier
Tomb of the unknown soldier.
Tomb of the unknown soldier.

Also saw the monument to commemorate the taking of the the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese in 1942.

Iwo Jima Memorial
Iwo Jima Memorial

After all that we needed to eat so headed to the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Washington.

Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Nachos - for ONE!!!
Nachos – for ONE!!!
Too much food - ribs for ONE
Too much food – ribs for ONE

Home by 4:15

New York, New York State, USA, Washington DC

New York to Washington, DC Day 27 of 43

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New York to Washington by train

We are off to Washington today and, for the first time since we arrived in NY, it is raining. It's not the sort of torrential rain of a tropical downpour. Its more of an English drizzle. Anyway – it's not too penetrating so raincoats will cover it. The rest of my party decided to wrap their suitcases in plastic bags to keep them dry. It was not necessary in my opinion, due to my packing all my clothes in those bags you suck the air out of to flatten them. I figured if the rain got through the vinyl on the outside of my case, it wouldn't matter anyway. I did cover my camera bag though.

So picture it if you can, four adults pulling their suitcases, covered in plastic, which are being rattled and pulled at by a fair gust or two of wind as we hold the hoods on our raincoats down to cover our faces, while trying to see, and dodge umbrella covered New Yorkians who keep to the right, mainly, at a reasonable pace. This whilst we avoid puddles, wait for the lights to change, dragging our beasts behind us, trying to miss the kerbs so that the wheels will remain in contact with the pavement at all times. Lucky it was only a three block walk.

We arrive fairly unscathed at New York's Pennsylvania (Penn Station) in spite of the escalator ride down to the waiting area. Once we had waited, we were herded into another area to head to track 9West to go to Washington. All loaded on the train and we were off. See below the route we took which lasted almost 3 hours. Great to sit and relax and watch the world go by.

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New Jersey,NY – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Wilmington, Delaware – Baltimore, Maryland – Washington, DC

Accommodation

We are staying at the very lovely Hilton Garden Inn 815, 14th Street, North West DC.

We arrived early so had to wait for our rooms to be prepared. One thing I will say about the place is that it has old world charm, with thick carpets and heavy drapes.  The bed is sensational. The lighting too is exceptional.  Sounds pedantic I know, but really, whoever designs lighting in hotels, must do it to avoid the clients seeing anything that may be faulty.  This hotel has lighting that lets you see whatever you want to.  Its glorious.

Our hotelimageimageimage

Had dinner at the hotel Grist Mill.  Shared a beautiful steak with asparagus and mashed potato.  So yummy!  Sigh.