Tuesday

Our apartment is the green one behind the tree.

Today was another day of museums and a lot of walking around. Before venturing out to do some more sightseeing, we had a breakfast of tea and cinnamon & raisin bagels at the apartment.

The apartment has been absolutely brilliant. The location is just perfect. Across the road is the Metro, so within minutes we can be on our way to whatever part of the city we want to be in. The Metro itself is fast and very retro-futuristic - and by that I mean that it seems very clean, with lot of angular shapes, subdued lighting and a very sci-fi feel, but in places it seems a bit 70s. I love it.

Around the corner from the apartment there’s a massive big Harris Teeter grocery store, so if we were her for longer than 3 nights I could see us stocking up and maybe making a meal or two.

In the apartment, Molly & Greg stocked it before we arrived with snacks, drinks, tea, coffee, crisps, maps, brochures. It really has felt like a home away from home – much better than a hotel in my opinion.

After breakfast we headed straight to the National Museum of American History. The museum has SO MUCH stuff in it. Some things we saw:

Action Comics edition with Superman from 1939.

Page from Wizard of Oz Script

Dumbo from Disneyland ride

The hat Lincoln was wearing when he was shot.

The original Star Spangled Banner (which is absolutely enormous!) It used to be hung on display in the flag hall, but conservationists have now insisted that it’s displayed in a very darkened room. It was very impressive.

Some very swish looking old cars.

As we left the Star Spangled Banner exhibit, a black woman in a very 60s looking dress started waving a placard and protesting. It took me a while to realise, but she was actually working at the museum and was beckoning people over to join a 20 minute workshop in front of the Greensboro Woolworth counter. She then explained about racial segregation and the non violent protests at lunch counters, and got everyone to join in protest songs and to surround four volunteers who were asked to sit on stools and protest by just sitting there. It was really good.

We had a very VERY nice pulled pork sandwich in the cafe for lunch (we shared) and then carried on exploring the museum.

Washington Monument

After 5 hours of museuming, we were all museumed out, so we left and wandered over to the Washington Monument. In the daylight it’s even more impressive. It looked stunning against the clear blue sky with the flags waving at the base.

Flags

Capitol building and moon

We then walked over to the tidal basin where for about two weeks each year there are some amazing cherry blossoms. Rory had already explained on Sunday that the blossoms all blew away about a week and a half ago.

Mountain of Despair (carved from one solid block)

We walked through the Martin Luther King Jr memorial again and marvelled at the Mountain of Despair and the Stone of Hope. America sure knows how to build a good memorial!

Etched faces in the wall

At the Korean war memorial we took some more photos of the amazing etched wall of faces. It’s brilliant, so simple but so effective.

At the Lincoln memorial we looked at the engraving memorializing the “I Have a Dream” speech and tried to imagine what it would have been like to stand there and look down the mall to a sea of people.

The Vietnam memorial was very good. So many names are engraved on there, just so many.

After that we were knackered so we headed off to Founding Farmers a few blocks north of the mall. When we got there we heard from the people in front of us that the wait for a table was an hour and 45 minutes! Er, okay, time for plan B. We got the Metro to Chinatown and went to Clyde’s, which we’d liked the look of when wandering on Sunday. Plus, Rory had recommended it to us, so it must be good!

When we left the metro there were a group of musicians busking on the other side of the road. We crossed over for a closer look. There were about a dozen guys playing brass instruments and drums, people were clapping, dancing. At one point a man sat watching from a wheelchair suddenly leapt up and started dancing! Much to the shock of the drummer who must have thought their music had performed a miracle and given him back the use of his legs!

After watching for 15 minutes we left and went to Clyde’s. We sat at the bar for 20 minutes, waiting for a table to open up. The place was lovely and felt very authentic and American. After more double-takes and giggles at Laura saying “cheers”, the staff seated us upstairs in a booth in very grand room. We both had the most amazing burgers ever. So, so tasty.

We then headed home. Back at the apartment we finally got to meet Molly (she was very nice). We then chilled out with some Ben & Jerry’s and went to bed with tired feet.