We left the house around 7:30 to get to the Washington Monument -- tickets to the top are free, but you have to line up early to get them and to pick a time to ascend. Afterwards, we decided it was pancake time (an excellent time) but had a miserable time finding a food court. We eventually found one advertised in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where we were entirely underdressed for even their food court.
(Beth, Me, and the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial)Next, we did the Memorial March -- The WWII memorial (very impressive), Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Women's Memorial, Korean Memorial. The Korean Memorial used to have soldiers walking through a rice field, but the rice died, and my mom is right-- the bushes that replaced the rice are extremely ugly.
(Carnation at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial)
(Vietnam Women's Memorial -- someone placed carnations in their hands, too)We got to our tour on time (didn't matter, though, because you only go up 8 at a time) and rode the elevator to the top. Luckily, a lot of the fog had evaporated, but the views were still a little faded out.
(Lincoln Memorial and WWII Memorial from the Washington Monument)Next, we started the really exciting part of our day. Philip Tarpley, a sophomore at Rice, is interning at Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson's office, and he gave us a tour of the Capitol building! Starting on the steps of the Russell Senate Office Building across the street (when we saw the Ambassador from Zimbabwe arrive) we walked in and through a metal detector to enter the building. That's all that's required. Anyone can walk in and find the office of their congressmen, inform them that they are a constituent, and strike up a conversation if the congressman is in. Of course, Senators don't usually have time for that sort of thing, but it works in the House.
We walked through the very impressive marble hallways and down to the train that links the offices and the Capitol. A vote had just been called, so the trains were reserved for congressmen and close staff only (a bell rings when a vote is called, and senators have 15 minutes to get to the chamber before the votes are collected). On the other hand, we saw Senator Hutchinson and Senator John McCain -- McCain walked within three feet of us.
(Original Supreme Court Chamber)Once in the Capitol Building, Philip gave us the whole tour -- old Supreme Court Chambers, Old Senate Chamber where that one congressman got beaten with a cane (APUSH, anyone?), Old House Chamber with rotten acoustics, and the dome, where the Presidents lie in state. We also walked back down along the Brumidi Corridors, a frescoed set of halls that are incredibly detailed and beautiful. I didn't realize there were frescoes like this anywhere in the US, let alone in the Capitol building. It looks like Europe. On the way out, we took the train and saw another Senator, John Cornyn.
(House Committee on Appropriations, off the Brumidi Corridors)As our last stop on the Mall, Beth and I went to the Library of Congress. I just wanted to stop in, but we stayed for almost an hour. The Library is gorgeous -- it looks like a cathedral inside. The floors are made of Byzantine-influenced mosaics, the ceilings frescoed and painted, and the balustrades carved. Again, it looked like it belonged in Europe.
(Library of Congress Great Hall)Overall, my impression of Washington DC -- or at least the area around the Mall -- is that it is startlingly like Paris. All the buildings in both cities are of an even height, and, when looking down from the Washington Monument, the streets radiate in a similar way. The National Mall is analogous to the Champs du Mars. Most of the buildings are in either a Roman style outside (Library of Congress) or Greek (Lincoln Memorial). We even have in common that now, some of our most lavish buildings are erected as edifices to our reason and democratic governments.
We went to George Washington University to end our day and met up with Cindy for Indian food! Afterwards, we went to the Kennedy Center for a free jazz concert. The quintet was a bunch of kids in their 20's, and they were all unbelievable, especially the drummer. Cindy's friend Andrew was there (his friend also leaves to work in a hospital in Gambia next week, but isn't in my group -- I'll have to see if he's with OCA), and afterwards, we all stood out on the terrace and looked over the Potomac. We also went back to Cindy's dorm/apartment and on the dorm roof for a while.
(Roommate Reunion in the Hall of Nations, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts)Hooray for roommate reunion! Tomorrow I'll be biking with Beth's family, and will probably leave for New York on Saturday morning.
