Friday, December 2, 2011

WASHINGTON DC


I went to Washington DC the day after Thanksgiving! Genius I know, but sadly it wasn't my idea I just tagged along.  We left early Friday morning.... I was up at 5:30AM. We arrived a little before and headed to our hotel to get rid of our baggage.  The best part about DC is that some of the museum are free.  I mean nothing is free nowadays so I love just being able to explore all of the great places that this place has to offer.  The next best thing besides things that are free is that the weather was gorgeous and I didn't have to wear a coat!


 Our room for the night.  The beds were really comfortable and that is all that counts.

Lincoln Memorial
 I love how he has the biggest memorial.  I mean did they really have to make it that big, but it is gorgeous.


The whole gang sitting on the steps of the memorial.

The best part of the trip was the Holocaust Memorial. It is amazing and so well done.  We all pretty much went our separate ways on this one.  You don't really want to talk to people you just walk around and read and see the horror that these people went through because one man decided to hate.  Hate is such a powerful thing and can take over someone's life.

  When you get there you are given an identity and by the end of the memorial you can find out if you lived or died.  The stories that they give you are of real people.  Honestly I don't know what the hell is wrong with people!! The whole time I couldn't believe that this happened only 70 YEARS AGO! and there is still genocide going on today.  You aren't suppose to take pictures and I didn't.  That is a first I know.  I really respect what they have done with this memorial and if you go to DC check this out.  It will make you grateful for everyday that you have been given.

At the end there is a room where you can light a candle.  I just walked around and read some of the quotes they have etched on the wall.
 "Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life.  And you shall make them known to your children, and to your children's children."
Deuteronomy 4:9
One of the most thought provoking parts of the museum was where they had hundreds of shoes all together that these people had worn and written above it was this quote.
"We are the shoes, we are the last witnesses.  
We are the shoes from the grandchildren and grandfathers, 
From prague, paris, and amsterdam, 
and because we are only made of fabric and leather
and not of blood and flesh, each one of us avoided the hellfire."
Moses Schulstein

SERIOUSLY!!!! I couldn't even look at it for very long because I was so upset that this was all that was left of these children, mother's, father's, daughters, son's, grandfather's and grandmother's just THEIR SHOES.  No one deserves this. 

 Guess what building this is??????
THE FBI BUILDING!
I know its that cool, but still.

 There is an exhibit in the National Museum of American History with dresses that the first ladies wore while their husbands were in office.  Most of these look rather uncomfortable, but the fabrics are very pretty.

This is Michelle Obama's outfit and I just couldn't get over the BLING! Share the wealth. Also note the shoes are Jimmy Choo. I wonder how much this outfit cost altogether even though I am sure the diamonds were borrowed.

 The picture on the left reminded me of Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas.  I haven't been there since I moved to NYC and I use to go ever year.  I think I may need to go there sometime I miss it!

 Pretty buildings.  Bottom right is the archives building with the Constitution and Bill of Rights you can't take pics of course and I didn't try.  The security is tight I guess to get in, but I didn't realize until later that I was able to get in and I have a pocket knife on my key ring and I still got in.  Shows how worthless all that crap is because if someone really wanted to do something they could.   I did and I wasn't even trying.  I am just glad I didn't get caught that would have been fun. :) 



 Arlington Cemetery... I love the symmetry of the graves and how beautiful they are.  It is such a peaceful place and I am glad that we have something for those who have given their life for my freedom.

Here lay the remains of 2,111 of those who fought, fell, and died upon many fields of battle during the American Civil War. Sadly, the realities of war occasionally rendered impossible the delivery of aid and finally, the removal of bodies.  Placed in a sectioned vault beneath this stone are the arms, legs, and bodies of the numerous anonymous dead. Although intended for Union Soldiers, the unidentified undoubtedly included Confederate Soldiers who now rest here at peace with their former adversaries.

Air and Space Museum...lots of children in this one.  I just liked the gift shop lot so cool things to play with.

I LOVE SPACE! Earth is boring :)



World War II Memorial one of my favorites.
"They fought together as brothers-in-arms.  They died together and now they sleep side by side.  
To them we have a solemn obligation"
 Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

Korean War Memorial.  I love this memorial as well so gorgeous even in the dark! One of the 
walls has the inscription "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE" very true.  There is 2,500 
photographic
images on the memorial and
"FREEDOM IS NOT FREE"  
is etched onto the wall.
I heard that the NEWSEUM is cool.  We walked past it and I looked at the price! 22 bucks when I can go to stuff that is free NO WAY!  Every day they have every states newspaper front cover outside the building.  This was Utah's for Sat. November 26th.  I think that is a great idea and that was free to look at!

 There is a SPY Museum...Who would have thought!!!  There gift shop is cool as well. 

 Guess what this lipstick is....a pistol! It is like something out of James Bond.


 Washington Memorial

 Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh made with kitchen plumbing supplies. So cool.


Our lovely bus that took us home.  We were suppose to leave at 11:59PM yes that is late.  While we were waiting for the bus because it hadn't shown up and we should have been boarding we looked out of the parking garage and all these people are walking with their luggage into the garage.  The bus got stuck on it blocked the entrance so none of the buses could get through! I mean really at 12 at night this had to happen.  I didn't get into my bed until after 5:30 AM.  I don't recommend I am still trying to recover from lack of sleep.



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