DC meant Delightfully Contented

Thursday was our BIG day in the Washington DC. We had tour reservations for the White House at 9:30, then reservations for the Capitol Building at 2:30. The number of items admitted to the White House was fairly straightforward, they didn’t allow anything! You were required to bring ID and nothing else. That made the day a little challenging. But we enjoyed the White House and are glad that we made the effort. We managed to squeeze in a tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Library of Congress before reporting to the Capitol. Unfortunately, due to limited resources and a severe lack of drinking fountains, the Capitol tour was too frequently peppered with requests for a drink to make it profusely enjoyable!

Friday was a little easier day. We went to Mt. Vernon with our friends, Brandon and Stephanie Eliason. The house was just as I had remembered it from 20 years ago, although I hadn’t expected it to change. However, an extensive visitors center has popped up during that time period. We enjoyed completing a scavenger hunt there, but declined to take the National Treasure II tour of the cellars. We simply amused ourselves with the ample grounds and view of the Potomac. We finished the day with a stroll on the Battlefield of Manassas. Then back home for a hike over the creek and through the forest in the Eliason’s backyard.

We headed back to the city on Saturday, but this time, the Eliason’s came with us! We saw the Washington Monument, the World War II Monument and the National Archives. We were amazed at how worn the Declaration of Independence was; we couldn’t read any of the signatures. We speed ran through the National Gallery of Art, then headed to the number one stop on Jeff’s list, the National Air and Space Museum. We saw more planes, and many spacecraft, Jeff was in heaven. We ended the day getting lost several times on our way to the Jefferson Memorial, but finally arriving just as the sun was low in the sky.

We had a treat for conference Sunday. We headed to the Washington DC temple. We wandered the temple grounds for a bit, then went in the stadium style theater to watch conference. The prophet was larger than life on the 70 foot screen! We made a stop by the National Cathedral, which was very nice, but as usual, pales in comparison to the temple.

Monday was our last day in DC. We went to the Lincoln Memorial, and Ford’s Theater before ending at Arlington National Cemetery. We were able to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I wonder how long they must train to be able to perform their duties with such accuracy. Even the footpaths in front of the tomb were in perfectly straight lines with exact right angles for turns. It was a very solemn assembly. We saw the statue of Iwo Jima, then headed off to New York.