I'm Back!!! Washington DC Rocks!

Part Scavenger, Tue Mar 28 2006, 03:42AM

Geez, you guys have been busy! I'm WAY behind on my reading!

I just came back from the US capitol after a stay of a week and some odd days if anyone cares. My dad had to go to a conference there and becuase it was cheaper to send him and all of us in our bus we redid than buy airplane tickets and hotel nights we all got to go too. It was awesome! The city was absolutely beautiful, and the Smithsonian was by far the coolest museum I've ever been to. The people were very nice everywhere you went and there was absolutely no trash anywhere. A far cry from New Orleans two years ago! New Orleans had puke on about 1/5 street crossings not to mention the horse pee and wierdos everywhere. I would also like to point out that members of *a certain minority* are alot nicer in the north than the south. Our family was the only white group in several situations and it wasn't uncomfortable in the least bit. Everywhere you go, they smile and talked to you just like there's no difference. They're really clean, and they don't act like you owe them anything. Not only that, they're friendly and easy to talk to. It's, let's say, um, somewhat different in certain parts of town in my state. Better quit before I get in trouble... Interesting contrast though.

The first day was "Memorial Day" We went to all the memorials and to the Washington monument. It was quite large, and pointy, you get the idea. The WWII memorial was quite impressive, however, and it was quite beatiful. Then on to the rest. My faves were the Lincoln memorial and the WWII.




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Second, we went to the Smithsonian's American History Museum. I could still be on the first floor of that thing. I felt like a kid in Toys-R-Us. It was amazing! Everywhere you looked there was something cool. Somethings you have seen all the time on TV but it was RIGHT THERE! >BTW, we need a *drool* emoticon.< Picture this: You walk in, there's an engine that probably wouldn't fit in my garage, next to that, a piston rod 1 1/2 stories tall and a model of the generator it came off of. Then an exhibit of a machine shop from the industrial revolution! Coming out of there, "Lighting the Revolution". OOOhhh! First there were a collection of generators ranging from *get this*>> treadmill powered to steam powered to water powered to gas, diesel, and more. Coming out of there, there was a collection of the first ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, gaussmeters, and more! To the left, electromagnets!, Edison's own lightbulbs!, hand powered generators and voltaic stacks! Leaving that exhibit, computers from tubes to the original apple computer to deep blue; a collection of storage media, like tapes and giant disks and naked laserdiscs. Unfortunately, my mom was carrying the camera and I was pretty mesmorized to get any pictures of the computer exhibit. Not all of it was open either I could see a really awesome something with tons of tubes and rows upon rows of switches and meters, but it wasn't open .

There was a nuclear exhibit, which included "nuclear science kits" (from the 50s?) Included is a picture of one. (not from the 50's)




Julia Child's kitchen was there. (I have fond memories of her I used to watch it with my grandmother, "Hellooo, and Weelcomme to Coooking with Joolia, tooday...) The original Kermit the frog and Jerry Seinfield's "puffy shirt" Across from that was a huge clock exhibit!

I went to countless museums all of which were neater than most I've been to. There was supposed to be an Electricity hall in the smithsonian, with a Tesla exhibit, but I went to every part of all the open ones (except african american art and native american museums) I think it was in the Arts and Industry building which is closed . The only Tesla I saw was an original motor he built. Pooey.

The Museum of a huge collection of gems and rocks including the Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond was pretty underwelming compared to other stuff there.

Later, (now in no particlar order), we went to the Library of Congress which was pretty much one of the most beautiful building's I've ever seen. The camera was left in the car All I have are pics of the outside. So many books and they won't let me read them! Following, we went on a guided tour of the capitol which is maybe the most beautiful building I've ever seen. The ceiling of the entire thing has murals tastefully done, and the rotunda was absoultely breathtaking. We got to see some of the offices that aren't usually open as well like the old senate chambers. Oh, and when you see the House of Reps on TV it looks huge. It's tiny compared to what you would think. I was very surprised. We got to tour the White House too, which I'm told by the tourguide most everybody gets turned down. We had to get background checks like three months in advance. It was very nice, but not lavish, and also much smaller than TV.









The National cathedral was really cool too. BEAUTIFUL and every synonym does not describe the sanctuary. Wow.



Anyway, I had a blast and personally took something like 600 pictures. Isn't digital cool? It didn't cost me one dime, and they develop instantly too!

Cheers
-Part Scavenger