Washington DC Days 1 and 2

Hello from Washington DC!  We are on our long awaited vacation out east...to a very HOT and HUMID east coast.  We are not quite used to the sticky humidity but it has not kept us from enjoying the sights of DC.

I am trying to share about our trip in real time rather than write about everything when we are back in Salem.  We are structuring our vacation so we are up and out the door early and visit at least two museums.  Then we are back at the hotel in the late afternoon for some pool time, rest, dinner out, and somewhat normal bedtime.  So that means time to blog and import photos.

We awoke at the ripe hour of 3 AM yesterday and headed to PDX and caught a direct flight to Baltimore.  All but the youngest child slept at some point on the flight.

We took a train from Baltimore to DC and walked an exhausting somewhat miserable mile to our hotel.  Four suitcases, one duffel bag, five carry ons, not having eaten since 6 AM Pacific time and ninety degree temperatures (also the fact we were dressed in jeans) made the one mile walk feel like seven.  But we made it.  Actually the early morning helped us adjust to eastern time.  Lunch became supper.  Being so tired from hardly sleeping, we all crashed by 10:30...and it did not feel like 7:30.

But backing up a bit...after lunch which was actually supper we headed to the monuments and reflecting pool for a short evening out before crashing into bed.  It was the kid's first view of DC.

We went to the World War II Memorial and took a picture by the Oregon sign.  The last time Rob and I were in DC, this monument just opened.  It is vast and sprawled out with fountains in the middle.  It is meaningful to me having two grandfathers who fought in the war...and shared very little about their experience.  I am honored they fought for our country.

Then we visited the Lincoln Memorial which was quite moving.  I think you appreciate it much more as an adult, but I was glad my children walked around and took it all in.

Last we walked over to the Vietman Memorial and the kids looked at all the names of the people who lost their lives in the war.  We don't know any of the names that were on the wall.  This time period of history always intrigued me--the complexity of this war and how it divided our nation.  A few days ago I finished reading the memoir When Heaven and Earth Changed Places by Le Ly Hayslip.  It is written by a woman who grew up in Vietnam and saw her family divide between the Viet Cong and the Republican Army (supported by the Americans).  She ended up immigrating to America in the 70's and becoming a US citizen.  She became an advocate for improving conditions in Vietnam.  It helped me understand the war better.

Today we went to the US Capitol Building and went on a staff led tour.  Our tour guide was one of our representatives, Kurt Schrader's staff members.  It was similar to the tour Rob and I took in 2004.  I think I also took a capitol tour when I went with my family in 1992.  One thing I appreciated about this tour was learning all the fun facts about our Capital such as there is a  crypt in the bottom on the building that was supposed to be Washington's tomb.  It was not finished in time when Washington died.  Turned out that Washington wanted to be buried in Mount Vernon and this caused some controversy.

We saw a replica of the Statue of Freedom that sits on the very top of the building.  She has a bird on her head that is a turkey.  Originally the turkey was going to be the symbol for our country instead of the eagle.  I cannot imagine a turkey on our dollar bills.

We enjoyed seeing all the paintings showing our nation's history in the rotunda along with a statue for each state.  Oregon's statue is Jason Lee who was a missionary to Oregon and founded Willamette University.  We also sat in on a session of the House of Representatives (no pictures included as you pretty much cannot take anything in there with you including cameras and phones).  I expected it to be slow and boring.  I seem to remember being very bored when we sat in on a session when I was a kid. But it actually was very lively.  The kids enjoyed it as well.

We enjoyed lunch from a food truck.  All the food and ice cream trucks and the water and gatorade vendors make it easy to find quick food.

We headed to the Air and Space Museum where we visited the interactive How Things Fly exhibit.  Some of our favorites were visiting the Wright Brother's exhibit and learning about Orville and Wilbur's first flight and seeing their actual plane.  It is seventy percent of the original materials.  The other thirty percent is still from the Wright Brothers but not from the original plane.  We happened to be in the exhibit when a tour guide was sharing about the first flight and it was interesting to listen to.

I enjoyed exploring the Planets exhibit with the youngest.  I think we spent the longest time learning about Pluto and why it is not a planet.

It was a great first two days and we are thankful for this chance to travel and learn more about our country.  It is MUCH easier traveling with older kids...I cannot imagine trying to do this trip even two years ago.  I know some of the highlights for the kids is eating out, playing in the pool, and watching the Food Network.  I know they are enjoying the sightseeing too and walking around in a big city.