Mac had a meeting in DC this past Friday morning, so I worked half a day and then drove up to DC. Dad and Pam had taken the train up from Orlando on Thursday. We all stayed at the Marriott in Crystal City at Regan Airport, which is about 10 minutes from downtown DC.
Friday night we met for drinks at the hotel and then we drove over to Mount Vernon to go on a candle light tour of George Washington's home. It was COLD!! They did serve hot cider and cookies, and they had some fires so you could warm up.
Mount Vernon link:
Inside the visitor center waiting for our tour to start...Crazy Mac pretending to walk with George and one of his grandkids.
Apparently Mac talked my dad into giving George a wet willy...very nice!
After the tour we went to dinner in Alexandria. We had Mexican food at a place we like, good queso and margaritas. Yumm!
Saturday we got up and hit the trail. Once again...COLD. Dad and Pam had previously booked a tour of the White House, so we dropped them off and picked them up afterwards. We parked and walked from the Capitol to the Museum of Natural History to check out the Hope Diamond and other gems.
On the mall ...
When we got to the museum we were surprised to see the DC SantaCon gathering right in front. I had just heard about them on NPR the day before. It's just a bunch of people who dress up like Santa and get together in different public places all over the U.S.
Just in front of the museum, they have added a new exhibit that's very cool, the Ocean Hall.
Link to the Museum:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/
Comparing my ring to this 28 carat diamond on display! YIKES!!
Look Ashley, Butterflies!!! (But no puppy dogs)
Link to the new Ocean Hall:
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean_hall/
When you walk into the Ocean Hall this is what hangs up over your head...
This was a very cool tank they had on display.
I loved this, we'd never seen one before...it's a sea palm
We left the Natural History Museum and walked to the Capitol. On the way we passed the McDonald's "I'm in a McFlurry" mini truck...this is Mac in a McFlurry!
Mac got us passes for a tour of the Capitol Building. We thought we might get to take a peak at the actual rooms you see when they are in session, but that wasn't part of it. They have a fabulous new Capitol Visitor's Center that really is great, then if you're touring, you watch a 15 min movie and then a guide walks you through specific rooms. It's absolutely beautiful!
Visitor's Center info:
http://dc.about.com/od/photosofmuseums/ig/PhotosCVC/
So just in case you need to know, the entrance to the visitor's center is at the back of the building and it's directly under the Capitol Building.
This is the view looking up from the Visitor's Center.
Mac's fav King...the King of Hawaii, Kamehameha...there are several statues in the atrium of the Center
This is a replica of the statue that's on top of the Capitol Building, it's called Freedom
Looking up at the dome inside the Capitol...gorgeous
Mac saying hello to Nancy...
The place is full of domes! And they are fascinating.
The architect of the columns added corn and tobacco to the tops of them to add some Americana flair...this one is ears of corn.
I think this chandelier would look great in my house! haha
This is the Crypt, it's one floor directly below the main floor under the center of the dome. There's a star on the floor (I'm standing on it) and it's the center of DC. Under the star is an empty tomb that was originally built for George Washington. Later after he died and the building was completed, the family decided not to have him buried there and keep him buried at his Mount Vernon home.
After the tour we walked about 4 blocks to the Capitol Brewing Co...and oh by the way, it was snowing! You can't see it in this picture, but there were flurries!
Here we are in front of Union Station, Capitol Brewing is right next door
After dinner, Mac and I walked back to get the car and we took this walking by the Capitol
Dad and Pam had to catch their train back to Orlando today at 3:00, so we went back to see the Ocean IMAX show at the Natural History Museum. It was so cool, 3D!
After the show, we drove over to Ben's Chili Bowl.
Here's their link: http://www.benschilibowl.com/gallery/?level=picture&id=89
I saw this place on the Travel Channel and I've been wanting to check it out. What a neat place. Chili dogs, burgers, fries, milk shakes and much more. All good, I had a turkey chili dog. Yum Yum!
Chili cheese fries...ohhhhh
On the way out of town I got a pic of the Air Force Monument, it's just past the Pentagon. Mac doesn't like it, I think it looks kinda cool. He says it looks like something from The War of The Worlds. LOL
We stopped into IKEA and said hi to Megan, then dropped by Richmond to go grocery shopping with Scott.
Mac is working on his laptop and I'm just having a protein shake. My own creation, 1/2 cup milk, 2 scoops of cookies and cream protein powder, 2 sugar free oreos, a handful of pecans and half cup of ice...put it in a blender and good to go. It's like something from Dairy Queen.
Back to work tomorrow. =(
Have a great week everyone! Countdown to Texas!! woohoooooo
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