DC Here We Come - Day One

And I am off!  Washington DC here we come.  Jen, Jon, and I meet at the airport where I am given a NEON yellow t-shirt to wear (along with shirts for two other days too, but they are black)  So, I am not too worried about anyone losing me today.  Yep -- that's right.  As if my hair doesn't stand out enough as it is.  We are all able to check ourselves in so take a seat to wait on the group.  While we wait, I snap a quick picture and Jon coins it an "Usie" since there are three of "us" in it.  It doesn't qualify as a selfie to him.  Kinda tells you how my next few days are going to go, right?

It does take awhile, but soon everyone is off to security, then for a drink and something to eat (Mister sent a fresh scone with me - yep, I'm just that lucky), before heading to the gate.  The flight is on time and we are on our way.  I have brought projects to work on and spend my flight drawing and coloring on graph paper.  My travel mates?  Well take a look.



Three hours later, here is my first view of Washington, DC.  Or somewhere nearby, ha ha.  At any rate, we are about to land.  Time to pick up my project and put on my walking legs.

Met at the airport by the Brightspark representative, luggage is picked up and we are loaded into two buses.  Students and teachers in one -- everyone else in the second.  Joe, our driver, sets out straight to the National Mall so that we can visit the Smithsonian museums.  I have been looking forward to this since I heard we are going.  Let's see what we can find of interest.

The National Mall is full of activity as we are let loose near the Air and Space Museum.  We are given 3 hours to roam - NOT NEAR ENOUGH - and that has to include lunch.  Let's get going.  (Picture to the right is the National Gallery of Art - on my list for next time.)

Jon is pretty excited over the Air and Space Museum although hearing that he only has about 45 minutes dampens that a bit.  As we enter, the building, I feel the student in me rising to the surface.  Open those brain cells up -- it's time to become a sponge.

Jen and I search for the Mackay Trophy so that we can get a picture of it for her husband, Louis.  He was awarded it in 2009.  Here is the official press release on that:  THE CREW OF PEDRO 16 The crew members of Pedro 16, an HH-60G Pavehawk, distinguished themselves under fire during rescue operations near Frontenac Forward Operating Base, Afghanistan on July 29, 2009. Demonstrating the utmost bravery, Pedro 16 and two Army OH-58s engaged enemy forces in an effort to defend and recover Pedro 15 who was downed by enemy fire. Pedro 16 landed, positioning their aircraft directly between enemy positions and the crew of Pedro 15. With rounds falling within 10 meters, Pedro 16 evacuated 6 USAF aircrew and 3 US Army soldiers from the hot landing zone. The selfless actions of Pedro 16 reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.  Crew of Pedro 16  Major Norman Shelton   First Lieutenant Boyd K. Smith Captain Kaylene J. Giri   Captain Louis M. Heidema

Jon was pretty young when this all took place and doesn't really know anything about it.  He's pretty impressed and starts looking for one of his teachers to show them.  No luck, but it's nice to see the pride in his eyes.  Jen and I take turns down on the floor trying to get a good shot of the medal with his name on it.  I hope she does better because my picture is so blurred that you can't read it.

Now, onto the rest of this museum.  Next up:  Orville Wright and his original Wright Flyer.  Here's how educated I am:  I thought the plane was called the Kitty Hawk -- not the place he flew it.  Goodness, Deb - BUT, I have already learned something.  The trip is a success.

Oh to fly like this.  Wouldn't it be terrifying and thrilling all at the same time?

We move onto the next section and are now with Apollo, heading into space.  Watching on television certainly does not prepare one for the actual size of things.  Even Jon has to stop and admire.

We pet moon rocks, and take in several more exhibits before moving on to the next building, The National Museum of Natural History.

As we are walking we come upon a drummer (or at least his drums made of 5 gallon buckets as he was nowhere to be seen).  Up the stairs and into some of the loveliest architecture that I have ever seen in person.  I am mesmerized.

The number one star attraction in this museum is the Hope Diamond, so like everyone else, we get in line to view it.  It is not as large in person and I had imagined but it's color radiates beautifully even from inside it's vault.

The natural sandstone sculpture catches my eyes as well.  Nature is the ultimate artist.  Man can only attempt to mimic and expand on it.

Next we find an exhibit that allows you to sit down and have your picture taken.  It will then transform you into a cave person and let you see what you would have looked like.  Apparently I have very masculine features, cos my Neanderthal sister has a beard.

I'm being kind to Jen and Jon and not posting their pictures here for others to see.  I will leave that up to them to post, however, I WILL say that Jen's did look female.  Also, I not sure the computer thing knew what to do with the red hair because it stayed and the others didn't keep theirs.  Funny.

Our brief time here has come to an end as well and we are off to our last stop for today.  Oh goodness, but I could spend a full day in each of these and still not see everything.  (When Mister saw the pictures after I returned home - his comment here was, "Oh yes, there's the elephant I remember.")

Across the street is the original Smithsonian building, lovingly called The Castle, which now houses the administration and an information center.  Oh, if only time permitted.  Next stop:  National Museum of American History.  I have the giggles as others from the group arrive here at the same time.  Apparently, one of the big attractions here are the ruby slippers from Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.  Well, by golly, we have GOT to see those.  Off we go.

Well, here they are.  Not as sparkly as I imagined and much, much smaller.  Judy Garland sure had narrow feet.  Glitter and sparkle and red, Oh my.  I did find a few sewing machines too, but those are in the quilt post so I have spared you from reading about them.  The one thing I truly want to see while here in this area is the American Quilt Collection.  We do our best to locate it, but to no avail and finally have to ask one of the staff.  It turns out that since they are renovating half of the museum, the collection is put away for now.  Really?  Drat.  Now, I definitely have to return to DC.

The snow outside has been driving Jon nuts.  He wants to play in it so we leave the museum with enough time for him to build a snowman before we board the buses.  The sunlight behind the Washington Monument looks lovely and catches my eye first.  Now to Jon, who for some reason has decided to get into the bus instead of making a snowman.  What?  So I start building one without him and I guess that is impossible for him to resist as he gets off the bus and join me.  Dang, this stuff is cold on the hands.  We manage to make a very lopsided snowman with the smallest circle in the center and then he is off rolling more snow before the final call for the bus.  Hopefully that is out of his system now.

The itinerary says that we are now going to the National World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument.  We do a drive by on the Monument (another reason for a return trip) and stop at the memorial.  The light outside is beautiful so I walk around and take a few pictures before entering the grounds.  Look at the monument now -- oh so pretty.

The Jefferson Memorial is in the distance and looks lovely right now as well.  I do hope we get a chance to go there.

It's funny how the light from the sinking sun is working.  The colors are only present near the monument right now and the rest of the area is perfect.  I make my way towards the memorial and am calmed the minute I walk in.  This is a wonderful memorial and everyone seems to feel the same way as the quiet that envelops this place fills us as well.

Each state has a tower with a wreath and there are two side -- the Pacific and the Atlantic.

As I walk around, I find the Montana and Texas columns.

Finding a path that leads behind the monument, I am able to see the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.  Oh -- must take a picture of this beauty.  Would have preferred it without the  cones, but it is what it is.  They are rebuilding the fountains.

Once I am back inside the walls, I discover a group picture going on.  As it is too late for me to get this shot, I settle for my vantage point and then try to play with Jon on a few perspective shots.  We don't manage to get it quite right, but I learn a lot and we have a little fun.

The last thing I spot before leaving is this wall of gold stars.  It is called the Field of Stars and has over 4, 000 start to honor the more than 400,000 lives lost during the war.

One final look back nets me this picture.

As we drive away, we pass the Dc War Memorial that commemorates the citizens of the District of Columbia who served in World War I.  Through the bus windows.

Dinner is at Buca di Beppo but we are a bit early so Joe takes us on a night bus tour of Embassy Row.  It's too dark to photograph, but the homes are pretty dang impressive.  I would love to walk this area in the daytime at some point.  Reason number three to return.  I'm building a list.

Now, the restaurant is ready for us and that's good cos everyone is hungry and tired.  It's time to feed the mob.

After dinner, we check into the hotel, receive our room keys and literally crawl into bed to relax a bit.  The students are under security's watch now and we are too pooped to party.  Night.