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Today was my free day and I used it almost completely efficiently. Capitol building, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Air & Space Museum, Freer Gallery, National American History Museum, National Natural History Museum.
My feet hate me. A lot.
I arrived at the Capitol at 8, thinking that ticket handout started at 8:15. This turned out to be a vicious lie, probably circulated by al Qaeda. As of Monday, the handout starts at 9:00. So I spent an extra 45 minutes standing in the very cold, very wet rain. I spent most of it chatting with someone who works in Saudi Arabia for some oil company. He and his family were on a mandatory, company paid, month long 'repatriotization' vacation. Which was really great timing, because the town they live in there took some scud hits in the last war. It was a great conversation -- certainly an unusual perspective on current events. Plus it was the first time I've been able to impress someone because I read ArabNews.
The Capitol tour, while pretty, was much shorter than I expected. I got to hear the ellipsoid whisper effect in the old House of Representatives. I got to see the original painting on the back of the two dollar bill. (DC is all about stumbling across scenes from money.)
Coming out of the Capitol, I paused outside the door to zip up my coat and arrange my hood. Some other people were in front of me doing the same thing. A guy was idly asking them some questions, where they're from, what they've been doing, etc. I wasn't really paying attention until I finished and walked past. He had a sniper rifle. He was there to kill anyone who acted funny.
The Supreme Court was the most moving thing I've visited here. Not because of anything in particular on display; it was rather spare. But because of what the Supreme Court is. I have to consider it the single most important aspect of the federal government. It is checks and balances. I ended up staying much longer than I had planned, but the lecture in the main chambers was worth it. I really must attend arguments there some day.
Library of Congress was nice, but truth be told I was a bit rushed. The Gutenberg was great, though oddly tucked away in a corner. The next tour wasn't for some time, so I didn't get to go into the main reading chamber.
With the attractions on the hill finished, it was on to the Smithsonian. Oddly, it wasn't the Flyer, or the X-1 or the Apollo 11 CSM that I found really moving. It was the V-2. The (full size) Hubble and Skylab replicas were also impressive -- impressively large. Some very nice ukiyo-e prints in the Freer Gallery. American History was a bit overwhelming. A great exhibit on printing technology. I had had no idea how wackycool linotype machines were. Some very pretty machinery in an exhibit on the industrial revolution, including an absolutely amazing pin making machine. It was like the orrery in Dark Crystal, only about a meter across and with much more densely packed mechanisms. I wish I had lived back then. I like gears and insane mechanisms. I only saw some of Natural History before they closed, but the mineral collection is really great.
There was a lot of great stuff, in summary. I walked far too much, mostly while far too wet. I was actually hobbling by the time I got back to the hotel. But everything on my To See list, except the National Archives, has been accomplished.
Some random observations: There are a lot more umbrellas here. The natives all walk while on escalators. Cars never bother trying not to end up in the intersection when the light changes -- in fact I think they try to do it. Even at a red light, they'll pull up blocking the crosswalk, just so they can inconvenience someone. Everyone is well dressed here. I've felt under-dressed the entire time I've been here.
I never did see a SAM emplacement.
My feet hate me. A lot.
I arrived at the Capitol at 8, thinking that ticket handout started at 8:15. This turned out to be a vicious lie, probably circulated by al Qaeda. As of Monday, the handout starts at 9:00. So I spent an extra 45 minutes standing in the very cold, very wet rain. I spent most of it chatting with someone who works in Saudi Arabia for some oil company. He and his family were on a mandatory, company paid, month long 'repatriotization' vacation. Which was really great timing, because the town they live in there took some scud hits in the last war. It was a great conversation -- certainly an unusual perspective on current events. Plus it was the first time I've been able to impress someone because I read ArabNews.
The Capitol tour, while pretty, was much shorter than I expected. I got to hear the ellipsoid whisper effect in the old House of Representatives. I got to see the original painting on the back of the two dollar bill. (DC is all about stumbling across scenes from money.)
Coming out of the Capitol, I paused outside the door to zip up my coat and arrange my hood. Some other people were in front of me doing the same thing. A guy was idly asking them some questions, where they're from, what they've been doing, etc. I wasn't really paying attention until I finished and walked past. He had a sniper rifle. He was there to kill anyone who acted funny.
The Supreme Court was the most moving thing I've visited here. Not because of anything in particular on display; it was rather spare. But because of what the Supreme Court is. I have to consider it the single most important aspect of the federal government. It is checks and balances. I ended up staying much longer than I had planned, but the lecture in the main chambers was worth it. I really must attend arguments there some day.
Library of Congress was nice, but truth be told I was a bit rushed. The Gutenberg was great, though oddly tucked away in a corner. The next tour wasn't for some time, so I didn't get to go into the main reading chamber.
With the attractions on the hill finished, it was on to the Smithsonian. Oddly, it wasn't the Flyer, or the X-1 or the Apollo 11 CSM that I found really moving. It was the V-2. The (full size) Hubble and Skylab replicas were also impressive -- impressively large. Some very nice ukiyo-e prints in the Freer Gallery. American History was a bit overwhelming. A great exhibit on printing technology. I had had no idea how wackycool linotype machines were. Some very pretty machinery in an exhibit on the industrial revolution, including an absolutely amazing pin making machine. It was like the orrery in Dark Crystal, only about a meter across and with much more densely packed mechanisms. I wish I had lived back then. I like gears and insane mechanisms. I only saw some of Natural History before they closed, but the mineral collection is really great.
There was a lot of great stuff, in summary. I walked far too much, mostly while far too wet. I was actually hobbling by the time I got back to the hotel. But everything on my To See list, except the National Archives, has been accomplished.
Some random observations: There are a lot more umbrellas here. The natives all walk while on escalators. Cars never bother trying not to end up in the intersection when the light changes -- in fact I think they try to do it. Even at a red light, they'll pull up blocking the crosswalk, just so they can inconvenience someone. Everyone is well dressed here. I've felt under-dressed the entire time I've been here.
I never did see a SAM emplacement.
no subject
This is my favorite thing you've said about the entire place. :)