dc: day two

{We spent 2 days using these double decker buses as transportation around the city. Riding on top of these buses even made Carly's top 5 list especially when we took the night time tour.} {first stop...Jefferson Memorial. This was one of my favorites. It made both mine and Carly's top 5 lists. I don't know if it was because it was a beautiful morning or because it was quiet. I loved the architecture - the rotunda and huge columns, the speeches on the wall, the view of the White House and Washington Monument across the basin. It was gorgeous.}

{surprise, surprise....when we get to the Lincoln Memorial we discover that is is being rededicated in a couple of hours with a ceremony including thousands of veterans AND the President! Needless to say, it was a little chaotic but it was still amazing and Abe was just as magnificent as I thought he would be. And just as great as being on the steps and inside seeing Abe was walking down the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.}

{Carly at the Vietnam Memorial. It was a little busy but still quite a powerful statement, made even more poignant by all the veterans there and trying to explain it all to Carly.}

{Between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument is the fairly new World War II Memorial. There are granite pillars for each of the states and territories that existed during the war. Story to shake your head at: We were walking around the circle looking for the pillar with Mississippi on it and a little girl came running by us to her mom and siblings. "mom, mom, mom, they have Puerto Rico as a state." and the mom replied without missing a beat "I guess it is, they are in the Miss USA pageant". what?}

{After a morning of memorials and mounting temps, we decided to head to the National Museum of American History. It was definitely my favorite of the Smithsonian museums. Carly has been talking about Dorothy's ruby slippers for weeks and there they were along with Kermit, Oscar, Mohamed Ali's gloves, Minnie Pearl's hat, and much more. My favorite part was the special exhibit on Lincoln. We also saw the First Ladies' dresses (Carly wants to know what is going to happen when there is woman president?...hmmm) and the original Star Spangle Banner.}

{the back of the white house....we went around the world and ended up at the back of the white house. This is one of Kacey's pictures but I love Carly in the foreground at the gate. There was also a small demonstration going on in the street which was completely mesmerizing to Carly. There was chanting and at some point I think they said "save the camels" but I finally had to pull Carly away}

{the front side of the white house...it was a tad bit chaotic at the gate made even worse by the appearance of Bo- the presidential dog showing up. I didn't get a picture because I felt the need to protect my child from others who became a tad bit excited by the tiny furry dot playing in the side yard. I also skipped taking the picture of the scary, dressed-all-in-black, toting the biggest gun I have ever seen man in the trees right on the other side of the gate. I was a little worried that it might have made him testy and I am quite sure that he had lots of buddies who were not as noticeable as he was.} {Mom with her chili dog at Ben's Chili Bowl. After lots of sight seeing and before the night tour on the double decker, we set off on the metro to find the highly recommended dive. It was not a disappointment. The food was good and it was full of character (and characters). There was a sign that said "who eats free? bill cosby and the obamas, everyone else pays"}

{we finished one very long day with a beautiful night on the night tour on top of the double decker bus}