Washington, D.C. - Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Arlington, Smithsonian and Maddie

We took the shuttle from the campground into the Metro station and managed to get off the Metro at the right stop!  Our first stop of the day was Arlington National Cemetery.  We’ve been there before, but it’s always a moving experience.  I especially wanted to come back to see the Arlington House that sits on a high hill overlooking the cemetery and has a wonderful view of the city of Washington, D.C.  This house was Robert E. Lee’s home until the Civil War.  The house actually belonged to his wife.  The Lee’s were married here and six of their seven children were born here.  The last time we were here it was going through an extensive renovation.  They did a very good job on the renovation – it’s beautiful now. 

This is looking up at Arlington House from the site of John F. Kennedy’s gravesite, where there is an eternal flame.

This is looking at the city of Washington, D.C. from the front porch of Arlington House.  I could have sit there kicked back in a lounger with an ice cold drink most of the day – but all those pesky tourists would have gotten in my way.

 

The next two pictures show some of the renovated rooms.

 

 

 

We were able to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Don’t miss that if you ever have the opportunity, it is so precise it is awesome.

 

We got back on the Metro and headed downtown to the Smithsonian museum complex on the National Mall.  Just a word to the wise – this time of year there are hordes of school kids and families headed to the Smithsonian.  There was a Folklife Festival going on in the mall itself and when it started to rain (once again, it’s following us) all of those people also decided to visit the museums.  At one point there were so many people packed into one of the areas, claustrophobic me had to escape to a hallway and sit down for a while.  I might find the museums more enjoyable at some other time of year.  I do find the outside of the Smithsonian Castle pretty amazing, inside not so much.

 

The highlight of the day was meeting up with daughter Robyn and granddaughter Maddie at their house for pizza for supper (Dad had to work late).  She had to show Papaw almost every toy she has.  And, of course, Papaw was glad to participate.  Almost every photo I tried to take of her is a blur, she was constantly on the move.