(7/30) Today was a full day of sights and tastes. Unfortunately, Solinda is sick and stayed back in the hotel room all day to sleep and lay low. We let the kids sleep in, then they went to the pool and we didn't end up leaving the hotel on the shuttle until about 10:30.
We got a tip from the driver to ride the Circulator bus route down and around the Mall from Union Station, so we did just that. We disembarked on the far west end at the Lincoln Memorial and enjoyed reading the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address before heading to the Korean War Memorial. The Korean War is also known as the Forgotten War and the biggest surprises for all of us were the facts that over 1 million UN soldiers were killed and there are still almost 500,000 missing!
The Vietnam War Memorial was next and we walked slowly along it looking for names we might recognize and found many surnames that we did. We also observed several families mourning and praying together for their lost loved ones...very good for the kids to observe. Brad looked up the dstances of the mall (.8 miles on the west and 1.5 miles on the east) while we walked past lots of geese and their droppings up toward the Washington Monument. We then realized we had to visit the World War 2 Memorial, and finally figured out the states are in the order of admittance into the Union.
We then found a bathroom and got a cancellation stamp for the Passport Book of the Park Service at the Holocaust Museum. We then went north to find food and ate nice lunches from all of the lunch trucks on the north side in the middle of the Mall. Sariah and Sam joined the rest of us devouring our food.
We then waited in long lines to get into the Museum of Natural History (which the kids voted for). We focused in on the Ocean creatures, then the Mammals, and lastly the Dinosaurs. We waited and rested while Brad and Jen looked at the Gem display as well, before we headed to the Smithsonian Castle.
Nathan and Sam jogged to the center of the mall and back to get more stamps for the area. Sam found a mistake and fixed it, so the ranger gave him a paper stamp. We barely caught a bus back after running about 100 yards and got back at 6:15 to the room.
Solinda then joined us to go eat at the famous Bukom Cafe, where we all stuffed ourselves on authentic West African food. Everyone enjoyed their experience. We then stopped by McDonald's and a CVS Pharmacy for some medications and treats. Got back to the hotel after some crazy driving around 9:30...long day with at least 5 miles of walking...
We got a tip from the driver to ride the Circulator bus route down and around the Mall from Union Station, so we did just that. We disembarked on the far west end at the Lincoln Memorial and enjoyed reading the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address before heading to the Korean War Memorial. The Korean War is also known as the Forgotten War and the biggest surprises for all of us were the facts that over 1 million UN soldiers were killed and there are still almost 500,000 missing!
The Vietnam War Memorial was next and we walked slowly along it looking for names we might recognize and found many surnames that we did. We also observed several families mourning and praying together for their lost loved ones...very good for the kids to observe. Brad looked up the dstances of the mall (.8 miles on the west and 1.5 miles on the east) while we walked past lots of geese and their droppings up toward the Washington Monument. We then realized we had to visit the World War 2 Memorial, and finally figured out the states are in the order of admittance into the Union.
We then found a bathroom and got a cancellation stamp for the Passport Book of the Park Service at the Holocaust Museum. We then went north to find food and ate nice lunches from all of the lunch trucks on the north side in the middle of the Mall. Sariah and Sam joined the rest of us devouring our food.
We then waited in long lines to get into the Museum of Natural History (which the kids voted for). We focused in on the Ocean creatures, then the Mammals, and lastly the Dinosaurs. We waited and rested while Brad and Jen looked at the Gem display as well, before we headed to the Smithsonian Castle.
Nathan and Sam jogged to the center of the mall and back to get more stamps for the area. Sam found a mistake and fixed it, so the ranger gave him a paper stamp. We barely caught a bus back after running about 100 yards and got back at 6:15 to the room.
Solinda then joined us to go eat at the famous Bukom Cafe, where we all stuffed ourselves on authentic West African food. Everyone enjoyed their experience. We then stopped by McDonald's and a CVS Pharmacy for some medications and treats. Got back to the hotel after some crazy driving around 9:30...long day with at least 5 miles of walking...
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