What to do in Washington???

***Miles travelled today: ...the car stayed in the garage... we went everywhere by bus and foot!!!

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: Stayed in Washington DC

What a fantastic day we have had today!!! After a fantastic breakfast at a little french cafe just outside the hotel, we made our way to the City Sightseeing stop just on the next block... we opted to do the tour on English Double Decker Red buses... as they offered the best deals... and we have our hop on and hop off tickets for both today and tomorrow!!! When we started our explorations this morning the sky was very grey and muggy... but we made our way to Union Station... which has so many restaurants and shops... not just a railway station... by the time we had finished exploring in there, which also included looking at an art exhibition, of various pieces from school children around the country, which in itself was fascinating... we decided to walk down to Capitol Hill, where we took numerous pictures of the Capitol Buildings and then we walked down the mall, to the Washington Monument, and then down along the reflecting pools, to Lincoln Memorial... It was quite a long walk, but well worth it... with stops for a picnic lunch, stops to ask questions of the locals, to watch locals playing a game of 'ultimate', a cross between American football and frisbee... (Don't ask - that's how it was explained to Jay!!!)... stops to take in the World War II Memorial fountains, which was just unbelievable... I think that due to the fact that it is Memorial Day weekend, there are a lot of troops around, as well as veterans of the various wars... Whatever ones views are on war, it is unbelievable to see the patriotism displayed by very ordinary people...

A few roads were blocked off and there were various places that we couldn't visit as there is a huge concert on the grounds of the Capitol buildings tomorrow and there is a huge parade on Monday...

We got back on the bus, and made our way to the White House - as we had not yet seen it, except for a glimpse earlier in the day...

...so we have a photo or two of that as well... there is a woman on the grounds in front of the White House who has been protesting Against War since 1981... she has been there 30 years, she is now 73... they cannot move her, as although there is now legislation preventing protest in the Gardens around the White House, she was there long before the law was passed!!!

We then made our way back to Union Station, where we had a bite to eat... and write some postcards... (although we still have cards to write from Niagara and Lancaster!!!)... we then made our way back onto the tour bus for a twilight/night time tour... which was really great...

...we are now back at the hotel, thoroughly exhausted, after a brilliant day... we are now trying to decide what museums to visit tomorrow... as we can't do them all!!!