Trip to DC

I just renewed my passport...Of course as luck would have it, in 2007, the rules were changed for renewing passports overseas. It can only be done on embassies now and not at consulates. Washington DC and LA are the only places in the US with Swedish embassies. I had to pick. I picked the city of history and beauty. I must say, I really adore DC. What a great city!

I left on Saturday and came back on Tuesday. Here are some pictures of my adventure.


Just a week prior this park (mall) was packed with 2 million people!








I snapped this picture at the national building museum. This is the actual first proposal for the white house. I am glad that it didn't win. What an ugly bird at the top...








This is the biggest door I have ever seen! It is the door that leads into the national archives where the declaration of independence and the constitution is on display. The young man who took the picture of me thought that the door would hold up to any zombie attack. I think the doors look like something out of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. A government site lists as one of the facts about the National Archives Building that the doors are the largest bronze doors in the world. I wonder how many tons they weigh???







Here is the actual end of the constitution (not a copy). If you look closely you'll see the word "done" and all the signatures. I felt such awe as I pondered the significance of this historic document that was just a glass thickness away from my fingertips.




I have never been so awestruck by architecture and lavish interior design as when I got to take the grand tour of the Library of Congress. It is the largest library in the world. It receives more than 10,000 new volumes every day...It has more than 650 miles of filled bookshelves and is the home of one of the first Gutenberg Bibles. But that is really not what makes this building so impressive. This library is built like a temple for learning and all the intricate marble details on the floors and walls throughout instruct the keen eye of the importance of acquiring knowledge and wisdom. All the ceilings are gold plated mosaic celebrating poets and philosophers through the ages. As I consider the architectural wonder that is the Library of Congress I can conclude that only the Taj Mahal has come close at invoking such feelings of awe in me at the sight of craftsmanship.

Our tour guide pointed out that this hallway was once used for office space! Can you believe it? I wouldn't mind setting up my desk in this hallway! Isn't it just splendid?

Jefferson's personal library was on display here. What a man! I have a new found respect for that man. He was a ferocious reader and "loved books more than life." He actually said that he could not live without books. The man read books in Italian, German, Greek and it didn't matter if it was deep philosophy, light prose or just cook books. He was a very learned man.


I thought this picture would be interesting to share. Let me explain. In the background is the back of the white house and the bleachers you see in the front were being dismantled as I took this picture. Those were the bleachers used by the people waving at Obama as his motorcade took him from the White House to the Capitol where he was sworn in.




The capitol lit up in the evening.

I took so many pictures of the different museums and art galleries I went to. I saw master pieces by Renoir, Matisse, Kandinsky and many many more. At the national air and space museum I saw the actual Apollo shuttle that landed on the moon and the Spirit of St. Lois which was the first air craft completing a transatlantic flight. Of course, there were many many more things worthy of mentioning but time won't allow. I just have to say one more thing. What is so great with DC is that all the exhibits, monuments and museums are free and they are all well connected with subway stops. I really had a great time.

Jim and Carol were such great hosts. Thanks!