Washingon DC

Iwo Jima

My Favorite

Jeff and I read The Lost Symbol a few months ago and we realized that we lived within a few hours and not a few days. We decided that we should take a little trip.

Our first stop was just after we arrived in the city. We parked at the National Mall and walked around to a lot of the memorials at night. I had visited 2 times before and Jeff once.

You really do appreciate it more the older you are.

When I went in High School, the tour guide suggested that if we ever got the chance, we should visit the sites at night, especially The Korean War Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial was so bright. People were perched all around the upper level like little pigeons.

The Washington Monument

(up close)(Far away with the reflection pool)Korean War Memorial
WWII Memorial WWII Memorial lower levelIt had been a long day for all of us.The Capitol(inside the Rotunda)

Yeah, not really the most exciting place for a 2 year old.
The Crypt

Ford's Theater

(where Lincoln was shot)

Then we went to the Zoo.

You see that little speck just to the right or our heads?

Yeah, that's the "GIANT" Panda.

The Flamingos were by far our favorite.

Neither of us had ever seen one in real life.

(asleep)(awake and squawking...

They sound like geese)Classic Jeff Weirdo Face Kam loved this bear

DC Temple



All in all, we had a fun, short trip. We swam in a really cold indoor pool, accidentally parked in a handicap stall which lead to a little $250 ticket, got to take a double stroller on the Metro, and ate some really yucky pizza.

We also took a few wrong turns which led us to see some really old, amazing areas that we wouldn't have seen had we followed the GPS correctly. (that thing can cause some stress)

I know that it might sound like I'm complaining but it was an adventure and we are so glad we got to go.


One more thing before I go...
This picture does not do it justice. This is one of the elevators in the Metro. We had people tell us it would be really easy with a stroller. This is actually a really funny story.
We had lots we wanted to see so we left our hotel room about 8:45 which is pretty good for having the boys with us.
Started walking toward the station and felt super-de-duper out of place. We were the ONLY ones in jeans and most definitely the only ones with 2 kids, sporting a double stroller.
We had a hard time finding the first handicap entrance.
We bought our little day passes.
Couldn't get through the gate.
Couldn't find the station manager so we just helped ourselves and went through a side gate that was open.
Couldn't find the elevator so we took the escalator. This was seriously the longest escalator I have ever seen. I felt like we were plunging to the center of the earth.
We got some scuzzy looks too. People had to go around us.
The cars were jam-packed so we walked to the end.
People were looking at us like we didn't really belong there for some reason. (Which at the time I thought was so weird)
We got off and located the elevator.
Scanned our little day pass to get out. No go. It wouldn't open for us.
The station manager standing close by couldn't get it to work either. He looked closer and said, "This is a day pass. They aren't supposed to let you through until 9:30. I don't know how you got through."
Oopsies...hehe
We just kept awalkin.
We didn't tell him we just let ourselves through.
The reason we were so out of place and kept getting scuzzy looks is because we, aka "tourists", are not supposed to be able to get through. It interferes with the morning commute.
Silly us. What do we know?