A Happy Anniversary or Anna the Death-March Master

We had such a fantastic time this weekend.  First it was so nice to see Rob again after his very long absence.  It was a joyous reunion.  Second, I'd forgotten how much I love D.C.  There is so much history and so much to do and it is so easy to get around.  Third, I can't remember the last time I was actually in a museum with a world class collection.  It really hit the spot.  Fourth, we ate very well.  Fifth, you know how the East coast has notoriously awful, hot, muggy, summer weather?  Well it was conspicuously absent.  The weather was pleasant and a couple of the days we had a nice cool breeze.  Sixth it was so great to know the kids were well looked after, so thanks Grammy, Pop-pop, Katy, Todd and Court.  Seventh, our hotel was only a couple of blocks north of the White House, a perfect location.  

It was such a fun weekend and I can't tell you how hard it is to come back and face real life, especially with only a few more days of summer vacation left.

Anyway here are the Day One Hightlights:

(Not included, pictures from my first night which consisted of stuffing our faces with sushi and a very pleasant walk past the White House, Washington Monument, WWII memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam and Korean War memorials).

The first day we got up and going by nine, but it turns out nothing opens until 10, so we hung out a bit at the Navy Memorial, where you can see Rob pointing to his father's route around South America back in his navy days.  
To kill time before the museums opened we metroed up to Union Station and walked down to the Capitol building.  It is quite sad that our country is now so stupid.  You used to be able to walk right into it but now you have to have tickets and bomb checks and all kinds of nonsense.  Oh dear, don't get me started on how stupid it is.
We did a quick swing through the botanical garden next to the capitol, which is always nice.
Then we did another quick swing through the new Native American museum.  The best part was the building and the landscaping (for any gardners notice the 3 sisters planted next to the building Native American style).
As we wandered around the mall that day there was a HUGE group of religious zealots holding what Rob dubbed a Jesus pep rally.  If you couldn't hear them shouting Jesus' name and other crazy things all over the mall you would have thought it was a Taliban get together.  It really was a bit freaky, and people were really really really into it.  I suppose, even the scary Jesus freaks have the right to gather peacefully, right?  Here I am being frightened by the spectacle as we made our way to the National Gallery.
And here I am, ending my very long museum fast.  I was so excited to get to the National Gallery again, and of course it didn't disappoint.

Rob admiring the Gilbert Stuart portrait of GW. A very fine portrait, indeed.

And me, drinking in the Vermeer room.  That one in particular is such a gem.  I love it.  I got my nose right in the painting, as per my training by my father.  Twas mahvelous!

Rob hadn't ever heard or Romulus and Remus and got a kick out of this depiction of them.

Taking a breather in one of the lovely atriums.

After the National Gallery we took a lunch break and ate some delicious Mexican food that was rather pricy near Chinatown.  Then we wandered back to the mall and buzzed the Asian museum which had a dandy Whistler exhibition and some cool Edo stuff.
Then it was over to Arlington where, due to painful feet, we wisely paid for the tourmobile bus.  We went to the JFK grave, and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the changing of the guard (which, since I am utterly cynical, seemed totally silly to me...I had to walk away so I wouldn't snigger).

We then took the metro down to King Street in Old Town Alexandria and took in the ambiance and found a yummy French place to eat dinner.  We peeked in at Christ Church, where GW himself went to church occasionally, but it was closed.  

 And then after all that walking, with our feet in major pain, do you think we went back to our hotel? If you guessed yes, you haven't traveled with me.  No, we didn't stop there. We got off the metro at Arlington, walked across the bridge, buzzed the Lincoln again and then hobbled over to the Jefferson, which as always, was beautiful and inspiring.  Why can't we have an articulate president?  That man knew how to inspire.  Certain politicians could take a lesson.  


Then we hobbled on back by the Washington, past the White House, and at last made it back to our hotel.  Not bad for one day, eh? Rob told me he never wants to go to Europe with me.