Historic Big Washington

After delaying a day to wait for the rain to pass we moved to Greenbelt Park, a National Park Service campground near the DC Metro in Greenbelt, Maryland. This park is a great deal at $8.00 a day with my Senior Pass. The Metro parking is free on the weekends and only $4.25 during the week and the Metro fares are very reasonable if you travel during the off-peak times. I have been to DC about fifty times starting with our honeymoon 41 years ago and we both love the place. We always find something new to see and this time was no different. We had originally planned to stay four days but ended up staying six because there is so much to do.

On our first day we got together with Nanc's sister Michelle and her husband Keith. We enjoyed an afternoon at National Harbor where we had a meal overlooking the Potomac and then went to their house to see their pictures of this summer's trip to Italy. Once again getting to spend time with family is one of the best things about this lifestyle.
Top left is the Hotel Harrington where I stayed many times when we brought the seventh grade to DC. Top center are several old building facades that have been saved as part of a new building. This style of construction really gives the city an old time feel. Top right is Ford's Theatre where Lincoln was shot. Bottom left is the 1940's carousal that is run by the Smithsonian. Center is the Smithsonian Castle where the visitors information center is located. This museum complex is one reason DC can be such an inexpensive city to visit as all sixteen facilities in DC are free. Bottom right is the Awakening, a great sculpture at National Harbor.

Museums we visited.

Top are the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art where we saw The Chester Dale Collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth century French Art. We also saw the work of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a fourteenth century artist who produced portraits composed of heads made from plants and animals. Another exhibit was the work of Edvard Munch of The Scream fame. Bottom left is the National Portrait Gallery that had a Norman Rockwell exhibit and the permanent America's Presidents gallery. Bottom right is the Newseum with the First Amendment on a 74- foot tall tablet at the entrance. The museum is dedicated to the importance of the media to make sure the First Amendment is adhered to by the government. This was the only place we visited that charged admission, but we loved it so much we had to go back the next day to finish our tour.

A few of the exhibits at the Newseum which includes a 9/11 Gallery, Berlin Wall Gallery, Journalist Memorial, News Chopper, Pulitzer Prize Photos, Covering Katrina and an old printing press with the Declaration of Independence. There is also an Ethics Center, Interactive Newsroom, TV Studios (where ABC's This Week is aired), World Press, the Five Freedoms and News History. There are exhibits of famous journalists and I loved the quote of Tim Russert, "I don't believe you can make tough decisions if you can't answer tough questions." Some of these people who are worried about "gotcha" questions should take this into consideration. Exhibits covered everything from newspapers to TV to the newest Internet and blogger media.

Some of the art from the museums we visited.

This is just a small glimpse of the things we saw in city's museums. More to follow in the next entry. Below is a video of a visual arts project that is part of the walkway in the National Gallery.