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We made it to DC and trundled our increasingly heavy suitcases to the Hotel George close to Union Station. The hotel met the girls approval and after a quick freshen up we dragged them out to the Smithsonian - no time to spare!! Hmmmm, more museums and buildings! We checked out the National Art Gallery and the Natural History Museum before pressing on to Washington Memorial. The National Art Gallery has the most amazing collection of French Impressionist art and we saw some of the most famous paintings on the planrt. There was some murmurrings in the junior ranks - something about boring, boring old man's stuff - never mind, only 27 more museums and galleries to explore, not to mention scores of buildings! Johnny Rocket burgers for dinner at the Union Station food court before crashing for the night.
Next day after breakfast at the corner bakery we headed out for some more boring, boring old mans stuff. It is a short walk to the nations Capitol and Supreme Court and after the obligitory photos (sadly the dome is under repair and is scaffolded) we press on. This is Easter weekend and again half of the population of US had the same idea as us. A queue for the Air and Space musuem running down across the podium and on to the footpath was enough to put any non-queuing kiwi family off so we decided it could wait. On to the Americian Holocaust Museum where security allowed us to take in our water bottles but only after we had taken a sip in front of them - higher security than airports it seemed. We were not able to view the main part of the Holocaust Museum as it was booked out but the other displays were very interesting and sobering. We carried on to the tidal basin famous for it's cherry bossoms in April. The cherry blossom festival was on and much had been organised for the day including a fireworks display in the evening. The only thing missing was the main stars - the cherry blossoms! The cold late winter had slowed the budding and so would be late this year. Never mind - more buildings and museums to see! We pressed on. A small rebellion broke out and the girls took a short cut to Lincoln Memorial while Clare and Nige headed around to Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King memorials. Lincoln and Vietnam memorials were very impressive but unfortunately the huge reflecting pool had been drained so the girls reflected instead on how far they had to walk to get back to the hotel! We passed the White House but couldn't get within 300m. When Clare and Nige were here in 1991 we walked straight up and did an interior tour. No chance now! T and E headed back to the hotel via the shortest route while N,C, and Ch checked out the Hope diamond in the Natural History museum. Ch pulled the pin at that point while N and C ventured back to the Air and Space. Exhausted we reconvened for dinner (Taco Bell!) before crashing for the night.
Next day we took a taxi to Arlington Cemetery. This is a very impressive place and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was excellent. The Amercians have huge respect for their fallen soldiers. JFK and Jackie O are buried here also. Arlington is a beautiful and peaceful place befitting those who are buried there. We head back to our hotel early afternoon to uplift our bags, on to Union station and jump onto our massive double level Amtrak train for the overnight journey to Chicago.
The train ride was for the most part a very pleasant experience - well organised, comfortable, and best of all - no buildings or museums or km's of walking! Clare and I had a sleeper room for 2. There certainly wasn't room to swing a cat and once the beds were set up (bunks) you needed to be a contortionist to get changed. Great for those needing new hips! T, C, and E on the other hand had a much larger sleeping compartment complete with en suite. You still couldn't swing a cat - but perhaps a small squirrel. There was a diner car which served excellent dinner and breakfast and an observation car with reclining chairs and big panels of glass. We met some interesting people at meal times including an elderly couple from Denver. He was quite deaf and insisted that his requirement to yell at his wife was because she was deaf. He wondered if we felt inferior because we weren't Australians! We met a very interesting couple at breakfast. He was a Vietnam vet who had been injured three times and carefully described a rocket attack on his barricks where his friend Joel was hit and died in his arms. More than any 21 year old should have to bear. We all slept a little lightly but we were comfortable and it was a unique experience for us although Clare did mention it was like sleeping on a roller coaster. The harness for the upper bunk was a little disconcerting! We had some lovely rural views and saw the sunrise. We pulled into Chicago 2 1/2 late around lunch time due to a draw bridge refusing to go down fully sometime in the wee small hours.
- comments
Kirsten What an amazing trip guys - loving the photos and stories from the old man! We thought your idea of a train trip was a goodie - so booked a 25 hour one, to be told by Lauren later that day how much Chantelle enjoyed the overnighter! Hope those suitcases expand to fit the new wardrobes. Keep having fun and thanks for sharing.
Bill Train trip sounds like a blast guys - although Nigel your description is worlds apart from the one Chantelle posted to Lauren. Different train drivers maybe?