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We headed out quite early and walked to Capitol Hill. I wasn't sure I would be able to find the visitor centre so wanted to make sure we had plenty of time. It is underground so as to not spoil the 'aesthetics' of the place. Like I thought, it wasn't really signposted but we ended up at the right place. I obviously look shifty too at 8:30am as they searched only my bag but I was allowed in in the end =P
We had booked to do a tour of the building. We watched a movie first on the history of the building and the the events leading up to it being built. We then toured through the building...obviously not through all of it... We visited the rotunda which is the main bit in the centre. It's where important people lie 'in state' when waiting for their funeral. We also saw the statue room and the original house of representatives room, which was too small then so they added the wings.
Emma and I then headed to Arlington to visit the cemetary while Tara went shopping. It was very easy (and cheap) to get to. It is an absolutely beautiful place - very serene and peaceful, even with tourists and children there. We saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. It is guarded 24 hours a day and has been since something like 1948. They have a very particular ceremony they go through changing guards and even marching up and down they have a particular routine they follow over and over again.
We then headed over to the Pentagon and was a bit disappointed. It is not as imposing as I thought it would be. There are no pictures as everywhere surrounding the building and at the bus station and everything it says 'No Pictures!' and somewhere like that, I wasn't even going to think about it - who knows what they'd do to you!
We then went to the International Spy Museum (again no pictures - and they would know if you had =P). It was full of history of spies and loads of equipment and techniques they use. You had to assume a new identity when you went in and then you browsed around and then they asked you about this identity and your travel plans. I passed..not sure what would happen if you failed! There was an air duct to crawl through. You could actually see people in earlier parts of the museum out little windows in the side...wonder if anyone was watching us? It also had a noise monitor and you were supposed to keep it below a certain level to pass the test...I didn't even notice it so was probably not very quiet!
That was all we had time for in Washington DC. Again, like New York, this is a place you could spend weeks and still not see everything...best thing though is that most of the places are free to enter!!
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