{"id":1632,"date":"2016-05-14T22:22:27","date_gmt":"2016-05-14T22:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/?p=1632"},"modified":"2016-05-16T11:53:13","modified_gmt":"2016-05-16T11:53:13","slug":"we-see-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/05\/14\/we-see-dc\/","title":{"rendered":"We see DC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ah, Washington DC. \u00a0Our nation&#8217;s capitol. \u00a0There is so much to do in this area we knew we wanted to spend about a week in order to fit it all in. \u00a0We stayed 6 days in all and spent 5 of those in the city. \u00a0And it was all really really good.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Lincoln\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26376292373\/in\/album-72157665874709244\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7234\/26376292373_a89aca26a1_n.jpg\" alt=\"Lincoln\" width=\"257\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><a title=\"White House\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26946888926\/in\/album-72157665874495864\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7013\/26946888926_c324d56cf9_n.jpg\" alt=\"White House\" width=\"263\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Our first day we took in the Jefferson Memorial before going to the American History museum. \u00a0I didn&#8217;t think we&#8217;d spend that much time in that museum but we spent most of the day there. \u00a0I think it is because there is so much diversity that you can&#8217;t get bored with any one topic. \u00a0There&#8217;s technology, business, food, transportation, money, clothes, etc. \u00a0It&#8217;s really like a bunch of museums all under the same roof. \u00a0 And there seems to be a good amount of hands on stuff for the kids. \u00a0After we left the museum we went over to catch a glimpse of the White House before stopping at the Washington Monument to answer some of the Jr Ranger questions. \u00a0We left town about 6:30 and we stopped at a BBQ joint for dinner on the way home then crashed as soon as we got home.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Student\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26946894146\/in\/album-72157665874495864\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7283\/26946894146_50b71e7e88_n.jpg\" alt=\"Student\" width=\"228\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><a title=\"Classic bike\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26376183213\/in\/album-72157665874495864\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7577\/26376183213_5c435c0410_n.jpg\" alt=\"Classic bike\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><a title=\"Washington monument from TJ\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26946886276\/in\/album-72157665874495864\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7540\/26946886276_92c18f76b7_n.jpg\" alt=\"Washington monument from TJ\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can check out all of our first day pictures\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHskwr1Cu1\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Day two I dropped the family off at the Natural History museum to save them the long walk from our free parking spot near Jefferson Memorial. \u00a0I had some work phone calls to tend to before meeting up with the family for our sack lunch we packed. \u00a0I think our collective favorites of this museum were the gems and minerals and the butterfly pavilion. \u00a0Normally there is an additional fee for the butterfly pavilion but I had read that Tuesdays it was free. \u00a0Sure enough, it was free! \u00a0It is not a big butterfly pavilion by any means, but it is still really neat to see all the delicate creatures flitting around. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I was a real rock hound as a kid and I still enjoy finding cool rocks, but the specimens in this museum were some of the craziest things I&#8217;ve ever seen. \u00a0So many of them looked like they had been cut by a machine and some didn&#8217;t even seem like they were rocks&#8230;.but they were natural and they were rocks.<br \/>\n <a title=\"Hairy rock\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26886273222\/in\/album-72157665874709244\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7367\/26886273222_15e093778c_n.jpg\" alt=\"Hairy rock\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nPardon my tangential thought here but I&#8217;ve always wondered: why are some rocks so pretty? \u00a0There are so many beautiful things in nature that have a scientific explanation and reason for their beauty. \u00a0Flowers have\u00a0bright, beautiful colors to attract insects who spread pollen. \u00a0The rainbow lorikeet&#8217;s striking colors help it attract a lifelong mate and keep the species going. \u00a0Our moon is a beautiful sight in the sky but is also essential to sea life as it pushes and pulls on the tides. \u00a0But I think nature\u00a0would do just fine if quartz never formed into beautiful quartz crystals, or gold was not shiny, or geodes looked the same on the inside as they did the outside. \u00a0Speaking of geodes, caves are sort of like big geodes. \u00a0Many are completely sealed off and we don&#8217;t even know about them&#8230;.yet. \u00a0Would the circle of life be disrupted\u00a0if they were simply pockets of air rather than chambers elaborately decorated with speleothems? \u00a0Some caves are home to bats, insects, and fish but as far as I can tell the formations in the cave do not serve them any special purpose. \u00a0Could it be that these masterpieces were placed here by an intelligent creator solely for the enjoyment of humans? \u00a0I think\u00a0yes! \u00a0But if you have any scientific reasons for why rocks are pretty I would honestly like to hear it, so please post a comment or send me a note.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, after the museum we hit several of the memorials on the national mall on our way back to the car. \u00a0The WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, MLK Jr Memorial and FDR Memorial. \u00a0I really thought the museums would be more interesting to me than these static monuments and memorials&#8230;but standing in the shadow of these grand pieces of art and history is breathtaking. \u00a0They really invoke a deep respect and gratitude to those who have helped shape our nation into what it is today. \u00a0Our timing at Lincoln&#8217;s Memorial was perfect as the light seemed\u00a0optimal for the reflection of the Washington Monument in the reflecting pool. \u00a0We sat on the steps to work on Jr Ranger books and to just soak\u00a0in the moment.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Enjoying the nice weather\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26947006046\/in\/album-72157665874709244\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7103\/26947006046_01bd2f603c_n.jpg\" alt=\"Enjoying the nice weather\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><a title=\"Reflecting pool\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26947005156\/in\/album-72157665874709244\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7763\/26947005156_f072e45dc8_n.jpg\" alt=\"Reflecting pool\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><a title=\"Pondering\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26912000761\/in\/album-72157665874709244\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7536\/26912000761_d7af9e2914_n.jpg\" alt=\"Pondering\" width=\"295\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Day two photos can be viewed <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHskwr2HUY\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Our third day in the city was a big one. \u00a0We had contacted Senator Gardner&#8217;s office a couple weeks earlier and had set up a tour of the capitol. \u00a0We were to meet at the Senate office building at 11:00. \u00a0So after parking at our free spot we hopped on a bus to get us to the capitol. \u00a0Its supposed to be $1\/person but the guy only made us pay $2!! \u00a0SCORE! \u00a0At Senator Gardner&#8217;s office we were able to stash our stuff and then Kyle, a staffer, took us on a personal tour. \u00a0This tour was probably the highlight of our visit for me. \u00a0I&#8217;m not that big into politics or architecture but I felt like we were getting the inside scoop on our private tour while everyone else was on these big crowded tours. \u00a0We got to take the little underground train from the Senate Office building to the capitol (kids totally loved that). \u00a0Kyle showed\u00a0us the Colorado statues and took us some of the places that the big groups don&#8217;t go. \u00a0And there were many encounters with people who had business in the capitol (not tourists) who were genuinely happy to see our family visiting their office. \u00a0We got to see senate in action (Wednesdays they are in session!) however it was not super exciting. \u00a0We did see Senator Cruz come in to vote on something and another guy gave a speech about reducing red tape so communities can spray for mosquitoes. \u00a0Our visit here was really really awesome except for my little run in with security (I&#8217;ll save that for another post&#8230;but, no worries, I&#8217;m not in jail!). \u00a0When we went back to the Senator&#8217;s office to retrieve our belongings, guess who came in the door? \u00a0Senator Gardner! \u00a0He was with a couple of suits who seemed to be in a hurry but Cory took time to welcome us, talk to the kids, ask where we were from and made a connection to Longmont. \u00a0What a politician&#8230;but it worked&#8230;the guy was an instant hit with the kids! \u00a0We rounded out the day with a visit to the Supreme Court.<br \/>\n <a title=\"Riding the senate train\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26886395922\/in\/album-72157668029139652\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7768\/26886395922_209283b634_n.jpg\" alt=\"Riding the senate train\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><a title=\"Colorado's Swigert statue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26886395772\/in\/album-72157668029139652\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7197\/26886395772_a4ba5c6962_n.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado's Swigert statue\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Not a whole lot of photos from this day, but <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHskzHpK1Q\">here<\/a> are a few.<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Thursday I stayed at the rig and had a marathon work day while Steph and the kids went to the zoo&#8230;.and they had a BLAST. \u00a0I&#8217;m hoping they write a post about it to share their experience.<\/p>\n<p>Our last day in the city started out like the others&#8230;soggy. \u00a0I dropped the family of at the Library of Congress to shorten their walk. \u00a0I parked the beast then huffed it to the Air and Space museum to meet up with them there. \u00a0It was a ZOO!!! \u00a0Sooooooo flippin&#8217; many people it was hard to move around. \u00a0We were tired from 4 long days, the rainy weather was impacting our spirits and the crowds were just ridiculous. \u00a0On top of that we have seen a lot of aircraft during our trip: \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/02\/08\/big-boat-big-beach-and-big-tree\/\">USS Lexington<\/a>\u00a0in Corpus Christi, <a href=\"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/02\/15\/wwii-museum\/\">WWII Museum<\/a> in New Orleans, the <a href=\"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/03\/31\/more-space\/\">Kennedy Space Center<\/a>\u00a0in Florida and the <a href=\"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/04\/27\/lights-and-flights\/\">Wright Brothers Memorial<\/a> in Kill Devil Hills. \u00a0We checked out a few of the highlights before deciding to call it a day. \u00a0And when we walked outside&#8230;.SUNSHINE AND BLUE SKY!!! \u00a0Oh it felt so good&#8230;I just about danced right there on the sidewalk. \u00a0That morning I was about to suggest we find sun on the weather map and drive straight for it no matter where it was, but now it was here! \u00a0We stopped to get the kids&#8217; Jr Ranger badges before heading home.<br \/>\n <a title=\"Jr Rangers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26767468320\/in\/album-72157668172418191\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7042\/26767468320_d591958dcf_n.jpg\" alt=\"Jr Rangers\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>We were sort of craving pizza but didn&#8217;t have much in the pantry at home and we were low on energy too. \u00a0So Steph Googled a pizza place and found Charlie&#8217;s. \u00a0We decided to give it a shot. \u00a0And it was amazing!! \u00a0Tiny little place that serves Italian and Greek food\u00a0and has great\u00a0service. \u00a0Our hostess brought rolls and these &#8220;cheese pies&#8221; that were flaky pastries with a little feta inside. \u00a0The two younger kids order gyros and the 3 big kids ordered a pizza. \u00a0The food was excellent and while we were eating an older guy\u00a0came over to adjust the blinds and he asked how everything was. \u00a0We asked if he was Charlie and he sat down and just started chatting with us. \u00a0Told us he was about to turn 80, and how much he could have bought the entire strip mall for back in 1986, and how everyone says he should expand but he likes it the way it is, and how beautiful the kids were, and how we needed to have some desserts. \u00a0When we go out we do not order drinks (other than water) or appetizers, so we certainly do not order desserts. \u00a0But the next thing we know 3 desserts are delivered to our table. \u00a0&#8220;These are from Charlie&#8221; the hostess tells us. \u00a0They were big and they were DE-LISH!! \u00a0The place filled up quickly and it seemed like everyone who came in was a friend of Charlie&#8217;s. \u00a0Thanks Charlie, you were the perfect end to our DC visit! \u00a0Charlie&#8217;s doesn&#8217;t have a website but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Charlie's+Pizzaria+Restaurant\/@38.7122196,-76.9882401,15z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc9a2d9d0e2aa8530!8m2!3d38.7122196!4d-76.9882401\">here <\/a>it is on google maps.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Charlie\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/26947448992\/in\/album-72157668172418191\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7335\/26947448992_b523126e55_n.jpg\" alt=\"Charlie\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Only a few photos of this day too, but you can check them out <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHskzW55Jt\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Our last day in the area was a rest day. \u00a0I worked and Steph did laundry and a grocery run, so not much rest for us I guess.<\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ah, Washington DC. \u00a0Our nation&#8217;s capitol. \u00a0There is so much to do in this area we knew we wanted to spend about a week in order to fit it all in. \u00a0We stayed 6 days in all and spent 5 of those in the city. \u00a0And it was all really really good.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[50],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1632"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1632"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1646,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1632\/revisions\/1646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}