Day 2 Our Nation's Great Capital

What an amazing day! It seems like its been a week and I am very tired but very fulfilled. First of all let me just note that it is EXTREMELY HOT here. The days are usually reaching 99 degrees or so and the humidity is just unbearable. The beauty of humidity is that all your clothes begin to hang lower and stretch downward. My shorts had turned into virtual capris by the end of the day reaching down to my calves. Regardless of the wet heat…the day was incredible.

We arrived in D.C. and had a devotional with a view of the capitol. It was so cool. It was during this time that our quartet got up and sang “America the Beautiful”. It was all I could do to keep my composure while singing. What a great land we live in. Then we were released for the day to do what we wanted in DC.

My first stop was the Holocaust Museum. There is such a sacred, hushed reverence that accompanies events like that. I feel like I’m almost intruding as I learn about the horrible things that happened during that era. As I walked through the museum I reflected back on my time going through the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. As I rounded one corner I was overcome with emotion as I entered a room filled with shoes. These were the shoes of people’s bodies who were burned. I just stood in this room and cried. I can’t imagine what would drive people to feel justified in doing such awful things to these families.

After that sobering event we met at the White House for our tour. This was a little anti climactic. You only tour the lower floors of course. Some were impressed by the State Dining Room. I thought it was just ok. Our tour was over in about 10 minutes and we were off to the next event.

OOOOOOh I forgot to mention the lightning and thunder. The thunder claps were so loud that we literally would jump. I felt like I could feel it creeping down my spine and it gave me the chills. All of a sudden it was raining and raining HARD. We got to the bus just as the skies opened up and literally flooded the streets in a matter of seconds. This happened for the remainder of the day in spurts. It would suddenly cloud up and just pour. Several from our group were not as lucky and got very wet.

Our next stop was Arlington National Cemetery. WOW! Again…a a very sacred place. I was not prepared for the experience I would have there. Our tour guides made us a very comprehensive book with guides and facts about where we are going. Its so fun for me to read and discover the facts about these places. I’m considering another degree….but in U.S. History. How fun would that be?

We went to the tomb of the unknown soldier and witnessed the changing of the guard. What an AMAZING experience. I especially loved reading about this ceremony and the guards involved. Its times like these that I feel great hope. There is so much right in the world and that’s where I need to focus. There are good, good things that we do here. We stopped at the Kennedy gravesite on our way back to the bus, stopping under a tree to avoid the downpour and then headed back to DC.

We then went to to National Archives to see the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence. Very cool. It reminded me of the movie National Treasure. Apparently we’re watching that on this trip after we go to Boston. I can’t wait!

After the National Archives we were waiting for our bus and watched quite a show outside on the sidewalk. There were two street vendors trying to sell their wares to the group. One was selling “Ice cold water…one dolla” and the other had a bag and would promptly whip out a pile of sunglasses when asked. After the sunglass man made a few sells the water guy got upset and started accusing him of being in his territory. Poor sunglasses guy couldn’t walk without water guy following him. Water guy was beginning to foam at the mouth, swear, and just wasn’t very happy. Soon a third gentleman approached, used a towel to wipe water guy’s mouth and began selling water while the other two kept arguing. It was HILARIOUS. Who knew we’d a get a street show while waiting?WWII Memorial - Those are stars in the background for all those who died.

The evening was spent eating dinner in the park and seeing the monuments by night. We went to the WW II Memorial, Vietnam, Korea, Jefferson, FDR, and Lincoln. These monuments were beautiful at night and the significance of each one really stood out to me. The Washington Monument by night

It’s a little frustrating because I want to know everything RIGHT now. I want to know the details and the “whys?” but I’m just having to be patient and learn everything little by little. There is so much to learn and know about our great nation. Someday.

We got back to the hotel VERY late tonight and I’m suspecting the bus ride will be very quiet tomorrow! Nighty night!