The Big One Live Trip Report DC Day 10

[mrsbigbeak]

Today was going to be another full on day we planned on doing all the memorials on the national mall. We leave our hotel at just after 10am and head down to Lincoln memorial, it was a scorching hot day so knew we were in for a rough day. I must say Lincoln memorial is my favourite, as expected crowds were crazy but we managed to get some good pictures.

Abe

Me and Sarah standing outside

We were already sweating profusely so sat down in the shade near the Korean War memorial. We chilled out for a bit and then go to the Korean War memorial, some of the figures were quite haunting. I must say they have done a great job of all the memorials on the mall

Next up it was DC war memorial me and sarah were talking about the cover in the middle of it on the floor and was wondering if it was a tunnel to somewhere after we seen a TV programme saying there were escape tunnels all over DC. much Smaller than the Jefferson memorial this one was still impressive

We sat down for a while to chill out and get out of the sun, it really was hot today, maybe the hottest so far, anyway next we head over to the Martin Luther King Jnr memorial and for me is the second best memorial on the mall. Carved out of stone he really looks impressive, surrounding him are some of his quotes from various speeches. Not many people here so we manage to take some great pictures, something amusing was the pigeons who decided they would photobomb everyone's pictures by perching on top on Kings head and didn't move at all, I wonder what Dr King thought.

The aforementioned pigeons.

Sarah really likes selfies, I don't know how she is going to manage in Disney

Next up the Roosevelt memorial, we have a look round a huge footprint of a memorial and various statues, some of the fountains weren't working but it didn't spoil it.

We make our way round the tidal basin towards the Jefferson memorial, and step inside, standing there, looking out to the Washington monument he really is majestic. Surrounded by parts of some of his quotes this is another fitting memorial. Outside we find the nearest

Impressive

It was now coming up to 4pm and with reservations at 5pm for the Washington monument we make our way over and find a shady spot to chill out before our visit to the top. We get to the monument at 4.45 as recommend and have to wait for a half hour because they were running behind, we get called up and headed through security and into a waiting corridor for our lift up 500 feet to the top, I got to be honest there were some great views from here and nice to se the memorials from up high. I do recommend it but advise you book your tickets well in advance, you only pay a postage fee so it's quite cheap $8 dollars something for the 4 of us.

Capital building at the end of the photo

Anya looking out towards Lincoln memorial.

Jefferson memorial

Asking for donations of stone to finish the monument Wales sent their very own and this plaque marks their contribution.

So next we head to the White House

On the way there we spot this little chap, he wasn't bothered by us at all

This was as close as I was getting to the White House as they closed it off to the public

So we decided just to wait a little to see if the re- opened it

So nothing was happening apart from seeing people come in and out of the White House

Then all of the sudden I seen police bikes escorts and secret service and the street we was on was closed off

Then we seen the presidents car being escorted briskly past us

Which meant the street was open to the public again so I rushed down to get some good pics

Yay it was quite empty I was one of the first there

Me and Mark

Another of the White House

So we walk around to the other side

I think I like the other side the best ! Oh and I was informed that it was the presidents birthday today , that's most probably why they shut the street off as he was going to five guys for his birthday lol

Next we head to world war 2 memorial

The Vietnam memorial

We grab a mc Donald's
And head back to the hotel

[app]

New Photo Added by mrsbigbeak - 5 Aug 15 11:49 PM.

[k l is excited]

Wow Sarah you have taken lots of amazing photos. I bet it felt good getting a photo of the presidents car (a typical case of being in the right place at the right time, if you ask me)

Where do you get all your energy from I'm amazed.

[Megandllsmum]

Another jam packed day 😀 wow you were pretty close to the American president ... Maybe he was waving to you but you couldn't see through the dark windows 😀. Have another great day today xx

[mick]

Another great day the amount of planning you have put into your holiday is fabulous I'm sure it has all been worth it

Joan

[Jake71]

That is such a wonderful day, so interesting and full of fantastic photos, and a glimpse of the president almost!

[Guest]

Washington looks fantastic!

Just had to add, we are also a family of Gummer's, also from South Wales. Related maybe?

[Guest]

There is some serious photographs here how are you storing them all lol . Imagine that could of been Barack inside that car whisking by you