My latest adventures in America definitely require this blog to be updated. Whilst vacationing in New York, the Icelandic volcano began to erupt, and thus we became part of the millions of Europeans stranded in the United States. What an adventure!
We were really very lucky that the Hasties were able to accomodate us, and therefore we were able to treat this as an impromptu extended holiday. This was my cue to lead us on a tour of important American landmarks.
As you have read below, I have on previous trips to America, visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the National Archives, the White House,and the monuments in Washington D.C., but on a trip with those who haven't seen them before, they really are a must see. So we checked in to a hotel in Washington for 2 nights, and first thing on the Thursday morning we set out early to visit the National Archives, as I know the queues for this go round the block later in the day, we decided to do this first. As it happened, we were very early, and were in fact first in line. The weather was beautiful, and it didn't seem long to wait. We headed straight for the Rotunda where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are displayed. (For images of this room and many of the other places visited on this trip, as on some of my other trips, see the film "National Treasure").
Since my last visit to the National Archives, they have added to the display a copy of the Magna Carta of England which is the basis for the rights that were stated by the Founding Fathers.
From the National Archives, we then walked down Pennslyvannia Ave to the White House, past the famous frontage to take some nessessary photos, which included a "Flat Stephanie" photoshoot. (See Above)
Next stop, Union Station to pick up a sightseeing bus, and we chose to do the D.C.Ducks. Ducks are an amphibious vehicle developed during World War 2, to go from land to water. We had an excellent trip and saw Capitol Hill, cruised along the Potomac, and saw the monuments.
We returned to Union Station to get the Metro to Foggy Bottom, also see earlier posts below) and to see the monument that I had missed on my earlier trip to D.C., the Lincoln Memorial. Last time I had wandered the Mall, photographed the Washington Monument, the World War 2, Korean and Vietnam Memorials, and made it to the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial as the sun was going down, and keen to return to the Youth Hostel quite far back across town, I forgot to go inside the Lincoln Memorial. That iconic image of Lincoln in his chair, the one that talks to Lisa Simpson, the one imortalised in so many films, and I didn't go inside and see it on that occasion. So on this trip it was imperitave that we not miss it this time.
