Waking up at 6.00am is never the greatest start to the day but we managed to get away on time and get a bus to Port Authority in Manhattan. Here I said goodbye to my uncle after a few wonderful days with his family and I waited for my Greyhound bus to D.C. The bus journey itself was uneventful though quite comfortable. I managed to get a few more hours sleep and spent the rest of the 4 1/2 hour journey getting myself in the American mood by listening to New York and New Jersey classics- 'Illmatic' by Nas, and 'Born to Run' by Bruce Springsteen.
The journey also enabled me to tick off a few states on the map. I have travelled through New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia and one of my favourite states (Kate Wood Hill)...
After arriving at Union Station...
It was only a 15 minute walk to my hostel. The hostel itself was pleasant if nothing too special. I am in a co-ed room with six bunks although at the time of writing this, I don't know who else is actually in my room. After dumping my bag I headed straight back out into the city as I did not want to waste any valuable time. I have already been to Washington before which helped as I knew which monuments and museums I most wanted to visit.
At first I headed to the Capitol building for a few photos, I walked down the Mall to the 'Newseum', a museum about news throughout history. Whereas most of the attractions in the city are free, unfortunately this one cost me $25 to get in. Fortunately though, it turned out to be a very good museum.
At first I headed to the Capitol building for a few photos, I walked down the Mall to the 'Newseum', a museum about news throughout history. Whereas most of the attractions in the city are free, unfortunately this one cost me $25 to get in. Fortunately though, it turned out to be a very good museum.
During my first day's visit, I managed to see a real section of the
Berlin Wall, as well as one of the towers from near Checkpoint Charlie.
The temporary exhibit on the top floor was about the assassination of
JFK from the point of view of the media, including all the newspaper
headlines from the next day as well as broadcasts covering the minutes
and hours after the event. The highlight was watching the Walter
Cronkite broadcast (very famous) announcing the President's death. A
normally unshakeable Cronkite very clearly shaken. The
next part of the museum was a history of front covers of newspapers
featuring over 600 covers from across the world from the 1600s to the
modern day including the Declaration of Independence, The Assassination
of Jesse James, The death of Hitler, and man landing on the moon. At
this time with museum closing, I moved onto the National Archive
building just across the road on The Mall.
Although this building is famous for housing all the important documents of government, including the original Decleration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, the real treat came in the queue for these pieces. Tucked away in the corner of the room housing the documents stood a far more important document in world history and politics... An original copy of the Magna Carta. The document itself was in staggeringly good condition considering its age (1215), and you could still translate enough of the Old English for it to be legible to the reader.
By this time the Museums had all closed, but the monuments had not. First stop was the White House...
Here I had some quick business to attend to. Unfortunately for Baz (Barack to all of you plebs), I told him I would have to stop drafting foreign policy as I needed to work my way down the Mall. After shaking the Secret Service agents I made it to the World War II memorial which is a fitting tribute and powerful memorial to those who served and contributed to the effort. A short walk through a memorial garden stood a far more understated yet equally powerful monument, that to the Veterans of the Vietnam War. Cut into plain patch of grass, the memorial simply lists the names of those who died in Vietnam (over 100,000 American soldiers). What makes this memorial unique is the number of personal messages and bouquets laid at the floor of the marble walls. The reminder here that those lost are much closer to us historically than the other monuments. Furthermore, whereas the other monuments seem to be boldly and proudly showing their messages of a great feat or individual, the Vietnam memorial quietly mourns a generation of men lost for a questionable cause. From here I crossed over to the highlight of the monument tour, the Lincoln memorial. Rising high in the skyline, in front of the Reflecting Pool and opposite the Capitol building, sits a great figure. Walking up the steps to the statue itself (housed in a Greek-style temple) you are overpowered by a sense of importance. This is only furthered when you see the plaque marking the spot from where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have A Dream Speech'. Either side of the statue, who sits dominantly yet confidently over his viewers, stand the only things that can do a man such as him, justice, his words. In my mind 'The Gettysburg Address' is the most eloquently simple message, yet powerful speech ever to have been given. Further around stands the new Martin Luther King memorial that was being built at the time of my most recent visit to the city. Although the quotes on the walls surrounding the statue were wonderfully chosen, the statue itself does not do the man justice, and looks more like a caricature. The next monument, to great president FDR, is the most interesting, as it stretches out lengthways, featuring a number of different sections covering all his achievements and his three presidential terms. After visiting the George Mason memorial (don't worry, I hadn't heard of him either), and the more recognisable Jefferson memorial, I had completely tired myself out.
After such an early start and a comprehensive walking tour of Washington, I thought it best to head back to the Hostel and get a decent sleep. Tomorrow, I would try and see many more museums.
Although this building is famous for housing all the important documents of government, including the original Decleration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, the real treat came in the queue for these pieces. Tucked away in the corner of the room housing the documents stood a far more important document in world history and politics... An original copy of the Magna Carta. The document itself was in staggeringly good condition considering its age (1215), and you could still translate enough of the Old English for it to be legible to the reader.
By this time the Museums had all closed, but the monuments had not. First stop was the White House...
Here I had some quick business to attend to. Unfortunately for Baz (Barack to all of you plebs), I told him I would have to stop drafting foreign policy as I needed to work my way down the Mall. After shaking the Secret Service agents I made it to the World War II memorial which is a fitting tribute and powerful memorial to those who served and contributed to the effort. A short walk through a memorial garden stood a far more understated yet equally powerful monument, that to the Veterans of the Vietnam War. Cut into plain patch of grass, the memorial simply lists the names of those who died in Vietnam (over 100,000 American soldiers). What makes this memorial unique is the number of personal messages and bouquets laid at the floor of the marble walls. The reminder here that those lost are much closer to us historically than the other monuments. Furthermore, whereas the other monuments seem to be boldly and proudly showing their messages of a great feat or individual, the Vietnam memorial quietly mourns a generation of men lost for a questionable cause. From here I crossed over to the highlight of the monument tour, the Lincoln memorial. Rising high in the skyline, in front of the Reflecting Pool and opposite the Capitol building, sits a great figure. Walking up the steps to the statue itself (housed in a Greek-style temple) you are overpowered by a sense of importance. This is only furthered when you see the plaque marking the spot from where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have A Dream Speech'. Either side of the statue, who sits dominantly yet confidently over his viewers, stand the only things that can do a man such as him, justice, his words. In my mind 'The Gettysburg Address' is the most eloquently simple message, yet powerful speech ever to have been given. Further around stands the new Martin Luther King memorial that was being built at the time of my most recent visit to the city. Although the quotes on the walls surrounding the statue were wonderfully chosen, the statue itself does not do the man justice, and looks more like a caricature. The next monument, to great president FDR, is the most interesting, as it stretches out lengthways, featuring a number of different sections covering all his achievements and his three presidential terms. After visiting the George Mason memorial (don't worry, I hadn't heard of him either), and the more recognisable Jefferson memorial, I had completely tired myself out.
After such an early start and a comprehensive walking tour of Washington, I thought it best to head back to the Hostel and get a decent sleep. Tomorrow, I would try and see many more museums.
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