Washington, DC: Pt. 2

Remember that school house rock song about a Bill becoming a Law? Well, yesterday I saw the capitol building, and I couldn't stop humming that song. That little bill was so adorable and sad.

Washington, DC makes me tired. My feet are sore, my back aches, but damn did I get to see some cool things... as well as some surprisingly not so cool things.

Here is what is NOT awesome in Washington:

1) The White House-- so overrated.

2) The Library of Congress-- so boring*

3) The Hope Diamond-- kind of looks like a big sapphire... meanwhile the big sapphire looks like a big diamond... I don't know. I just expected something more.

Here is what IS awesome in Washington:

1) The Holocaust Museum-- Very powerful and well realised. I think Elie Wiesel is the chairman or something. There was also a small corner dedicated to the concentration camp revolts and they mention the big revolt lead by Leon at Sobibor (The subject of the play DEAR ESTHER that Next Act Theatre produced in '04). It was an amazing and moving museum and I highly recommend it.

2) The International Spy Museum-- I would make a terrible spy because I know I'd want to tell people. Or I'd at least want to say, "I have something I can't tell you.... Do you want to know what it is?" I'm terrible with my own secrets (but I can keep other people's secrets like a champ). Did you know that Julia Childs was a spy before she became a TV Chef? I always knew there was something suspicious about her.. but I always thought it was that she was a little manly.

3) Mel, my awesome tour guide on the sightseeing tour bus-- He reminded me a bit of Sammy Davis, Jr.-- similar sense of humor and all. At one point a car behind the bus began honking for us to move and he leaned out the side and said to the driver, "Just hold on a minute. There is riveting narration going on here."

*I should say here that even though the Library of Congress was really stupid and boring, in the basement there was a small series of rooms that housed some of Bob Hope's personal memorabilia. One piece in particular tickled me. An autographed picture from Bing Crosby on which Bing had written: "To Bob- I know you have yearned for an autographed picture but you are too shy to ask-- So with love, Bing"

I gotta say, I'm pretty museumed out. I've seen so much and taken so many pictures. I'm having a little bit of History Overload. So tomorrow I'll pack it in to move on out of DC.

My trip plans have changed once again. Due to a death in my Uncle's Girlfriend's family, I won't be returning to Norfolk this weekend. I will possibly be stopping in Cleveland, but any way you slice it, I'm headed back in the direction of Milwaukee. You can expect me some time early next week.

Happy Trails,
Lisa