Day 56 - DC 2

Back onto the Metro and into downtown D.C. again.   We left a bit later today, 10am, to avoid the Monday morning off to work crowd.   One change of trains and over to the Pentagon.   There was an anti-war rally going on which drew about 25 people and at least an equal number of Washington and Pentagon Police.  It was amazing to see so much law enforcement when we exited the Metro.   Some with Automatic Rifles and bullet proof vests.   I asked one of the officers if this was normal and he said that they had more officers out today than usual.   The protest I guess.  We couldn't tour inside the Pentagon as you need to fill in an application to visit and submit it by mail.   The armed guard told us it usually takes two weeks to process a request application.  We had no idea.   Both Martha's dad and my Uncle worked at the Pentagon at one time.  Below is pictured the Pentagon Metro Station.

We were allowed to make the trek, about half a mile, around the other side of the building to visit the 9/11 Memorial.  This is the only place that a picture can be taken.   Signs all over forbid pictures of the Pentagon, guards, people, squirrels, and the actual Memorial itself.   There is a wall with the names of the people killed in the  9/11 attack, along with a sizable garden with art work and little canals that I failed to understand.  I will have to research on the internet to see if there is an explanation.

Then we went over to Arlington Cemetery.

First stop for us was at JFK's resting place.  

Next to JFK only a short distance is Bobby's.

Then off to the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.

We stayed there to witness the changing of the guard.   Very formal.

Then back to the AeroSpace Museum for lunch at their cafeteria as we did yesterday.  Exiting we noticed the StarShip Enterprise model.  We are Star Trek fans and it was pretty cool.   It wasn't lit up yesterday so that must be why we passed it by unnoticed.  Martha shown here giving 'Kirk' a lift.

We walked over to the Smithsonian Castle.  So Awesome.

Beautiful Gardens

And beautiful inside

We walked only about what seemed like a mile over to the Washington Monument.

The Reflecting pond looking from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.

Then after walking the length of the pond, the view from the other side.

The WWII Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial

A short walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the Vietnam Memorial Wall.  Which, fortunately, by the Grace Of God, did not contain my name.

The picture below may become one of my all time favorite photos.

It was cloudy all day, 68 degrees.  Perfect actually for the amount of walking that we did.  Tomorrow it is supposed to rain most of the day so we will make plans in the morning when we see what it is like outside.  We got back to the trailer about 7pm.   Time now for some dinner and then watch the 'candidates' debate.  I think it may be more like a couple of kindergartners pointing their fingers back and forth at each other and shouting.   I hope that they can both be Presidential as the world is watching.     No matter who your candidate may be, thanks for making the 'choice' to tune in to our BLOG.