Washington DC, April 2009

I just got back from DC a week ago. I've not had a chance to put my journal together yet, but here's a few pics.

Air and Space Museum Part II at Dulles Airport (it's named for someone, but I know I'll misspell it.)

Me and the Enterprise Shuttle
We also visited the main Air and Space Museum as well as American and Natural History Museums. Mt. Vernon has 3-4 wonderful wax figures of George Washington. They used a computer generated model based on measurements of his clothing, hair samples labeled at dated that were found on site and used his death mask and a bust to model his face. The forensic folks believe these models give our modern world the closest view of Washington since those who knew him.
It has been almost 15 years since my last trip there. The new additions included the WWII Memorial, Newseum, FDR Memorial and the International Spy Museum. Each added it's own flare to the trip. Another great joy of the trip was the chance to see an old friend who'd since moved to South Carolina. Our friend was able to come and enjoy the first half of the trip.
After visiting Ford's Theater and the Petersen House we stopped at a souvenir shop down the street. A few minutes later the street swarmed with Metro Police blocking shop doors and lots of people in dark suits with earwigs. Fifteen minutes later the motorcade cruised past. In one of the vehicles, silhouetted in the darkened windows, waving at the gathered crowd was President Obama. This brief view elated my sister for the rest of the trip.