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Published: April 25th 2011
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we are sitting at the airport in London already and waiting for our plane to Mumbai. I know we are late with writing but the time goes soo fast...
Anyway we got to Washington by Amtrak train again. The train took 35 hours but included 2 nights which wasn't so bad. After our arrival and after viewing the train station you could already tell that this city is somewhat different. The Union Station was reopened in 1988. It was the largest, most complex public/private restoration project ever attempted in the United States. In 1903, Daniel H. Burnham, Director of Works, principal architect of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, was chosen to design Union Station. The white granite and classic lines used in Union Station set the mode for Washington's classic monumental architecture for the next 40 years through the construction of the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Federal Triangle, the Supreme Court Building and the National Gallery of Art.
This time we were lucky with our choice of hostel. It opened just 3 days before and it was only a few blocks from the station and the city centre. Even though we were tired from the journey, the weather was
so beautiful that it drove us out of discover. We started a little walk around the U.S. Capitol, “Newseum” and towards to the National Gallery of American art and portraiture. The gallery is located only a few blocks from the Whitehouse.
First, we decided to investigate what Chinatown looks like in Washington, but we gave up already at the gate. Actually all look alike for us, but of course everyone will defend that their Chinatown is the best. And even though we wanted to save the White House for the next day, we decided to go in that direction and let it up to chance. The weather was really beautiful, so we didn't want to spend a sunny day in museums, which later turned out to be a good choice😊.
Around the Whitehouse were accumilated, obviously the most people. Snippers were patroling at the front and on the rooftop, even one sniper-girl 😊 All around the Whitehouse is a tall fence and in the middle is a small bell, on which is written reception. Joost ofcourse without hesitating rang the bell and waited what would happen ... And nothing happend 😞. Only snipers with Ms sniper-girl looked the crowd more
alert. Obama obviously wasn't home, so we let the thea party in the Whitehouse for later and continued our journey. Next to the White House is located the II War Memorial where I was interested in some U.S. Army guys that were sitting around. Well, because they looked friendly (not as Mr. SWAT at Ellis Island), I asked them for photos. They weren't shy so began to talk with us. They were Americans serving in Germany for last 4 years, close to the Czech Republik and loving czech dumplings and klobasa. 😊 After few minutes we continued around the Red Cross to the Washington Memorial. From there was beautiful view of both the White House and the Abe Lincoln Memorial Park with all the museums and the U.S. Capitol. After a short rest we went to check out the National Museum of American History. Finally, we had spent almost 2 hours there. The sun slowly sank lower and lower, so we rushed Around 2nd WW memorial, and got to the Abe Lincoln memorial, which is even more amazing than as in the movies. The old gentleman is still sitting there and watching what is happening in Washington...
In addition, we
visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial and Thomas Jefferson memorial, where we waited for to sunset. These memorials are situated around a beautiful lake with on the banks beautiful blooming trees. The day we finished the walk back to the hotel and the purchase of dinner.
The next day we started relaxed and excited, but the weather messed uo our plans a little. Cooled by several degrees and raining and raining and raining 😞 We went to the U.S. Capitol to see if we could take a tour. Shall be managed and we joined a small group of tourists. The United States Capitol – which is Among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met here for More Than Two Centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol & has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; Today, it stands as a monument not only to builders ITS ook But to the American People and Their government. After a few hours spent inside, we went to museums to educat ourselfs. Interestingly, of all museums in Washington are free, and belong to the Smithsonian Institution. First, we decided to explore the
Air and Space Museum, which holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. Easy, we may have spent a few hours again, but which were really educational and fun - from the introduction of the first attempt after flying in from the expedition of Space. Another goal of us was the National Museum of Natural History. This museum offers incredible collection - over 500 million total Specimens of plants, animals, fosisils, minerals, rocks, meteorites and human cultural artifacts. And easily become our most popular museum. And of course again we spent a couple hours inside. When we got out into the daylight, and the sun was setting, was almost already time is slowly approaching the hotel. At that time the rain had stopped so the park around the memorials and museums filled with people, tourists and dogs. 😊) Even though we werepromised hamburgers at hostel (the best cheeseburgers ever), we weren't so brave to rely on it and bought rather our “favorite” and most affordable food in a small market in U.S. - spaghetti, sauce and cheese😊 But the hostel employees didn't forget and cheeseburgers were already ready. I personally don't like burgers at all, but
Joost was quite enthusiastic, so I'm looking at his happy eyes had spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the bag .... Definitely will be times when they come in handy. 😊
We then spent the evening with other guests, talking and playing Wii until early morning.
The next day, we were already leaving for Tampa. Actually didn't want to leave Washington. There was still new things to discover and explore. And so this city went down to our already long list of places that you want in the U.S. visit ever. 😊
Train to Tampa was leaving around 3pm, so after breakfast and packed any items we have walked in the park and went to the National Museum of Natural History once more. Then quickly back to the hostel for rucksacks and headed jn the direction of Tampa Florida.
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Herman en An
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Amaizing trip
Hallo Joost en Darinka We houden jullie in de gaten,maar jullie doen het goed zeg,wat een trip en nog jullie hebben nog zoveel voor de boeg. Veel plezier Herman en An