Washington D.C.

There are places that one visits that are too large to take in with only one visit.  Washington D.C. is one of those places.  The first trip only allowed us to touch the surface.  The to do list still  needed to be shortened.   It now has more check marks, but isn't completed.  D.C. is a vibrant, complex, energizing city.  Like all large cities, it is constantly in motion and you are drawn into its spirit.  Modern elements mix with the old and fit seamlessly together.  We spent two very full days in the D.C. area and two more days exploring other unseen places----Baltimore, Annapolis, Fredericksburg, and Richmond.

The cherry trees were blooming and announcing the beginning of The Cherry Blossom Festival.

A view from above

 Arlington National Cemetery--row upon row of white.  There is a reverence that everyone who visits this place shows--a quiet respect!

                 National Cathedral ----Episcolpal Church which took 40 years to complete.

Looking into the reflection of a store window in Richmond

Old Town Alexandria.  It is a reminder of the past and the cobbled streets and old buildings remain very much the same .

  Order a halfsmoke--a sausage cooked on the grill until it is crisp and blackened covered in Ben's special chili--be sure to bring cash--no plastic accepted.

Neils took us to Ben's Chili Bowl which has been featured on Man Verses Food with Adam Richman.  You really need a local to find it.  When you find these hidden gems the next trick is to find parking.  Neils is one outstanding parallel parker.  I doubted his skill, but he proved me wrong. He squeezed into a space across the street. 

Would I go again  YES!   The area is so full of history.  To say you stood in some of these places gives you a chance to reflect and appreciate what you can only read about.  Somtimes you just need to see it for yourself and feel it.

Doesn't every album need a family portrait--look how much fun they are having.