Hey!
Here we are summer 2012 already and because we had no snow days, out a week before many other districts! NICE!
So, last Memorial Day weekend and again this past May, I had the great opportunity to visit our Nation's Capital, Washington D.C.
Both trips were fantastic but both times I thought to myself "my yung'un is just right for a first visit"
Well, this past Tuesday and Wednesday, we drove down to D.C. and saw as much as our energy and the heat would allow.
Ellie Sez;
Fourth Grade ROCKED!:) NO snow days since we got our snow in October! A week before Halloween!
Daddy Sez:
We headed out Tuesday morning about 9am from Bucks County and I was thinking we might miss the worst of the legendary D.C. traffic. Alas, the best laid plans...
Eventually, we arrived at our lunch destination, the "food-court-to-end-all-food-courts"
In the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian lies the Mitisam Cafe. Divided into a half dozen "zones", one may sample representative cuisine of all the major culinary groups of traditional Native Americans. An unbelievable cornucopia of tastes awaited us. I chose tortillas and rice and beans from the Desert Southwest and Ellie chose a Buffalo steak and wild rice and bean salad from the Northwest.
Ellie Sez;
The Buffalo steak tasted EXACTLY like real steak, except that the fatty parts were non-existent. Did not really like the bean salad, But, I LOVED my Dad's rice AND tortilla,( Flavorful chicken isn't something you see every day!)
Daddy Sez:
A memorable lunch in an amazing museum. As interesting and important as this newest Smithsonian Museum is, the architecture is breathtaking as well....
Next door is the famous Air and Space Museum. I was surprised and delighted that the sprout was really interested and in we went.
She seemed really amazed at it all but especially the original Wright Flyer from 1903, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and one of Amelia Earhart's early airplanes (notice the huge radial engine!)
Ellie Sez;
In school my teacher read us a book about Charles Lindbergh and the spirit of saint louis. It was AMAZING seeing the real thing!:)
Daddy Sez:
We then trooped across the National Mall (reflecting pool still being upgraded urgh!)...
Between the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Natural History lies a lovely oasis in the city. A modernist sculpture garden and a huge fountain surrounded by a circular alley of maples making for a soothing, shady respite spot.
Many great sculptures and a lovely fountain!
Off to the National Museum of American History....
We saw the original "Star Spangled Banner" which as we all know, flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor through a punishing British barrage and inspired Key to pen the immortal words we all recite tunefully as our National Anthem.
Always interesting exhibits abound but we spent some time with the popular culture and music areas.
An early wake up, 4 hour trip, 90 degree heat all conspired to make us cranky, punchy and tired so we headed out to our hotel. We took a pedi-cab to the car...nice!
Ellie Sez;
The Caste in the picture, was Mr. Smithson's mansion... Imagine living THERE!!!:)
Daddy Sez:
Let's just say, when we come back this fall to see more, we'll be taking the train, staying in-town, and using our bikes to get around. The traffic, the exorbitant parking fees, sub-standard-internet-obtained hotel all conspired to take some of the shine off an otherwise amazing trip. [This ends the rant] "Now back to our program...."
The next day, Wednesday, finds us at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. What a great place!
We both had a blast learning about everything from mail pilots to well-traveled postal dogs to stamp collecting and the history of mail sorting! It's housed in the original old Post Office, an incredibly enormous and beautiful building next to the venerable Union Station (no coincidence that by-the-way!)
At the moment, they also have a really, really interesting exhibit comparing and contrasting the twin tragedies of the Titanic and the Hindenburg through the lens of their respective mail rooms. Letters with burned edges from Lakehurst were particularly poignant.
Ellie Sez;
The traveling dog, ( Who just rode around in the mail car, and the workers took care of him!) Was named Owney and got all kinds of medals, so many, that someone had to make him a harness to carry all of them. (He's also stuffed, which I thought was creepy.)
Daddy Sez:
We mailed a few post cards and headed to lunch at L'Enfant Plaza's food court.
Then, the stroll over to the Hirshorn Museum.
I was completely blown away by the Hirshorn Sculpture Garden back in May and believe it or not, in all the times I've been to D.C., I'd never been in! (shame shame I know!) The Rodin's! The Moore's!
Miro's Lunar Bird. It took my breathe away...
This time we DID go in and it was breathtaking!
At the moment, in addition to their permanent collection, a fascinating display of pop and kinetic Art called "Supersensorial" is up.
The Jesus Soto "Blue" and "Four colors, Four Words" was a BIG hit with the kid!
Ellie Sez;
I absoulutely LOVED the Hirshhorn! I always love modern art. It inspires me SOOOOOO much! :)
Daddy Sez:
Of course as amazing as they were, I was speechless when faced with rooms filled with Calders and Ellsworth Kelly's and not one but TWO pieces from both Ernst and Arp.
Pinch me...I was dreaming...how beautiful, how brilliant...
The temperature had reached the mid-low 90's and we still had a walk and a long drive back to Chalfont...off we went...on the way we noticed that the Smithsonian folks had planted a flower display of their logo in front of "The Castle". We walked through, retrieved the car and headed home...through the traffic of course!
Ellie Sez:
I LOVED D.C.!:) Beginning with the American Indian Museum, (Which I quoted about,)
Then, The Air and Space Musuem. I loved everything about the planes and rockets, because I would LOVE to sprout wings and fly!!!! The Hirshhorn Inspired me to make a marker drawing of, "Four Colors, Four, Words," which in fact WAS four colors, AND four words! D.C. ROCKS I <3 D.C!!!:)
