2009-04-15

Oh, The Places You'll Go - The Other Washington

I know I said that this was 'Cora Week' the other day. I really didn't mean my blog was going to focus exclusively on her. There will be plenty of that this weekend. :-)

So I though I'd return to the series that highlights the photos in my sidebar. I cheated, because that's the kind of guy I am, and recently added a whole bunch of pictures over there, just so I could feature them over here.

These pictures are from about a two and a half years ago. I was on a road trip with my parents out to visit my brother, who lives in the Shenandoah Valley. We took a day trip on a bus tour up to Washington, D.C. I hadn't been there since the Carter administration, so a lot had changed.


The
Washington Monument from Arlington National Cemetery. I could have probably spent all day in Arlington. We were at the Iwo Jima Memorial, when some Secret Service agents showed up, and the tour guide hustled us onto the bus. She explained that if we didn't get moving then, we'd get caught up in security, and lose about an hour.

Looking up the Spiral Staircase @ U.S. Supreme Court building. Looks like one of those conch shells.

This little grotto like structure called "The Summer House" was a neat little quiet space on the Capital Building grounds.

And speaking of the Capital Building, out in front is the U.S. Grant Memorial. Classis Washington statues with the soldiers and horses, but a sense of chaos and energy that most can't muster.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of the newer ones but also one of my favorites. The rocks and water are supposed to represent the turmoil of his 4 terms.

The Memorial was the last one went to that day, but the crowd had thinned out, and it was so peaceful and tranquil with the water features.

The Memorial is filled with great quotes like this one, that make you realize how far we've wandered from this path: "We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, and hatred is a wedge designed to attack our civilization." Even is we never lived up to those ideals, those are good words to read every one in a while.

These were amazing life sized bronzes of men waiting in a food line.

I've been fold that I rarely put recent pix of myself in the blog, so I thought I would include this one. (I think I was tagged to post a recent picture of me by someone. There ya' go.)

This is an important reminder from the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Most people are more familiar with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, but this statue of three servicemen is also part of the scene.


We are now back to a much more classical style with the
National World War II Memorial. I don't know the guy, and I have been tempted to Photoshop him out more than once.

And we wrap up out tour with another shot of the Washington Monument. This one is across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Monument.

I hope you enjoyed the little trip. While I included a couple of the familiar sights, I hope that you also saw something new and interesting, too.

18 comments:

mo.stoneskin said...

From what I've heard the roof of the Supreme Court is a giant conch shell. Left by aliens I believe.

Cora said...

Great pictures! I've never been there. We were planning a family trip to DC when I was a kid, but for some reason it never actually came together, so instead when I was about 17 my mom and I hopped a plane to New York City for four days which was amazing!

Bea said...

firstly, someone call up Indianna Jones, you have found the REAL Holy Grail at 'the summer house'.

secondly, i look at the pictures before reading the captions so i thought the men in the foodline were actually waiting for the loo. lol.

and thirdly, i named that man for you. his name is Spot and he needs to be fed and taken for walks in other people's pictures DAILY. ok? don't make me call the RPCA on you!

from the Gnu

spleeness said...

I live in the area and you have just highlighted all my favorite places. Beautiful pictures! I love the one of the monument, it's framed perfectly between the leaves. Also the WW2 memorial looks great. The nice thing about the stranger in the photo is that it gives it a sense of scale.

Just made my day to see these, thanks!

SkylersDad said...

Great photos, I have always wanted to visit DC.

Sass said...

I've never been to DC, and those pictures make me realize that if I go...I'll probably be all girly and cry a lot.

So much beauty, and so much inspiration. (And I'd choose to ignore the ugly, evil, nasty side of it...you know, the politicans.)

Great pics!

OG said...

Great pictures. They reminded me of how awesome DC is.

Zani said...

I love it when you post pictures Scope! Those were really great! Thanks so much for sharing them. =]

Fancy Schmancy said...

Awesome pics! The closest I've ever come to DC is driving the dreaded "Loop" a couple of times during rush hour on the way to or from Florida.

Jan @ Struck by Serendipity said...

I have a thing for posing WITH statues. I couldn't have taken the photo of the men standing in a food line without standing behind them. I'm sure that's disrespectful in so many ways considering it's a national exhibit. And since there are secret service folks wandering around, I now have yet another reason to stay away from DC.

You sure are meeting a lot of bloggers this year! Planning any trips to FL?

Tom said...

Those are some nice pictures. I have some family that has been trying to get me to go back to DC and visit for a while now and after reading your post I may try a little harder to get out there.

~E said...

blah! I was all excited to see pics of Seattle and all I got was this lousy tshirt.

Hope you have fun here. And hope it doesnt rain, snow, or hail...as it has been threatening to do for the last week.

Sassy Britches said...

Thanks for sharing a few unknowns (no pun intended); they were really cool. I especially liked the FDR one, The Summer House, and the one on oppression. From existential to literal (I've been striving since junior year of college to be able to use the word "existential" in the correct context. Did it work?).

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

Going to DC was one of the best trips in my entire life. I cannot wait to take my children there. It really is spectacular! Your photos are fantastic!

(oh..yeah...just been by Cora's and saw that she's "uh-em" cleaning house for your visit..wink wink...)

Scope said...

All, thanks for the kind words about the pics. I took a lot of the standard shots that you see everywhere, too, but wanted to focus (pun intended) on the the less familiar, but more intimate places. (Okay, Grant & WWII are not small, quite places, but still.)

And Jan, plenty of people do pose with the statues in line. I actually had a go back to that section an wait a while to get a shot WITHOUT people standing in line with them.

~E - There may be a picture or two from YOUR Washington NEXT WEEK.

Cowguy said...

Great pictures Scope! That's a trip that Sal and I keep talking about making. We both love history and Sal's pretty involved politically. We've never been but we'll get there someday! Thanks for showing 'em off.

You gettin' giddy 'bout the other Washington yet? lol

*knows the answer*

Scope said...

Jace - Stop with the flapp'n and start with the packin'.

I'd seriously give yourself two whole days (min) to do it.

Day 1 - An organized tour with a guide. (Push it)
Day 2 - Two museums and hitting spots you missed driving by the day before. (More casual)
Day 3 - Wow, didn't get as much done on day #2 as I thought I would...

Like I said, I have solid memoies of being there when Carter was in office, so there were a lot of things we didn't miss by not seeing on the tour, but if it's a one time trip, give yourslef time and leave nothing left on the table when you leave.

J.J. in L.A. said...

Awww! I love your 2009-04-17 Quick Hits. : )