Washington DC Best Bits
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I'm back! I had a great 10 days in New York and Washington DC. I'm doing a wrap up of my best bits and things to definitely see if you visit in two parts, starting with Washington DC. I loved Washington and described it while I was there as the TARDIS of America. Walking around, the city felt surprising small with everything so close together. Once we got back to our apartment each night and looked at the map however it turned out we'd walked 9+ miles on our first day alone. It's definitely bigger on the inside. Walking was the best way to travel though. The metro was easy enough to use but soon got expensive and anyway you see much more by walking.
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| 49 of the fifty states are represented in the stained glass at the top. They're still working out how they're going to fit Hawaii in. |
Library of Congress
After a kinda disappointing tour of the Capitol we walked down the tunnel that connects to the Library of Congress and arrived just in time for the next tour. After a short video explaining the role of the Library everyone was split into 3 smaller tour groups and assigned a guide. We were given Shelley and jumped aboard #shelleystour.As soon as this little lady in bright fuchsia started bellowing SHELLEY'S TOUR as she walked up the stairs we knew we were in for a good time.Shelley turned out to be some what of a rebel and we loved her for it. Highlights included see the beautiful reading room and one of the three remaining copies of the Gutenberg Bible. As well as Shelley going off tour to show us a cabinet containing the photo of the first meeting of the AME church. She showed it to us as a mark of respect for the recent shooting in South Carolina but while we were there she also pointed out the irony of a receipt in the cabinet from Thomas Jefferson selling one of his slaves to another founding father.
Buffalo Wild Wings
After a day schlepping round DC all you need is a massive plate of wings. My friend, Emma, who I was travelling with, knew just the place. BDubs, as its know by the cool kids, is a sports bar restaurant that specialises in buffalo wings in a whole host of flavours. Delicious and good value and being in America, massive portions, I can vouch that those wings tasted just as good the next day.The most exciting bit though is the iPad they give you when you're seated. It contains trivia games and poker that you can play against those on your table and in the rest of the restaurant. Being quite competitive and loving a good quiz we found ourselves locked in a battle with "Adecat" and we won every time.
International Spy Museum
I actually ended up spending my first full day in Washington DC on my own. I didn’t want to do the main touristy things, the White House, the Washington Monument etc until Emma joined me so I took myself off to the International Spy Museum. It was fantastic. I got a good deal on goldstar.com where the tickets were reduced from $23 to $12 plus a $10 off goldstar coupon meant I went for $6 once they added fees.
The museum is very interactive and suitable for all ages. Upon entering you’re hustled into a lift up to the briefing room where you pick your alias and have 5 minutes to remember it. There’s then a short film and you’re then free to explore the rest of the museum at your own pace. Computer screens dotted round the exhibition test you on your cover story and how well you'd do as a spy as well as opportunities to climb through air vents and listen to bugs around the museum. I learnt loads and left slightly paranoid about who was watching.
The last part of museum is an exhibition on the villains in bond movies. Again there was lots to see and do including a metal bar that lifted you off the ground and timed how long you could dangle a la 007 before plummeting to your death (or yerno, 30cms back to the floor).
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| Michelle Obama's inauguration ball gown. |
National Museum of American History
Washington DC is home to the Smithsonian Institute, a group of free museum mainly along the mall in DC. From the moment I found out about the Smithsonian while watching Night at the Museum I’ve wanted to go. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to visit them all but we did go to the Museum of American History and have a quick look around the botanic gardens while escaping the heat outside.
My favourite parts were seeing the original Star Spangled Banner that was the inspiration for the song (the sheer size of it was incredible) and the exhibition of the Presidents and First Ladies. Unfortunately I’ve lost a majority of the photos I took on my phone while out there otherwise you’d be looking at a picture of me behind the president’s lectern right now doing my best Obama impression. On display was a number of belongings from the past presidents including the hat Abraham Lincoln wore when he was shot but my best bit was the display of dresses worn by all the First Ladies on their husband’s inaugurations since 1909.
The J. Edgar Hoover Building
Obviously we didn't actually visit here what with it being the headquarters of the FBI but seeing a man walk in wearing a black suit and dark glasses was hilarious. I thought that only happened in movies. Way to be subtle lads.
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