Capitol Thoughts

Last week, my lovely wife had to go to Washington D.C. for her job. (she observes focus groups for Food Lion) She asked if I wanted to go. Hotel room was paid for and we only live 5 hours away by car, so the kids went to grandma's and away we went. She would be in focus groups all day, which left me to explore our nation's capitol sans wife and kids.
First, I recommend that if you are going to DC, stay outside the beltway in a hotel near a Metro station. The traffic in DC truly ranks as epic when it comes to gridlock, plus there is absolutely no parking near the national mall. The train system is almost idiot proof (I mean all the bureaucrats can use it and they have just enough brain power to walk and breath at the same time)and the cost feels just under robbery so it isn't too bad. I would also recommend a good pair of walking shoes since everything is big and a good walk to.
Unfettered by any blood relations, I was allowed to wander the repositories of culture at my leisure. Yes, straight to the Air and Space Museum I went. Reveling in our history of flight was a true delight to me. As most know, I am a space buff, and seeing the Freedom 7 capsule (first American in space), and the Gemini 4 capsule(first spacewalk) was a pure joy. All the museums were crowded with students from class trips, but weren't overly crowded that I couldn't enjoy myself.
After that I went to the Native American museum ( it was next door,again, see walking) A nice tour of Native American culture. I would recommend. It was then down to the American History museum for a few hours.
It was misty raining most of the day, but I felt I could not complete my trip without seeing the WWII memorial, and the Vietnam memorial. The White House is on the way, so I swung by and did a quick protest of the stimulus bill, and some protest by proxy for the rest of us.
The WWII memorial was a good place, but the Vietnam one really does take your breath away. Seeing it in pictures does not do it justice. While there, an older gentleman approached the monument. He appeared to be about the age of my father (he was in Vietnam) and he pulled out a bugle and played TAPS. Everyone in the area stopped and stood with hands on heart until he finished. Even though it was raining, it got really dusty around this old Marine.
After that, I went to the Holocaust museum. I suggest this one to anyone visiting DC just for the reminder of what can happen when good people do nothing. They give you a card when you walk in of someone that was persecuted in Germany. Many of the cards end with telling you how they died...my guy lived.
Anyways, all in all, it was a good excursion to the Capitol, and I would say if you have not been in the last few years, go. Oh and keep an eye out for big protest days, what am I saying, there is a demonstration or protest there just about every day. Just go enjoy.