I had some time to kill this morning before making it back to the airport. As I was fully loaded (minus my big pack), must museum’s were out of question (due to stringent rules on what not to bring) – so, I decided for the US Botanic Garden … with plant showcases from most environments (incl. the tropics – to try things prior to hitting those later on). My favorite of course remains camelia sinensis, which was also on display 🍵.

Another metro trip hit me to the airport – and from here it was on to Panama 🇵🇦

Today I focused on the Western part of the mall and all the monuments to former presidents or other important people in US history, as well as the war memorials – from WW2, and the Vietnam to the Korean war … a tough, yet interesting ride through US (and world) history. My biggest Aha-moment was at the Roosevelt Memorial – covering the 1930s through (most of) WW2 to the birth of the United Nations – I wish today’s leaders would be more like him. From artistic/ architectural perspective I really liked the Korean War Memorial and how it pulls the spectators in, making them part of the cause to be remembered. I also liked the Martin Luther King Memorial and how the artist literally moved a stone.

After a history-heavy morning I made it over to Georgetown for lunch and a bit of retail fun (not that I bought anything) to make my way back to the National Mall (with a stop at the Kenn

Jetlag can be a blessing in disguise … I woke up early (but not too early), had  breakfast – finally leaving the hotel at around 8:00 and getting to the US Capitol just as it opened … no queues and easy access to the first guided tour of the day. The tour was a good one with a short movie about the Capitol’s history and the US legislative system … and then on through part of the building, incl. views of the rotunda and some of the many statues in the  building.

From the Capitol I continued across the street to the Library of Congress for views of the great reading hall and the many artifacts on display (incl. a Gutenberg Bible).

My next stop was at the massive National Gallery of Art and its even more massive collection. I eventually had to cut things short as my appointed time at the Washington Monument came closer.

After another security check here, it was into the elevator inside the monument for the 490ft / 150m trip up with great

And here we are, the big trip has started – first stop: Washington, DC.

A quick and  fairly comfy flight got me across the pond from Frankfurt to Washington Dulles International Airport; a less comfy metro ride got me into town and my centrally-located hotel. After check-in and a bit of freshing up I made it over to the mall for some first exploration of town.

While walking towards the Washington Monument,  I realized quite a bit of helicopter traffic and also that streets were closed for car traffic – well, getting closer to the White House,  I saw why, as a helicopter was leaving there … who might be leaving here on late Friday afternoon possibly for a trip down to Florida?

I made my way to the North side of the White House and then on into town for dinner (pseudo-Korean … tasty, but certainly not Korean – except for the kimchi) and then a walk by the US Capitol – before heading back to the hotel for an early night.