This has been another big, busy day! We woke to rain, which pretty much determined that we were not going to do Arlington National Cemetery this morning. Instead we went to 9:00 mass at the Basilica of the Shrine of Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in the United States. They have magnificent mosaics in the rounded domes and in the dozens of
side chapels. All of that art work along with the full, rich sound of the organ made for a great morning experience.
From there we went to another indoor option, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Displays there included everything from the big (African elephant in the lobby) to the beautiful (the 47 carat Hope diamond). Birds, dinosaurs, beautifully displayed mammals, wildlife photography and cultures of the world are all part of the exhibits that we were able to enjoy. The Smithsonians do not charge admission...which makes the sticker shock at lunch more understandable.
By the time we left the museum, it had just quit raining, which gave us a lovely visit to Arlington National Cemetery. We saw the Kennedy gravesites and the impressive Changing of the Guard ceremony, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and the playing of "Taps." Our last stop at Arlington was at the Custis Lee Mansion with a wonderful view of Washington D.C.
Just in case it was going to rain again tomorrow morning, our last stop was at the Jefferson Memorial along the Tidal Basin. The cherry blossoms have really begun to drop with both rain and a breeze.
A seafood buffet at a waterfront restaurant was our highlight tonight. We could try mussels, crab, crawfish, crab cakes, shrimp, hush puppies and other seafood, plus an enormous variety of salads, other entrees and, of course, desserts. We did not go away hungry!
A lighted tour of the Capitol and the Monuments afterwards was the perfect end to our first week of the tour. Laurel Johnson- Tour Director
side chapels. All of that art work along with the full, rich sound of the organ made for a great morning experience.
From there we went to another indoor option, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Displays there included everything from the big (African elephant in the lobby) to the beautiful (the 47 carat Hope diamond). Birds, dinosaurs, beautifully displayed mammals, wildlife photography and cultures of the world are all part of the exhibits that we were able to enjoy. The Smithsonians do not charge admission...which makes the sticker shock at lunch more understandable.
By the time we left the museum, it had just quit raining, which gave us a lovely visit to Arlington National Cemetery. We saw the Kennedy gravesites and the impressive Changing of the Guard ceremony, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and the playing of "Taps." Our last stop at Arlington was at the Custis Lee Mansion with a wonderful view of Washington D.C.
Just in case it was going to rain again tomorrow morning, our last stop was at the Jefferson Memorial along the Tidal Basin. The cherry blossoms have really begun to drop with both rain and a breeze.
A seafood buffet at a waterfront restaurant was our highlight tonight. We could try mussels, crab, crawfish, crab cakes, shrimp, hush puppies and other seafood, plus an enormous variety of salads, other entrees and, of course, desserts. We did not go away hungry!
A lighted tour of the Capitol and the Monuments afterwards was the perfect end to our first week of the tour. Laurel Johnson- Tour Director
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