Today we drove into D.C. to do a tour of the monuments. For once my sense of direction failed me, either that or the roadsigns did. We couldn't find the entrance to Arlington Cemetry (where we parked only a few days ago), but did find a free car park, nearer the sights.
Here are the notes I made of the sights:-
Frankin Delano Roosevelt Memorial - Different, but very nice.
Jefferson Memorial - Big
Washington Memorial - Phallic, but pointed
Reflecting Pool - Didn't
FBI Tour - Closed (Poxy terrorists)
National Archives - Busy (and no photography)
White House - White
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial - Too Many Names
Lincoln Memorial - Big too
Korean War Memorial - Tranquil
D.C. itself - Planned and bland, sterile, lots of greek influence, lots of pillars and domes, lots of masonry.
Some of the sights deserve more description. The FDR Memorial is a series of water features with quotes from the man himself inscribed on the walls. It's quite mellow and thought provoking and very nice. It's also the 1st monument in D.C. that is designed to be wheel chair accessible. FDR was president for 12 years and during World War 2 and for Pearl Harbour (Harbor!). He was no doubt instrumental in sending Ben Affleck out to zap the Jap nation single handed.
The Washington Memorial is the most dominant monument in DC. It seems that every way you turn you are confronted with Washington's column. At an impressive 555 feet it is the tallest all masonry tower in the world. You can go up the shaft, but you would have to queue for about an hour so we didn't bother. I can imagine the view is pretty impressive though.
The National Arcihives is home to Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and many other bits of paper. We seemed to be queuing forever. We got into the very beautiful building, but were held in another queue so decided that we wouldn't bother hanging around as we hadn't paid for access and it was just a couple of bits of paper that were illegible. Not to belittle there importance (to Americans).
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a wall, as you've all seen, that lists the names, in chronological order, of nearly 60,000 soldiers who died between 1959 and 1975. It's very poignant and the scale is difficult to take in.
The Lincoln memorial has more columns. 36 in fact to symbolise the number of states. From the steps of the monument you get a terrific view down to the Washington Memorial with the Reflecting Pool in the foreground. Unfortunately the Reflecting Pool was empty and they also seem to be constructing, I don't know what, at the end of the pool, so the view wasn't all it could have been.
It was from these steps that many famous people have made many famous speeches to the masses all crowded in the Reflecting Pool and Constitution Gardens. Memoriably Forrest Gump, but also from here on 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King made his 'I have a dream' speech and a stone marks the spot.
The Korean War Memorial is a bit of a mixed bag really. There are 19 full size stainless steel combat troops patrolling towards the Star Spangled Banner. It also lists the 15 nations that went to protect South Korea from communism. There is also a very peaceful remembrance pool, that lists the number of killed, missing and wounded in the conflict. The inscription on the flagstand reads 'Our nation honours her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.'
The one significant building that I haven't mentioned so far is the Pentagon. Having driven passed it a number of times, I've never seen such an unimpressive and unassuming building. Maybe the best view would have been from the Washington Monument.
In comparison to London, D.C. is quiet, but it is a very different city. It's actually a nice place to be, everything is free, but I don't think that anyone lives here. It's full of Museums, Memorials and Government buildings. They seem to be building a new memorial between the Washington Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, rumour has it that it's gonna be in honour of the 2 George Bush's.
Mx and I had a chat on the way to D.C. today and decided to go our own way from Wednesday. Travelling with someone else and the compromises that need to be made has proved very difficult for us both. We had a constructive chat and I think we'll both be happier. There was a noticable lifting in the tension between us and we had a very good day together.
