We got to sleep in a little on our first full day in Washington DC. Breakfast in our room from our stash we picked up the night before and then off to the Metro. I still can't believe how steep that ride was down from the street above!
The Metro fascinated us and by the end of the week became a part of our normal routine. We were thankful today was Sunday and not much of crowd. Prepared us for the busy work days during the week!
First stop of the day - Arlington National Cemetery.
We rode the tram rather than walk up hill. Plus it gave us a great overview and history of the Cemetery.
The gravestones are all lined up in total Military Precision.
The crowd did pretty good respecting the signs.
I have always been fascinated by the Kennedy Family and was so honored to see the graves of John Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
The Eternal Flame.
Yup, we were there!
The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was breathtaking. Here they are checking the rifles.
Such exact precision. There was a gentleman shushing all the visitors and actually made a gentleman leave whose cell phone rang and he answered it. Glad to see this.
We peeked into the door area where the guard had come out and gone back in. There was a small display for us to look at.
We walked across the way from the Amphitheater and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The view was awesome.
The architecture of the buildings in Washington DC are awesome.
Our typical "looking up" family picture with everyone's mouth wide open!
Many memorials were very interesting. Here is one dedicated to the Challenger.
Here is one to the Armed Forces for the Iranian Hostage Situation.
And the Columbia Shuttle.
There is a replica of the USS Maine.
Mama Steph took a few extra breaks and relaxed a little when she could.
Graveside of Audie L. Murphy, a very decorated Veteran.
We got in line to catch the tram and I snapped a picture.
The worker trying to keep all of us in line came over and asked if we wanted our picture taken together. Of course! Thank you!
The Tram then took us to Arlington House. This was Robert E. Lee's home on the hill overlooking the city. Robert E. Lee wanted everyone to look up the hill when in the city and see his home.
Oops, this picture got out of place and I couldn't get it in the right place. Sorry.... The lone guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Pillars of the Arlington House.
The Arlington House was quite a home in it's day. We were allowed to tour the main floor, but we couldn't go up the stairs due to earthquake damage from the earthquake earlier in the year.
Uniforms Robert E. Lee and the soldiers wore.
The back of Arlington House where we found the store and servant quarters.
This is the Women's Memorial which is pretty new. We didn't go through the Memorial but went by it in the Tram.
This is where we caught the Metro, right outside the Cemetery. Amazing how the Metro stop looks so small but once you go down the escalator there is a whole new world.
These two of course are fascinated by the workings of the Metro.
Lunch at Five Guys. Josh has been talking about how much he loves these hamburgers for so long we were glad to finally have one.
Our first taste of a Five Guys Hamburger!
On the Metro again to the Mall to walk around the Monuments. What an beautiful area. I was so excited to see so much beauty and history.
People were enjoying playing games and lounging around the grassy areas of the mall.
We walked past the Washington Memorial but you can't go up into the Memorial due to earthquake damage.
World War II Memorial was beautiful.
We found the South Dakota pillar and posed.
Vietnam Women's Memorial.
The Vietnam Wall was breathtaking.
We found Dennis Stockwell's name. He was a friend of Bernie's from Humboldt who died in Vietnam.
Three Servicemen Statue.
The Lincoln Memorial.
We stopped and had ice cream and a drink before we started the long trek back to the Metro stop at the other end of the Mall.
The Korean War Memorial was eerie, which was exactly what they probably wanted you to feel.
Looking over the Tidal Basin of the Potomac to the Jefferson Memorial.
The fairly new Martin Luther King Memorial.
A sign explaining why the earthquake had closed the Washington Monument.
On the Metro again back to our hotel. Looking up the long ride.
Walking up the hill from the Metro to our Hotel, Marriott Wardman Park.
Relaxed around the pool for awhile. It was such a nice pool and felt good to cool off.
Walked to our little "downtown" down the hill and had supper at Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Visited the CVS and Manhatten Market for more beverages and breakfast items. Back to our room to rest for the next day of adventures.
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