District of Columbia

Washington D.C.

Wow where does one start other than by saying

This is a very small area circled entirely by I-495

The Ho Chi Minh Trail is how some refer to I-495

It is always filled with traffic and yet is the only real way around the Capital

Actually the Potomac River forms one boundary and I-495 the rest

It is all Washington DC

We have been there when it was snowy and cold and when the cherry blossoms were in bloom

We have visited the White House and sat in the Speaker of the House of Representatives Chair

The Capitol and so many Smithsonian Museums have captivated us

We took our children to all the great Art Museums

We even saw the original King Tut exhibit

We once ran out of gas in the middle of what seemed to be a place we should not be at in DC

Two fedora hat wearing huge African American "Gentlemen" actually rescued us and treated us as though we were their personal family

We told a city policeman what had happened and he said

He would not even go where we were without backup

According to this policeman, no one went there because of the drugs,

Prostitution and other gun related issues

It seemed we had been helped by two well known "pimps"

We were then and are now thankful for two "bad" men that came to our rescue

We have taken many pictures from the top of the Washington Monument

While having lunch at a Smithsonian lunch room

A guard heard we were on a short Christmas vacation there and were not going to be able to see the exhibit we had desperately come to see

He came over provided us with special passes and insisted we be his guests

It was the highlight of our Christmas vacation that year and remains one of our most valued family memories

We have never been treated without love or respect in the city of respect

We have sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the morning. And watched as planes flew by in the early evening

My gosh we have walked miles in this wonderful city

We have eaten the rum glazed rolls in a fine restaurant near the outdoor fish market and watched the fine yachts docked there

We have gushed aloud over the Jefferson Memorial and stood in silent prayer at the Viet Nam Wall

My father and my mother are buried at Arlington National Cemetery technically in Virginia but really an important part of DC

John Kennedy is buried just up the hill from mom and dad

The National Shrine of Mary is another haunt of ours along with the Catacombs located nearby

How can you go to DC and not visit the National Zoo,

Well we couldn't and have visited many times

DuPont Circle and steep escalators, absolutely clean subways

All are must do, must experiences

Just walking along the Mall is an important part of visiting the Capitol

The multitudes of people from all over our country and the world are very much a part of visiting our Capitol City

Seeing money made as you watch is a fun way to spend a little time

Buying a hot dog from a street vendor and eating downstairs

At the Museum of Living History is a must

A small but unique and beautiful memorial is the Marine Memorial

Linda has marched in a Pro Life Demonstration in DC and that was a huge experience

Taking all the streets named after the individual states

Like Michigan and New York, Ohio etc.

Then there is Constitution and Independence Avenues and the Potomac Parkway and more

There is a sense of history here that can be found nowhere else in our country such as Arlington National Cemetery where my mother and father are buried. I know it is in Virginia not DC but we clearly think of it as being in DC

This is a place our children always wanted to go and visit every year and

we took them many many years

We have been there other times just by ourselves

This is a place we pray we get back to one more time!

I love this view of the Mall!