More of D.C.

This morning I woke as early as possible to try and get my short day in D.C. started. Unbelievably, it turned out the hostel didn't serve breakfast till 8:30. So, I went in search of 7am food.... I walked some interesting blocks (with the same contrast of gorgeous places on one street, turn a corner and they're shambolic) only to find the supermarket had been the victim of an arson attack the night before and was shut. I bought juice and muffins at a lovely nearby cafe (with a worrying eye on my budget!) and returned to the hostel for the scheduled breakfast. Suprise, suprise, it was juice.... and muffins!

Anyway, twice fortified, I departed for The Mall etc. The area is totally different in the day time, and I liked it just as much. It was already hot, so I made my way to the Lincoln memorial quite leisurely. This was a fairly pretty building, and the reflecting pool was good. I had visions of Forrest Gump and Jenny reuniting across it, and was tempted to dip my toes in for a feel....

Restraining myself, I ambled past the Vietnam memorial and back towards the Smithsonians. Feeling rather chuffed at the time I was keeping, I arrived just after the American History Museum opened. This was cool; I now understand why people think you could spend all day here. I did a short highlights gander at things I like - M*A*S*H props, Muppets, pop culture lunchboxes and Julia Child's things.... Amazing fun. I steered well clear of the 'Price of Freedom: Americans at War' display.

I am ashamed to admit I went to the Subway in the food court - a little suprised a museum would have that kind of thing, but it is a biiiig building. I made some very tourist mistakes about getting water, change and the right food - very humbling. (Most service people don't usually speak American as their first language, and neither do I.)

The one part I was sorry not to see was the 'Science in Action' exhibit where real scientists (i.e. they have white coats) demonstrate various steaming, exploding and melting delights for the children. Not having a five year old handy, I had to give this a miss, and put it on the list for Next Time. I was in a bit of a rush to see the Museum of Natural History...

This was good. I thought the best bit was the gorgeous building - kind of like a rotunda. Of course, unlike other rotundas it has a life-size model of an elephant and some flying eagle things in the foyer. Anyway, I put the Hope Diamond on Lay-By for Mum, and checked out a real Tyrannasorus Rex skeleton.

My feet were extremely sore after that, so I headed back to the hostel via a supermarket and picked up my gear before making my way to the Greyhound Depot for the trip to New York....