The White House, finally!

Trip Start Jun 15, 2008
1
12
15
Trip End Jun 29, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of United States  , District of Columbia,
Friday, June 27, 2008

Thursday was supposed to be "sweltering" but it turned out only slightly muggy and overcast-which helped keep it from getting too hot. We were glad we were slightly early for our White House tour because the line for security was long. This was the most strict we had been to, no handbags or purses allowed at all. Of course Ratko and the boys were disappointed that they could not bring cameras either. The line was about the same as it had been at the Capitol yesterday, so we didn't think much of it. It is high tourist season, so we expected it. But once we got inside, we noticed that there were cameras and cables strung all over the library room. Then we overheard someone say that President Bush had just been filming a message in that room; the tours had been delayed, which accounted for the backlog in the line by the time we got there. It was exciting to think that we were there just shortly after the President!

The tour was pretty short, just 6 rooms: the library, the vermeil room, the red room, the blue room, the green room and the state dining room (which looked pretty small to seat 140 people). I asked an employee when was the last time they had used the green room, thinking he would say 1954 or something, but to our surprise he said, "Monday, for the NCAA college basketball champions. If we have time, we'd like to go back to take pictures of the outside, but who knows.... The White House tour was Ratko's favorite thing in DC, but the boys were disappointed they didn't get to see the oval office. I liked Mount Vernon better.

Afterward we started to walk toward a music store we had found online, but the blocks were so large and we were getting tired, so the kids and I stopped at the National Geographic Society's Explorers' Hall museum. It is very small and the current exhibit wasn't too interesting.

The gift shop was a big hit with the boys, though. Finally Ratko joined us and we headed back to the hotel to collect cameras, water, and my purse. Then we walked across the Francis Scott Key Bridge to Georgetown. A sudden wind came up and Ratko's hat blew off just after he said, "Hold onto your hats!" It blew over the barrier between the sidewalk and the fast moving traffic. Three cars ran over it and then it blew back towards us, but on the other side of the 3 foot high concrete barrier. Ratko waited for a break in the traffic and jumped over and got it. No sooner did he jump back onto the sidewalk than Alex's hat blew into the traffic. Fortunately traffic was light so Ratko was able to retrieve it easily. From then on, we carried our hats in our hands! Surprisingly, once we got off the bridge there was no more wind.

We had a late lunch at Pizzaria Paradisio, which is a famous hole-in-the-wall Georgetown wood-fired pizza place that has been named "Best Pizza in DC" for several years. We had a four cheese and a potato pesto pizza. The boys loved it, but I thought it was not as good as California Pizza Kitchen at home. We walked around a mall called The Shops at Georgetown until 3:30, then realized that we needed to get moving if we were to finish our planned itinerary for the day. We knew we had a very long walk to the metro station. It was hot and as soon as we got outside the boys started complaining. We saw a plain white bus that a man got onto and wondered if we could take it, but it was pulling away. Fortunately the driver saw us and stopped. We were pleasantly surprised when he informed us it was free until 7 (7:00 or 7th street, we didn't know). It took us to the metro station and that was all we needed!

Next up was the Peterson House, which is the house where Lincoln died. The Ford's Theater was closed for renovation, but we enjoyed this quick museum which was the first designated federal historic site. We were thrilled to see several large, inexpensive souvenir shops next door. We had been wondering where they were. Previously souvenirs were only seen in expensive museum gift shops or a small selection sold on street carts. These stores had it all, so the boys and Ratko got T-shirts, commemorative White House coins, and Joey got his crystal Capitol building that he had been wanting.
Ryan, Joey and I decided to go back to the hotel while Ratko and Alex went to the International Spy Museum. It was kind of scary for me to take the two kids in the Metro at peak rush hour, but it went fine and we discovered the Rosslyn Metro Mall on the way back while looking for ice cream bars.
Ratko and Alex loved the Spy Museum. It started with a movie about different spy agencies, such as the CIA, KGB, etc. In the elevator they were told, "Watch your step, because we'll be watching you!" Alex enjoyed viewing the spy gadgets, magnifying glass ring, telephone in a shoe, 007 car with flip down blinkers that reveal machine guns, rotating license plate that changes to JB007, and spike tires. Got to crawl through a vent and watch other people below you. Learned about spies in history, such as ninjas. Ben Franklin and George Washington were spies. Saw some WWII spy equipment. At the end they saw another movie about intelligence which stops thousands of terrorist attacks. Alex got some cool souvenirs like a pen that lights up blue and an alarm clock/calculator that folds open with the push of a button.

We had Doner Kebab delivered for dinner from a Turkish restaurant in Georgetown. It wasn't as good as when we had it in Germany, but it was still pretty delicious. After dinner the boys finally had a chance to use the hotel's indoor pool. Unbelievably, they still had plenty of energy to spare!
 
Slideshow Print this entry