Tourists in DC!

Liz and I arrived in DC LATE on Thursday night, essentially Friday morning. Friday was a slow day because we were both worn out, but we did take in a few of the tourist sights. Liz went to work on the Hill for a bit and I headed to one of my favorite spots in DC. Arlington Cemetery.

I have always been moved by and found inspiration at Arlington. When I was a tour guide, I saw Changing of the Guard many times, spent at least two Easter mornings at the sunrise sermon and was at Arlington during countless burials hearing the bugle play taps and the 21 gun salutes. I left DC before the Women in the Military Memorial at Arlington Cemetery was complete. It is a well done memorial for our women who served in the military. And it's a rare quiet and cool spot in DC. (With clean bathrooms too!) I spent some time going through the exhibit and then trekked up the hill to Lee's restored home in the center of the cemetery. Great view of DC from the top of the hill. For all of the tours I worked with during my time in DC at the 4-H Center, we almost always rode on the Tourmobile bus that only covers the high points of the cemetery. This time I wanted to set out on foot to see the lesser known spots in the cemetery. It was well worth the effort. I saw Jackie O's grave marker (When I was a tour guide JFK's and their two infant sons were the only markers), the Taft grave, Thurgood Marshall's grave, Audie Murphy's grave and a section of graves for 4 star generals. I ended my trip in the visitor's center viewing a photo exhibit put together by National Geographic. There were lots of solemn faces and quiet tears.

I left Arlington and metro'd to Union Station and Liz and I grabbed lunch. I love the metro! Clean, easy and cheap. Crowded -- but it's a holiday week/end. If you've never used Metro and plan a trip to DC -- jump in and use it. Union station has an exhibit on the building of the Titanic -- and the building itself is one of my favorites. I love the naked guard statues! Liz bought me a pignoli cookie from Vaccaro's Italian Bakery... Decadent!

Gargoyles, flying buttresses and the Bishop's Garden were the afternoon stop. One of my other favorite spots in DC is the National Cathedral. Specifically -- the spot I love is the Bishop's Garden next to the cathedral. It's not a place most folks know about. Beautifully and lovingly manicured and a huge variety of plants. Liz and I went to the reflection gazebo and I caught a picture of one of the towers of the cathedral through the gazebo window.

We ended the day with a fabulous dinner in Georgetown and a long shopping trip to the two-story Sephora store. We meet one of the Spehora national make-up artists and had a wonderful time! (Sephora is a make-up super store for those of you who don't already know!)

It's been hot and humid, but with a breeze -- it's really pleasant. Liz and I both know that DC can be a whole lot hotter than it was this weekend!