Shea and Meghann's basement apartment entrance.

Living out of my backpack and sleeping on foreign (and often makeshift) beds has become real to me.  When I started the blog, I had a romanticized version of what it would be like.  I don’t know which version is better, but I am precariously close to tipping to the real, experienced version.  It doesn’t much matter because I like it either way.  Especially when staying with such great friends and family.  Warning: This is the start to another long post.  Continue at your own risk.

Shea and Meghann have been so much fun already.  I made them hike all over the National Mall (something they have done a lot since living here) and they were great about it.  I tried to help them out by picking places to visit that they weren’t sick of.  The places that they are sick of I plan on visiting Monday.

The first building we went to today is the Masonic Temple which is just down the street from their hobbit-hole apartment.  It lookes like an expandable pyramid which is stuck halfway compressed and towers over everything around it.  We walked up the grand staircase and between the pillars to the front door and entered through the over-sized vestibule.  One thing which is striking about D.C. is that all the buildings look over-built, have a billion stairs, and interesting architecture which usually incorporates a portico, vestibule, or antechamber.  I’m guessing that all the stairs are symbolic of ascending to a higher plane of government, the US being a new democracy.  Anyway, once we made it into the temple, we were informed that we could freely wander the first 2 levels unaccompanied.  It was really amazing.  There were GIANT murals on either side of a GIANT George Washington in masonic regalia in the first floor lobby.  We then took to the side rooms and exhibits.

We went through simple looking rooms which led to large performance rooms where the ceremonies are conducted.  Symbolism was everywhere.  Literally; floors, windows, ceilings, walls, clothing, books, displays, et cetera.  We figured out what some of the symbols were, but some left us scratching holes our heads.  Two displays really stick with me from this visit: a simple display case arranged with a mason’s tools, rough hewn cube, and a polished cube, and the other was a concave vertical display case that contained a bunch of Shriners Fezzes.

Next we planned on riding the metro from King St to the Capitol South station.  The anticipation and excitement of riding the metro was way more than I thought it would be.  I was the total tourist and took pictures on the platform, but refrained while in the train.  I loved the side to side sway of the train and the “public transit” aspect.  I would probably hated the metro ride had I grown up where public transportation was the norm.  Oddly enough, riding the metro/subway has been one of the experiences that I felt had been missing in my life.  I filled another life goal of mine today as well, but I’ll get to that in it’s due time.

We exited the metro and ascended the escalator.  Since Shea and Meghann are old hands at the whole DC thing, they taught me that when riding an escalator, the right is reserved for standing and the left is for walking.  Perhaps that’s common knowledge, but it’s new to me so i thought I’d pass it on.  As soon as I got to the top I looked around and was sorely disappointed because all of the iconic buildings and monuments were obscured by other buildings that, although might be more vital to the running of the nation, were not iconic in the least bit.

US Supreme Court

After a very short walk, I spotted the Library of Congress and was spectacularly stoked to know that I was in DC, the capitol of the nation!  We decided to go into the building  and view the exhibits.  Unfortunately for many of the buildings we went in, no photography was allowed.  I’ll do my best on descriptions to convey the experiences.  Two things from the Library of Congress that were most memorable for me were, 1) Thomas Jefferson’s personal library collection and 2) the viewing balcony of the reading room.

Thomas Jefferson’s personal library was inspiring!  Nearly 6500 books were contained in spiral shaped climate-controlled bookshelves.  Each book looked ancient and important.  Without the internet, t.v., or other modern time-consuming activities, books were the mode of entertainment and learning.  What a noble effort, to acquire knowledge from all over the world through reading.  The viewing balcony of the reading room was memorable because, in opposition to the virtue of collecting knowledge through books, it if featured in many pop-culture movies and books.  Looking down on the concentric desks focused on a central information desk was like looking in on a movie set, waiting for the protagonist to bolt through a door, dash to the central desk, escape into a secret corridor just seconds before the antagonist breaks into the chamber in pursuit of his quarry.

US Capitol

Our next stop, albeit a short one, was the US Supreme Court.  This is where I get to talk about my second life goal that was completed today: to visit the 3 seats of government in the US, the Supreme Court, Capitol with the House of Representatives and Senate, and the White House.  We didn’t try too hard to get into the Supreme Court, but it was great to stand on its steps and marvel at the historical building.  I came to find out later this evening that Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan was sworn in today at the Supreme Court.  Lucky me to have been there (but did not see it).

Next we walked around to the back of the US Capitol building and briefly (very briefly) listened to a guy on a megaphone extolling the virtues of Barack Obama.  He’s already elected, why demonstrate on the Capitol lawn?  Anyways, this is where I really started hearing a bunch of different languages being spoken and styles of dress worn.  We couldn’t go in the Capitol because we had nice water bottles that weren’t allowed.  I might go in on Monday, but I think I’ll need the water bottle then as much as I needed it today.  We’ll see.

Ford's Theater

We then walked west to the National Archives which houses the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and other historical documents.  The Magna Carta looked old, really, really, really old.  It is really old; its from 1297!  Looking at the other documents, I was able to imagine them on their respective authorship tables being drawn up and a queue of statesmen ready to sign their name to the various causes.  The rest of the archives were a smattering of various historical documents and exhibits which were mostly interesting, but the main attraction was the rotunda with the original Declaration of Independence and other documents.

Next up was Ford’s Theater where President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth.  It was a good experience, but probably not as profound as it should have been.  A sitting President was assassinated there, but I didn’t really feel the full weight of what I was supposed to feel, I guess.

Our legs were getting tired and our stomachs were feeling a little empty by this time so we decided to walk up to the White House and then back to the Old Post Office for dinner.  I was again really excited to see the White House and complete the 3 seats of government goal.  Unfortunately, as we approached, we saw that it was covered with a gigantic bug tent!  No, not really.  That would have been ridiculous.  We walked past the treasury and turned onto an empty Pennsylvania Avenue.  We were on the front of the building.  I tend to imagine the back of the White House from pictures I’ve seen, so seeing the front first was a real treat and beauty.  We walked around the building and saw the back and the many guards ready to pounce on you if your camera looked suspicious.  I avoided being pounced on by stealthily sneaking past the guards while they let their dogs relieve themselves.

We ate at the Old Post Office, rode the elevator up the tower, and gathered in the beautiful panoramic view of DC.  Once we got down, we were feeling really tired, so we decided to walk over to the Washington Monument, Gaze wearily at it for a few long seconds, and then turn and trudge toward the Federal Triangle metro station and the promise of foot and leg relief in the seats of the metro.

We had planned on heading to old town Alexandria this evening, but I feel like a car that we saw while on the metro ride home.  The tree it was parked under had sheared from its base and landed exactly in the middle of the car, smashing it longways.  I am highly surprised that I was even able to make it though today’s post without passing out from tiredness.  Maybe, when I read through it again, I’ll realize just how tired I am right now.  But right now I don’t care.  Sleep is beckoning to me with irresistible offerings of rest for body and mind.