Washington

Today's plan was to use the Circle Line bus, a normal city service, which takes one around the city, where the more expensive tours traverse. We commenced the Red Tour at Union Station - the most spectacular Metro Station I have ever seen. 

We alighted at the Washington Memorial. It was closed, perhaps because of a number of  security alerts. 

We had attended this portion of the Mall yesterday as we visited the Smithsonian museums. We alighted here and continued on foot past the WW11 Memorial, 

where CC met a veteran, 

then on to the Washington Memorial. 

We had had a detailed history of Washington's  contribution when we visited Springfield on our Route 66 tour!  

After mounting the numerous steps to see the sculpture, 

we continued to the Vietnam memorial. It was chilling to see the numerous young men killed in this war. 

The wall engraved with the names is stark. 

We took the bus back to Union Hall and after lunch continued our Washington tour, with a visit to Georgetown. It is an old historic town laid out in 1751. It professes to be an upmarket area with high end, shops, bars and restaurants. It has an Embassy belt and the famous Georgetown university takes up much of the land area of the town. However, it appeared to us somewhat unloved!! We did not alight from the bus but returned to the city. En route we quit the bus to see 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - the White House to you and me. We were surprised how near we were permitted to go to see the White House. 

The Secret Service were visible along its perimeter but when I checked with one Secret Service agent if this were the front of the White House,  he was surprisingly friendly and confirmed that it was. Barak and Michele invited us for afternoon tea but unfortunately time did not permit.!!!!

We returned to Alexandria.