DQ Travels: 5/9/22 So I went out for a walk to see the nation’s capital

After a wonderful and much needed morning nap yesterday I went for a walk in DC to get some water and see what I could see. Quite a lot as it turns out.

So very different from the other cities I had visited. Clean, trees everywhere, a lot of people wearing masks, fairly quiet (although it was a public holiday; labor day) and not searing hot. It is really muggy here but at least you aren’t at risk of dying just by being outside for more than 10 minutes.

I always imagined it was larger than this, and white. With more rockety stuff at the back.

They’ll throw together a museum of any old thing they days.

The National Mall is only 15 minutes walk away and I found myself in between the Capitol building (surprisingly free of protestors of any sort) and the Washington Monument. Once again, this place is huge, with wide open spaces between massive sprawling buildings. There were plenty of Lime scooters and bikes being used and I was sorely tempted to grab one too. Knowing my luck and complete lack of coordination I would probably end up with far more grazes and injuries. When I was on a bus this morning I saw a guy on a Lime bike that suddenly decided it wasn’t going to be unlocked anymore and the guy on it was so close to going fully over the handle bars. I definitely made the right choice.

The Capitol building. Undergoing some renovations - I assume not from the January 6 jackasses.

According to Google this is 20 minutes walk away - the thing is so big it looked a lot closer.

The lone loonie protesting. I’m not sure what, she was busy on her phone then would scream something out at nobody in particular and then carry on with Insta-Jesus or whatever she was on. I never got a chance to see the other side of her sign, and I sure as damn wasn’t going anywhere near her so it’ll be a mystery lost to the ages. Or at least until Thursday when I’ll be there again.

Because you can never have too many trucks selling the exact same thing while playing crappy music.

These were everywhere and seemed to be clustered together. Vegas has people handing out flyers for strip shows, New York has Big Red Bus vendors and Washington has Ice Cream vans.

This one was all by itself. I’m not entirely sure it wasn’t selling children, it was pretty creepy.

The Air & Space museum taunting me with samples of things I couldn’t see.

The hotel has got an awesome bar / lounge area - I’m really enjoying staying here.

Last night’s dinner - Bonchon. A platinum plate club place but obviously not this one. It was probably the worst tasting meal I’ve had yet. The boneless wings were just strange, although made from proper chicken. The rice was spicy for some reason and just not for me.

The Ronald Reagan building. The sign promised an international food court inside - and breakfast was needed!

I realised that it was well past breakfast time so had this little beauty instead. So, so good.

The major stop for today was the Smithsonian Museum of American History. This is such a well presented place with some amazing exhibits, heaps of interactive stuff and easily digested information. The tone was typical American, completely one-eyed and wow do they love them some Lincoln and Washington.

The vaccinator - apparently designed so they can use it anywhere without the need for power…

or just use a needle.

So understated and discreet, the red velvet interior and chromed chain steering wheel really sets a classy tone.

The study of Ralph Baer, inventor of the first video game. Who also seemed to have a strange collection of Barbie dolls.

The first hair press / curler - I suspect the first test subject was heavily sedated before being coaxed into the chair with a pointed stick.

I made an icon and the Apple Mac did not. My floating jellyfish turned into an egg on a post with a little poo.

A photo of a range of objects which have almost all been completely replaced by the thing taking the photo of them.

This Washington bloke again. Not enough they name a City, a State and a big pointy tower after him they go all Roman and chesty with their statues.

Helen Keller’s watch with pins that you can tell the time by touch.

Lyndon B Johnson’s lighters and Bill Clintons Matchbook.
Obviously not used since he use the cigars for other things.

Georgie boy’s costume.

The chairs and table used for the surrender of the Confederates and the end of the Civil War.

Julia Child’s actual kitchen, donated to the museum when she moved back to California just before her death. Apparently the only things that aren’t genuine are the apples and bananas. They used stunt doubles.