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I asked a guard (male, that is important) at the information center how to find the Iwo Jima Memorial and he pointed and said "It is just on the other side of those trees" - imagine my joy! The trees were maybe a half block away! OH wait! Did I mention that in D.C. 'just' means approximately 2 miles???? Uphill both ways normally! Half way there I almost turned back, but I knew it was my only chance, so on I went. The walk took me to the freeway - first one I have seen with an unguarded sidewalk! So I walked outside of Arlington past the Memorial and cemetary for the black's killed in action in the Civil War and the Freemen. I am sooo glad I kept walking! I always thought the Iwo Jima Memorial was life size -- OMG -- it is HUGE! The little white dots you see behind the bush are people's heads!!! I was impressed!! BUT then came the walk back! As I was trudging back a MAN pointed to a shortcut to the bridge for me. Ok it was shorter, but straight uphill and like hiking in the mountains! - however, I made it to the bridge, looked back at the Women In Military Memorial (couldn't get back there, no way!), walked past the Memorial to the SeaBees and looked out across the Potomac. I could make out the Lincoln Memorial on the horizon so off I went to walk back to D.C. Its a long trek, but I made it! First stop, the Korean War Memorial, small compared to some but very nice. Nineteen statues a little bigger than life-size and a wall with the names of the 38 countries that participated in the action.
Then, FINALLY, I went to the Lincoln Memorial. Now we're talking totally awesome!!! It is! So much to think about, such a great man in my estimation. Walking up those steps and seeing him appear, just the very greatest experience! The walls to either side of him are carved with the Gettysburg Address and his 2nd Inaugaral speech. There are park rangers there that do a presentation every half hour all day. There is quite a story connected to this and if anyone wants to hear it, I'll be glad to go on about it! HA! The view from the top back to the Washington Memorial and Capital was beautiful. From there, on to the Viet Nam Memorial Wall. Many flowers and teddy bears, cards and flags left there, a heart wrenching sight. The dead and missing are listed chronologically, so you must look them up in a book to find what panel and line they are on. The picture of the Men's statue was horrible but also saw the Women's Memorial Statue at that same spot.
As you can see from some of the pictures, fall is beautiful out there - instead of orange and brown, the leaves are painted in shades of red and pink. Very nice indeed!
OK, why didn't someone tell me to stop listening to men's directions? Had to find an unknown to me Metro stop, only went four blocks out of my way this time, so it was 'just' a fifteen block walk - after the 8 or so miles I had already walked, those plastic seats on the subway looked damn good! I was very glad to have dinner left over from last night!! |
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Headed for more Lincoln today. My first stop off the Metro was a three block walk through a not so nice area to the Ford Theatre and Peterson House. The park rangers give a very good talk on the assassination of Lincoln and the demise of John Wilkes Boothe. You can stand where Boothe was waiting (horrible pic but the arrow points to Lincoln's chair - taken through plexiglass, another horrible pic, but his chair is on your right) and are very close to everything. The President always goes to the Ford theatre once a year but NEVER sits in Lincoln's box. He and the First Lady sit front row center, where I sat (UGLY pic but I'm stuck with it) for a picture. Across the street is the Peterson house where Lincoln lay after being shot until morning when he passed away. The FBI building which is suppose to be one of the best tours in D.C. was half a block away and also closed!
Knowing that my feet wouldn't take much today, I purchased a ticket for the trolley tour in order to get around a bit and see some things I otherwise wouldn't. Wouldn't ya' know, no rest for the weary, first stop was Pershing's Monument (the closest thing to a WWI memorial around) and the Aquarium and White House - the latter two not being open of course, but I walked the perimeter of the White House (back door) and saw the Eisenhower Building (office of the Vice President). Talked to a few guards who actually seemed sad they had to be closed. The visitor's center was open (for the White House) and they have some of the former Presidents' furniture and memorabilia plus a very nice film on the history of the White House with both the President and First Lady in it. |
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