June 13 Washington D.C.

June 13- DC off and about

We as a small group finally decided it was time to break away and do some things on our own this afternoon. Most of use felt a 3-4 hour stay at Mount Vernon and a 30 minute drive each way was a waste of our time. My two favorite spots in DC are Georgetown and DuPont Circle, and I was not walking to Georgetown.

In the morning we visited the Petersen house where Lincoln died and toured it before stopping outside Ford's Theatre that was closed for renovations. We were also privy to an inexpensive souvenir shop nearby where we encouraged our kids to spend their money. Actually our tour director said "this is the place where you should spend all of your money" before we called out NO from our respective seats. A few souvenirs were fine but I know I didn't want a situation like I had in Ireland one year where a student came with one 30" suitcase full and left with two!

My boys and I decided to join the New Mexico group at the Spy Museum and made it in for half price. The exhibit was cool and my code name was Gary Wozniak. We spent two hours wandering through the museum before wee were picked up to go to the Supreme Court to meet the others.

They had just come out of the Library of Congress and we all entered the Supreme Court. J asked about going into the Supreme Court chambers, which was available. We ran up a flight of marble stairs and joined a tour walking in. We sat in the large wooden benches where cases like Roe Vs Wade were decided, and where Rehnquist sits near Sandra Day O'Connor. The nice lady mentioned in a quiet voice that no photos where allowed, but I saw several flashes. I lifted my camera and went to click a photo while the lady next to me nudged me and said "no photos allowed" … I clicked the photo before turning and saying "what?" I got a dirty look but I got my picture too.

While walking back to the bus, the Florida and Arizona group lagged behind and then stopped, turned, and walked away. As Charlie pulled our bus onto the road toward Mt Vernon the travelers looked out the window at us standing there.

We walked towards Capitol South and walked into Cosi's where a DC lunch was in full force. The line wrapped around the front of the store and several of us got in. I ordered a salad and went to find seating that was reserved upstairs. We spent some time there and I called my friend who I was planning on meeting in the afternoon.

We had agreed to go to DuPont Circle and didn't want to leave DC without riding the Metro, so we made our way there. I asked my group if they could spend some time with J as their chaperone so I could break away for an hour to see a friend from college. They whole heartedly agreed, especially since one of my boys was becoming more and more attached to a Floridian girl.

When we arrived in DuPont Circle I left them and stopped to check my email before making my way on Metro to Pentagon Circle. My friend and I met and listened to the Michael Jackson verdict (not guilty!?) before she decided to join us for dinner at the Torpedo Factory in Arlington, VA.

We entered the parking garage and I climbed into her banana yellow Jeep Wrangler for a short trip to Arlington, VA. We arrived at Washington Square where we met with most of the other groups to head down towards the dock and food.

I called J and she said they were running late. My friend, N, mentioned that the n nearest Metro stop was 1 ½ miles away, and I knew thee kids would be grumpy when they arrived. After another half an hour they walked in soaking wet with sweat and I was glad I was not with them.

J joined us and was happy to be among adults only. Esther came over to tell us our tour was at 8:45 and since it was only 7pm we were disgruntled that we had to wait that long. She tried to call the tour guide and never got a hold of him until everyone dispersed to kill times in shops in old town Alexandria. J and another group leader didn't take that an answer and rounded up the groups to start the tour at 7:15. N and I said our good byes before I ran to join the group.

The ghost tour around the city was lead by a 19th century dressed man who led us by candle light in the increasing twilight. As he told us the tale of Victor who attacked women in the square for the last 150 years, thunder crashed above our heads before the imminent downpour.
We did become somewhat wet (some more than others) but the rain let up enough to finish the tour in a cooler, muggier peace. Surprisingly we were back on the bus and to the hotel before 9:30pm, which left most of us with no idea what to do. I burned some photos onto CD and watched some TV, checked on my boys, and went to bed.