Sunday, August 29, 2010

Trip to Washington

Very cool weekend. We drove down to DC to see the Norman Rockwell show at the American Art Museum, then to McCormick & Schmick's for dinner, then to a walking tour around DC sponsored by Ford's Theater (yes, that Ford's Theater). The guide and leader of the tour plays Elizabeth Keckley, a freed slave who became dressmaker to the high-and-mighty in Washington before and during the Civil War (and who made dresses for the wives of some famous names on both sides of that conflict). She became a confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln, and wrote a book about her experiences (apparently in an effort to help Mrs. Lincoln at a troubling time).

It was a good tour. We liked the other tour (also sponsored by Ford's Theater) better, but it's not a fair comparison.

Came back today, and we were both beat.

There was a Teabagger's Rally on Saturday, which we (of course) did not attend. We didn't notice any increased traffic driving into the DC area; the only thing we did notice was heavy usage at two Metro stops (Metro Center & Gallery Place) at midday, and some t-shirts and other impedimenta ported by some (older, Caucasian) folks on the tour, and the next day at the hotel. I've seen estimates of attendance between 87,000 and 500,000 for the event; based on our limited experience, we lean towards the lower number.

It was a delightful trip. We wind up having to do something in DC about every year or so; my wife goes through withdrawals if she doesn't get her fix. Anyplace to which we retire will have to be within easy travel distance of the District of Columbia.

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