I don't know how many pictures I'll be able to upload at once, so this might take a few posts...
On our way home, we drove to the Temple. If you haven't ever seen the Washington D.C. Temple sitting in the middle of the freeway, you are missing out. Because of where it is located, as you come around the corner, you can see it sitting on a hill, and it looks like it is right in the middle of the freeway. It was a really cool thing to see. David got his mission call a couple of weeks before we left, so he was getting ready to leave, and when we walked into the Visitor's Center, the sister missionary that greated us, turned out to be from Heber originally, but she told David, after finding out where he was going, that his mission president was a really awesome guy, so that made him feel better!
Monday the 19th we had tickets to take a tour of the U.S. Capitol. We had contacted Congressman Matheson's office to get the tickets, and it turned out that one of the interns was going to give us the tour (his name was Kyle, he is from Layton, he is a Poli-Sci/Philosophy double major at the University of Utah, and he was really cute!). It was a really cool tour. In the old senate chamber, the floor talks! When John Adams went back to being a senator after he was president (he was the only president to do so by the way) he was really old, so he had a tendency to fall asleep at his desk. Although he would be asleep, as soon as the other party had said their speech regarding whatever matter they were discussing, he would get up and shoot down every argument they had, because he could hear their entire discussion before hand because of the way the room is layed out, the accoustics are just right, that sound bounces off of one particular tile on the floor, bounces up to the ceiling, and back down to the other side of the room. it was AWESOME!
After we were done, my dad and brothers wanted a rest, so they went back to our hotel, and my mom and I went shopping! After, we went to dinner!
This is just a tribute to my favorite 80's hair band!
Washington D.C. is an amazing city, with so many incredible things to do and see. We left on Nov. 16, which was a Friday. We started out by going to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum, which is full of airplanes. The Enola Gay airplane is there, along with hundreds of others. If you like airplanes, it is really cool. If you are like me, then you would be kinda bored there too. My dad and brothers couldn't get enough of all of the different types of planes though.
Saturday, the 17th, we drove up to Gettysburg, which is only about an hour and a half away from D.C. On our way up, we stopped in Emmitsburg, Pennsylvania, where the National Firefighter Memorial is.
This statue is in honor of the firefighters that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It was created by a guy from Utah, and is amazing to see in person.
The main reason we stopped at the Memorial was for my dad. In 1990, the first Cascade Springs fire happened, and killed two people from Heber, my dad's friend Blake being on of them. Every time my dad has gone to Washington D.C, or Gettysburg, he has come here to get a rubbing of Blake's name.
Once we got to Gettysburg we knew we were in for something awesome. What we didn't know would turn out to be one of the coolest experiences for our family. The 19th of November, which would be the following Monday, is the anniversary of the Gettysburg address. Because of this, there were reinactors EVERYWHERE! There was a MASSIVE parade, with fife and drum bands, everyone in period clothing of course! As we started going around to the different memorials along the tour, we noticed that at the state memorials, little ceremonies were going on, honoring those who fought in the Civil War. We stopped at only a few, but it was amazing. When we got to Little Round Top, there was a band playing period instruments, wearing period clothing, having a fireside of sorts. Unfortunately, we missed most of it, but I think we saw the most important part. The band played Amazing Grace, and then just as the sun was beginning to set, Taps was played overlooking the battlefield. I have to be honest... I got a little teary-eyed. It was one of the most spiritual places I've ever been. It was just amazing. Because the sun went down, we couldn't see anything more, so on the 18th, we went back to Gettysburg, and finished out the tour, and saw even more people doing their thing!
On our way home, we drove to the Temple. If you haven't ever seen the Washington D.C. Temple sitting in the middle of the freeway, you are missing out. Because of where it is located, as you come around the corner, you can see it sitting on a hill, and it looks like it is right in the middle of the freeway. It was a really cool thing to see. David got his mission call a couple of weeks before we left, so he was getting ready to leave, and when we walked into the Visitor's Center, the sister missionary that greated us, turned out to be from Heber originally, but she told David, after finding out where he was going, that his mission president was a really awesome guy, so that made him feel better!Monday the 19th we had tickets to take a tour of the U.S. Capitol. We had contacted Congressman Matheson's office to get the tickets, and it turned out that one of the interns was going to give us the tour (his name was Kyle, he is from Layton, he is a Poli-Sci/Philosophy double major at the University of Utah, and he was really cute!). It was a really cool tour. In the old senate chamber, the floor talks! When John Adams went back to being a senator after he was president (he was the only president to do so by the way) he was really old, so he had a tendency to fall asleep at his desk. Although he would be asleep, as soon as the other party had said their speech regarding whatever matter they were discussing, he would get up and shoot down every argument they had, because he could hear their entire discussion before hand because of the way the room is layed out, the accoustics are just right, that sound bounces off of one particular tile on the floor, bounces up to the ceiling, and back down to the other side of the room. it was AWESOME!
After The Capitol, we went to Arlington National Cemetary, which was so neat. The Changing of the Guard ceremony was so cool to see. I'm still upset at the woman from Provo who needs to learn when to talk and when to keep her mouth shut. Ask me about it and I'll tell you if you want....
Tuesday was the 20th, which also happens to be MY BIRTHDAY! It was the best birthday I have ever had. The day started super early with a tour of the Pentagon. Our tour guide there was named Matt, who is from Palmer, Alaska, and is also really cute! He is in the same military group as the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We were able to see the memorial to those who lost their lives on Septemeber 11. It is where the airplane came through the building, and is a very peaceful place. The airplane crashed into the wall of the Pentagon at 9:37 in the morning. When we were looking out the window at the flight path of the airplane, it was also 9:37. It was very cool.
After we were done at the Pentagon, because it was my birthday, I got to decide what we did! I chose to go to Madame Tussad's Wax Museum. While there, I talked to George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Julia Roberts, Will Smith, as well as many others!
After we were done, my dad and brothers wanted a rest, so they went back to our hotel, and my mom and I went shopping! After, we went to dinner!The other person in this picture is our waitress. The look on her face when she found out that I wasn't drinking, even though it was my 21 birthday is one look I will never forget. The look on her face when she found out we were from Utah was even better though.
This is my sundae. It was yummy. Mostly hot fudge, a little bit of ice cream!
This is just a tribute to my favorite 80's hair band! There is a place called Fogo de Chao that I had had my heart set on eating at for my birthday, but when we found out that it would be $64.50 a person for dinner, I changed my mind. Maybe one day I'll eat there though!
I'm getting tired of typing, so quickly, other hightlights included seeing Marine One land on the White House lawn, walking about 10 miles in one night, (so maybe that isn't a highlight, but I probably won't ever forget it) the International Spy Museum (I wouldn't make a good spy), and too many more to list.
One that has to be mentioned though, is the BYU/Utah game. David's birthday was Thanksgiving day, so we 'celebrated' it on the 24th, which just so happened to be the BYU/Utah game. We called ahead to ESPN Zone to make sure it was being shown, which it was, so, decked out in our Game Day apparel, we headed to the Zone. Once we got there, this is what we got.
Okay, so this doesn't show what we got, but close. The T.V. that the game was on, was really small, and there wasn't a table close to it, so we got our own private room, big screen T.V., leather couches, and our own server. IT. WAS. AWESOME! Even better, BYU won!
Okay, so this doesn't show what we got, but close. The T.V. that the game was on, was really small, and there wasn't a table close to it, so we got our own private room, big screen T.V., leather couches, and our own server. IT. WAS. AWESOME! Even better, BYU won!Here are some more random pictures:
The Washington Monument
The Iwo Jima Monmument
The Lincoln Memorial
Mr. Rogers' Sweater 
This is the guy who designed Washington D.C. ask me how much I love him...
Kermit the Frog
The Puffy Shirt from Seinfield
Gallery Place-Chinatown-- Our most frequented Metro Stop
The Signpost from MASH
The Awakening-- This isn't a very clear picture of what it is,
Kermit the Frog The Puffy Shirt from Seinfield Gallery Place-Chinatown-- Our most frequented Metro Stop The Signpost from MASH The Awakening-- This isn't a very clear picture of what it is, but it is a 100 foot giant struggling to free himself from the earth... it is really cool
A Sunstone from the Navoo Temple, that is in the American History Museum
I have so many more pictures and stories from that trip, but I am so tired of typing, and any of you who have read this far are probably tired of reading, so happy trails to you!
3 comments:
HELLO ALI! First of all, you are VERY interesting!!!! So don’t think otherwise! Thanks for the e-mail with all the pictures. Mark and I were shocked how REAL they looked. Hmmmmm, you could fool a lot of people and I had no idea you could get that close to them. AHHHHH, Brad Pitt:):):) You are such a good writer. I enjoyed this post very much. It brought back a lot of memories of traveling out to DC, but i must admit you trip was very much more interesting and more exciting than mine was. I got drug around ALL the historical museums. I would have much rather see the Madame Tussad's Wax Museum and of coarse the tour of the Capital. I can totally see how that experience with the sun setting would be spiritual. It's usually times that catch you off guard that seem to do that to ya. So many people never get to go over to that part of the country and see so many amazing historical things. What great memories!
Awesome deal on the BYU Game night. You were treated like celebrities!! I hear ya on the whole $64 dollar dinner. I guess that would be a lot for five people…DARNIT! It must be delicious.
I am so glad you got a blog set up. Now I will have to add you to my daily reading material:)
Where do I start??
First of all Enola Gay? That would be amazing and humbling!
I went to DC when I was a Senior in high school. We went to alot of cool places, but I wish I would have appreciated them more. I would love to go back now.
Johnny Depp looks so real to me!!
I can't believe they let you touch them. I think that would be a fun place.
Arlington, very cool.
Sounds like you guys had a super trip. It was good to see some pictures.
Oh, the stone from the temple, how very cool!
I have to go read some more!
We need a wax of Amanda so we don't have to take so many pictures. Just one perfect wax doll of Amanda Jones for pictures... FUN FUN ALI Brian love DC he wants to go back soon, but I told him we need to wait until the kids can appreciate it more.
Post a Comment