Washington

For the Independence Day long weekend Cindy and I met up in Washington. I caught a dirt-cheap coach ($17.50 return) and Cindy flew. We stayed in a motel at the end of the metro line in Huntington, just south of Alexandria, Virginia.

Saturday we walked until our feet were sore, seeing all the monuments, memorials and museums. I got to see a couple that I hadn't seen the first time, like the Jefferson and FDR memorials. It was stinking hot but there were plenty of bubblers for us to refill our bottles with tepid water. I have a new appreciation for the Smithsonian Institution now; all their museums are free and air-conditioned, they provide a great place to cool down and sit, where there happens to be some art to look at while you're relaxing.

Sunday we watched the big parade. Before it started a couple of cyclists rode down the cleared street dressed in bright pink and waving signs saying "Peace is patriotic", declaring that they were part of the parade; the police soon moved them along. There were a few military groups marching but mainly brass bands. It was a bit strange to hear them playing God Save the Queen and The British Grenadiers but this wasn't an inappropriate gesture, those tunes have been given American lyrics, which everyone else was humming.
The assortment of random characters was a bit second rate (Paddington Bear, Madeline, Strawberry Shortcake all as balloons), a real Lone Ranger made it a little more American. What made it all worthwhile was that I got to see a real DeLorean!
We tried to stay out of the heat that afternoon while we waited for the fireworks. There were a lot of people but there was plenty of space on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial so we got a decent view without being too crowded.


Monday we spent the day looking around the old quarter of Alexandria, Virginia. It's a nice old port town on the Potomac with lots of little shops, a few good restaurants and two ice-creameries.