Return to DC

Unlike Indianapolis, I have spent some time bumming around Washington, DC. I had a 6 week rotation at the FDA while I was in Pharmacy School, so I know that I would LOVE to live in this area. The Smithsonian, the culture, the area, the Smithsonian, did I already say that? :) So with an interview on Monday and a barn-burner week I made my way down to DC on Saturday, before the snow was to hit Danville.

I get to my hotel and lo and behold, the hotel is directly next to my interview. I wish I could say that was planned, but it was purely by accident that this happened!

Today, I was up early (as usual, I am just not a person that can sleep in) and took advantage of the hotel gym. Then I was off to the Metro and into the city. A light snow had fallen so I wanted to check out the Korean War Memorial, as I hear with snow, it looks more real. Unfortunately, by the time I made it out there most of the snow had melted. Still very moving though.

Next it was on to a memorial I have not seen before, the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial. The last time I was in DC, they were still building this memorial. It was very good. I happened to be there when the park ranger was talking and the memorial was based off a quote from the end of his "I have a dream" speech - "hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope". So there's a big peice of what is to be the "Mountain of Despair" and the "stone of hope" has the sculpture of Dr King.

What's also interesting is that the "stone of hope" is not directly in front of where it used to be, it is turned and to the side. This way no one will mistake that it would go back to it's old place. I'm really glad I was able to stop by!!

Next was a walk to the Smithsonian Castle, which had an exhibit about photography on the Civil War battlefront. Very nice. They focused on a type of photography at the time that was in 3D called "stereoviews". Apparently up to 70% of photographs of this time were done this way. You even need those silly red and blue glasses to see them. I have to say that they really made the photos come alive!

Finally it was lunch time and true to form, I went to the National Museum of the American Indian for their food court. Once again, does not disappoint.

It was more expensive than your regular lunch, about $18 with my Smithsonian member discount, but I didn't have to pay for access to the monuments or museums I went to, so I'm ok with spending that!! Yum, yum, yum.

Now I'm back at my hotel getting ready for Super Bowl. I've got my UNR shirt on in support of Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers!! It's probably a good thing I'm in my hotel room...since I am definitely in Ravens territory.