Lincoln Memorial

 Today was a warm, beautiful, clear day.  Temperatures were in the 60s.  The day started with the ladies hailing a cab to take us to our tour bus check-in place for our one-day adventure to Washington D.C.  Hey, they did pretty good, too!  Before the tour began, the tour guide asked everyone where they were from.  The bus was a melting pot of tourists from Brazil, Peru, Australia, Columbia and California.  But, when they heard we were from Hawaii, they all had to turn around to see who we were.  Everyone ooed and ahhed.  We seem to get the same response everywhere we go.  The other day someone asked if the ladies danced hula.  They told them yeah and they play the ukulele, surf and go to the beach everyday, too.  The other day while shopping, the cashier asked if Hawaii used U.S. dollars?!  No, we use coconuts.  Anyway, I digress.

The bus left NYC on time at 7 a.m.  First, stop was Delaware where we passed the famous John Hopkins Hospital.  When passing through Maryland, we saw the stadium where the Baltimore Orioles play.  After four hours, we finally crossed the Potomac River into Washington D.C.  First, we were in view of the D.C. United Stadium where soccer is played, National Stadium where the Washington Nationals play baseball and the Verizon Center where the Wizards play basketball.


Spectacular fall colors in Washington D.C.

 After several more miles, we were finally in full view of the Washington Monument.  Our first stop was the Lincoln Memorial.  We stood on the top of the stairs at the spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech.  When we look across the reflecting pools, the Washington Monument is directly opposite in all its glory.  Any photos or anything on T.V. that we've seen at home did not prepare us for all its massive glory.

We walked over to the Korean Memorial where there were life-size statues of soldiers.



Korean Memorial



Korean Memorial

 Then, we went to the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.  I swear that was President Obama waving the shaka sign at us from the top right hand corner window.  But, isn't he in Hawaii for APEC?



White House

 Anyway, afterwards we went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum where we saw the figures of all the Presidents.


The Kennedys

 Then, off to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum where historic air and spacecraft collection are on display.

The last stop was the State Capitol.  By then, the building reflected the gold color of the sunset and it looked spectacular against the clear blue sky and moon.  Then, it was time to trek it back to NYC.  After four hours on the bus, we were back at Times Square.


State Capitol at sunset.

 Before I end for the day, just wanted to say thank you for everyone's support and positive comments whether on the blog, text, e-mails or phone calls.  (Pardon any typographical and grammatical errors.  I'm sure there's a lot.  Hard for me to concentrate when the ladies are laughing and talking so loud in the room.)  The Fab Five is having a fabulous time and I'm so glad they brought me along.  They love taking my picture because besides being so cute, I'm always smiling and I never blink!  Anyway, knowing that everyone back home is following them on the blog makes it so much more special.  Wish you were all here!!


Fries just my size.