Fiat Lux-D.C. Chronicles Part 5

Tuesday evening we took the "Illumination Tour," which features the main monuments along the Mall. We first went the the Vietnam War Memorial. There aren't really any words to describe how moving the monument is. It is something that really has to be experienced for oneself. I will add that this is the only monument that was designed to be touched, in order to draw the viewer in emotionally and physically

Next we visited the Lincoln Memorial. The state of Lincoln inside is huge and awe-inspiring. On either side of him, quotations from the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural are inscribed into the walls. Lincoln was a brilliant writer, who managed to combine moral truths, political philosophy, and a simple but sophisticated turn of phrase. He was a truly great man.

Then we visited the Korean War Memorial. I didn't get a good picture of it. All I have to say, is that the sculptor decided to blend the feautures five different races into the faces of the soldiers to creat some strangely alien looking statues. Another example of PC out of control.

Finally, we visited the WWII monument, only finished a couple years ago. My favorite features of the design were the opposing entry arches representing the Pacific and the Atlantic theatres. On the marble wall beneath, the names of all the battles in each respective theatre were inscribed. According to the guide, over 400,000 Americans died in WWII.

Mount Vernon-D.C. Chronicles Part 4

On Monday morning, we were able to visit George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. Although I had seen it before, I still was not prepared. Firstly, the house is beautiful in its own right and incredibly well-maintained. It is also situated on the banks of the Potomac. I could picture our first president relaxing on his back porch and taking in that amazing view. The day before, I had the impression of Thomas Jefferson as a man of many interests, Monticello only being one of many projects. George Washington, on the other hand, clearly loved his house and land, and that showed everywhere throughout Mount Vernon. I would chose Mount Vernon over Monticello, and George Washington over Thomas Jefferson any day.

Pocahontas-D.C. Chronicles Part 2

This afternoon, we went to Monticello (Little Mountain in Italian), the home of Thomas Jefferson. I was impressed by the complex character of our third president. He was an intelligent but conflicted man. I also learned that Monticello is the building on the back on a nickel! The estate was so beautiful and Virginia is amazing.




This morning we visited Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. All the workers there were dressed up like the settlers. We did things like build a canoe, scrape hair off deer hide, braid rope, catch some z's on an Indian bed. All in all a great time. We also heard the REAL story of Pocahontas, who did save the life of John Smith but ended up married to John Rolfe (who created the tobacco industry) and she eventually moved to London and converted to Christianity.





What a great day! I can't wait for tomorrow!

Busted in Williamsburg-The D.C. Chronicles Part 1

Watcha gonna do when they come for you...

We're barely in town for a couple hours before Lisa gets busted by the local constable and gets put in the stocks. Luckily we got her out in time to board the bus and head for the hotel.

Me Jane

According to the magic book in the Sorcerer's Lair at California Adventure, my secret Disney identity is Jane from the movie Tarzan. I can deal with that. She's pretty cool for a girl who hangs out with gorillas and dates men wearing loincloths.

Chillin' at the GV!

On Saturday, we drove up to Santa Monica to go to the Getty Villa. It was my second time visiting. Even if we had seen nothing in the museum, it still would be have been an awesome day because we got to make these wreaths with myrtle and flowers. Check out the awesome headgear:


The Getty Villa is like taking a trip to Europe , and all you have to do is drive up the 405. I have seen more valuable and historically significant art in Europe, but going to the Villa is so great because it's like experiencing Roman life for yourself. Standing in the middle of a beautiful peristyle with musicians playing Egyptian instruments, I could totally imagine I was really living in the Roman Empire.
Greek vases rock! Check out my man Theseus killing the Minotaur (the half-man, half-bull) in the middle of the Labyrinth.

Saturday was so wonderful, combining two of my favorite things, museums and great friends.

Honestly, this score is a lot lower than it should be. 1o points should be added just for being in band in high school.