Hey!

Trying to think of where I left off... I think it was in Memphis and I was heading on to the city tour. It was good for a quick drive by stop of all the locations, but we didn't get to stop properly at a lot of places. We got to see the ducks going in for the night. One duck refused, it was hilarious. The duck master was blocking one side of the pond and the duck would turn around and go the other way. It carried on for about ten minutes, with a few of the hotel staff jumping in to help, but then another duck came back out of the elevator, and it was like he told the stubborn duck to get a move on, because he followed him haha!

Another long bus journey to Washington with some really annoying people sitting next to me trying their best to talk to me. Seriously, even if my eyes were closed they would chat to me, so I didn't get much sleep.

There's been so much to do here in DC, I could have done with a 2 week holiday here to get it all done. First day I did have a sleep in, so it was a bit of a slow start, but then went to the Air and Space museum. I was told it was one of the best of the Smithsonians, and it was pretty good. I learnt that I couldn't have been a air stewardess in the 50's because of their strict measures - you had to be between 5'2" and 5'6", and I'm only 5'1":( And Saturn would float in water, so there's my interesting facts for you all. I also saw Amelia Earharts airplane, it was bright red so pretty stylish.

I tried to get a free tour of the state capitol, but I got there too late. Instead I got to sit in on the 112th congress meeting of the senates. I would say it was really interesting if I had a clue what they were talking about.. something about a trade war with China. There was one senator delivering his speech, and it was just funny to watch the other senators looking so bored. The president kept yawning, and not even hiding it haha!

I went on a free walking tour of the city about the monuments. Someone in Nashville had told me to do it, and it was good advice otherwise I would have just stared at the monuments and not had a clue. We couldn't go up the Washington monument because they are still assessing it after the earthquake, and the reflection pool is just a muddy field. Apparently it hasn't been touched in decades, and it didn't have filtration so you can imagine what the water was like. So, in Forrest Gump when Jenny runs across the pool, that wouldn't have really been possible without catching the plague or getting stuck in the mud. The best moment happened (speaking of Forrest Gump) when I was at the Lincoln memorial. I was standing on the spot where Martin Luther King gave his 'I have a dream' speech taking a photo when an American guy comes and stands next to me. he's quiet for a second and then starts shouting "Jenny, Jenny" in a Forrest Gump accent, it was so random it was hilarious. He just turned to me and said simply, "this is where he shouted for her right?" haha!

I went to see the FBI building, didn't see any agents. Apparently they give tours of the building, but they're off temporarily:( I then managed to find the International spy museum, but it costs to get in, and since all the other museums are free, I didn't bother. I went to the American History museum, which the girl who took my walking tour pointed out, American history isn't that long so they have Kermit the frog in there. And they do!!! They have the original puppets, and the only ones made by Jim Henson, from Sam and friends. Kermit is made out of his mum's old coat and two halves of a pingpong ball. They also had the Dumbo carriage from that ride in Disney, that I think Dad will remember:)

I went out to see the Pentagon. I actually meant to go to Arlington cemetary, but wasn't paying attention and got lost. I actually just got on completely the wrong subway in the total wrong direction. When I got to the cemetary it was closing, so I just went to the next stop along, the Pentagon. It's not that impressive from the outside, you need the aerial view to see the pentagon shape. On the front side they have signs saying no photography. I walked around to the side to the 911 memorial site, which is really nice, and took a sneaky picture there, but I think thats OK. There were so many uniforms coming out, it was a little scary.

The next day I managed to make it to Arlington cemetary. I got the tour or I wouldn't have a clue what I was looking at. The cemetary is primarily for military and American patriots, like Presidents, judges etc. They took us to the grave of JFK and Jackie Onassis. We then went to the tomb of the unknown soldier to watch the guard change. The guards do an hour shift in front of the tomb. They walk up and down that whole time. 21 steps one way, pause for 21 seconds, do a little spin and rearrange their gun and then 21 steps back. The Sergeant then comes in to introduce the guard change. Its all a little too intricate when they could just swap, but they are a ceremonial division of the army so they have to be fancy I guess.

Me and this guy from my hostel went on a free walking tour last night of Lincoln's assassination. You follow the steps of all the people involved on that day. The story of that day almost sounds like a slasher movie as they plotted to kill the Vice and the secretary of state as well. We went for a few drinks after and managed to get lost coming home. It turned out we had missed our stop and gone too far, and we were walkign around for like an hour. That's the third time I got lost here.

I think thats all from the Capital, now I've got to go and catch a bus to Philly.

xXx