Finally! One by one the credit cards maxxed out, until there was only one man standing! Oh, and the 'This shopping is too heavy' lines started coming.... Why didn't this happen 6 weeks ago?????

Backtrack - We started the day as normal, but with a few less clothes - forecast for 14 C max, but with rain. Better than the 3 C Max we had yesterday. The rain joined us for our wander to the subway, but it was light, was a novelty (It's the second rainy day we've had) and was better than sub zero. We wandered around the National Cathedral, past the Zoo (Free, but no interest from the crew) and onto the Metro for the first time. Very modern, cavernous concrete stations and mood lighting for all. Quite romantic...well, maybe just gloomy. Whatever.

We hopped off at the Pentagon and ventured outside. Navigating through the maze of 'Can't go here/there and everywhere and 'No Photo's' we made it to the Memorial. A nice quiet spot for contemplation as you peer over the restored face of the Pentagon and try and absorb the size of the place. Rather large! Wouldn't want to have to change all the light globes in that one!

Wandered over to Arlington Cemetry, but was advised by the kids 'haven't we seen enough death and sadness already?'. Point taken. Moving right along....

...but of course there was an ulterior motive - an enormous Fashion focussed shopping centre complex was a short walk away. Pentagon City. 5 stories of pure he he he heaven (According to them). Maybe the opposite for me. Not sure how long we were there for because I dozed off so many times... The only thing that jolted me awake was 'Sorry, that cards declined - do you have another one?'. We tubed out of there, the girls bristling with clothes and makeup, and headed across the river to the route our bus normally takes. I figured the day was shot anyway (It was 5 ish by then) so the tube landed us just before the start of a shopping frenzy street we'd passed a few times with the girls hanging out the windows. Whatever cash and credit was left evaporated just after we'd passed the first few doors. Staying awake was easy forthat section as we were near a hospital (Lots of emergency lights and sirens) as well as the presidential cavalcade passing (I thought he might be visiting us to thank us for helping with the economy issues - Not so).

I confess to have succumbed and bought the clothes that Yvonne thrust at me, and she succumbed to some new boots, but the rest of the time was focussed on emptying the girls accounts.

Home cooked meal (third one for the trip!), some US sitcoms, fashion parades from the girls and bed time. The sick ones are still sick, the healthy ones still healthy. One last full day in Washington left (Not sure what we're doing) then we start the journey back up to NY then home. New York will be their last shopping chance, so all the coins kicking around the bottoms of purses will be pooled for one last assault!

at least when we get back to Perth and have no money we won't have to go SHOPPING again for a while!

Oh, and Yes - that is the romantically named Foggy Bottom station in the picture. Lovely, hey?