Washington DC

My next stop was Washington DC to visit another of my Uni flatmates - Katie and meet her very soon to be husband Kurt. Not sure Kurt knew what he was letting himself in for having only just moved in with Kate then having me turn up for a couple of weeks to catch up on all the gossip and wedding chat having not spoken properly in over a year!!

The Smithsonian Castle in Washington DC is the information centre for all the Smithsonian Museums - I visited a few of these the last time I was here but there are so many and they are quite big so still lots to do on this trip - and they are all free ;-)

The tomb of James Smithsonian the guy who left the money for these museums to be set up - funny thing is he never stepped foot in the US when he was alive his body was brought here from Italy some years after his death!!

The Hope Diamond on display in the Natural History Museum is allegedly cursed bringing bad luck to everyone who has owned it as legend has it that it was stolen from the eye of Hindu God Sculpture and is linked to a number of famous people through history.

Chom Poo Moo just keeps getting herself into dangerous situations!!

The White House - it isn't as big as you might expect!!

A demonstration outside the White House against the detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

How cute are these ducklings?????

A school brass band on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial.

Chom Poo Moo thinks she could easily sit in the Presidents chair!!

The view over the Reflection Pool and Washington Monument - this reminds me of the Clint Eastwood film 'In The Line of Fire' when C.E. watches Rene Russo walk away and tells himself if she looks back she likes him!! I know it is sad that I like to identify movie scenes from the places I visit - but you all know that anyway!!!

The Korean War Memorial.

The Washington Monument - probably one of DC's most famous landmarks.

Capitol Building - where congress and other legislative bodies do their damage....

Chom Poo Moo was feeling a little tired after all her sight seeing so thumbed a lift on this giant spider!!

Some more Rodin sculptures which were in the Sculpture Gardens - the one thing I always notice about his stuff is how giant the hands are.....

Some cute little chicks who I could hear crying as I walked past some trees.

But not to worry mum soon turned up and made sure I knew who was in charge...

Chom Poo Moo loved the Air and Space Museum - particularly joining in the experiments!!

I just wanted to know how they get all these planes/rockets etc into the Air & Space museum???

And Chom Poo Moo got very excited when she got to meet one of the astronauts.

My favourite part of the Air & Space Museum was an exhibition of photographs of Saturn.

The National Indian Museum was interesting with lots of history and up to date information on different tribes - the one I visited in New York is part of this one but much smaller.

They had the 2nd half of the Fritz Sholder exhibition - Vampire Kissing Angel - my favourite of his paintings.

I think it is quite funny that this portrait of a baby by Van Goph is worth millions - I wouldn't be happy if he drew my baby as a green blub!!

Glad technology has brought camera's down in size - this one wouldn't fit in my rucksack!!

I spent a few hours in the Holocaust Museum which although quite disturbing was interesting and I learnt a few things I didn't know - this tile wall was made by local school kids who are not allowed into the main exhibition due to the graphic nature of some of the displays.

The Ford Theatre where Abraham Lincoln was shot a few days before the end of the Civil War.

Peterson House opposite the theatre where Lincoln was taken and later died in this bed.

Arlington Cemetery - where service men and woman can be buried. A sad but peaceful place to walk around and see thousands of grave stones - many of young men and many more of unknown names.

Arlington House - this whole property belonged to Robert Lee before the outbreak of the Civil War - when he resigned from the US army to fight for the confederate and left his home it was taken over by the US military as a base and later the cemetery was started here. Though he is the only person who has ever fought against the USA who has a official memorial in his memory!!!

Changing of the Gaurd and a Wreath presentation at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Memorial Antheneum

This tree and book are dedicated to the journalists who have died during the numerous wars.

Kate and I managed to catch up with Alka, Anish, Ajay and Masi for lunch when they were passing through DC which was good.

Kurt says goodbye and escaping for his health before Kate's first Bachelorette Party (AKA Hen Night) The formal one being in the Caribean in a few weeks a couple of nights before the wedding (oh yes I will be there too!!).

Me and Kate at the start of the night.

As always these things start off calm and sensible....

And a few bottles of Champagne later things start to get interesting - Kate laughs at the presents the girls brought for her.

And then the fun begins......

How many people can you squeeze in one cab (9 when you use the boot!!).

Kate and Scott in the pub.

And of course it isn't a Hen Night (unofficial or not) without the bride being made to get her photo's taken with lots of boys - preferably very cute one's :-) It was a fun night and I am looking forward to doing it all again in a couple of weeks.

Next morning Kate and I headed down to Georgetown - the old part of DC - we considered going for cupcakes - but this was the queue - Kate's hangover and my tiredness were not up for waiting in this line!! Who queue's for cupcakes???

But we did go for a nice walk along the canal and grabbed some lunch before heading home to take it easy :-)

This is my second visit to Washington to visit Kate - the last time I came we had a long chat about things which ultimately led to me taking my career break and doing this trip. It was great to be able to spend some time here again have a proper catch up and with her and of course get to know Kurt before their wedding.

It has been lovely to catch up with some of my friends whilst in the US - I have been taking things a bit slower than I had been earlier in my travels which I was ready for. As much as I love seeing everywhere it is tiring moving on every few days.

Later today I am catching a flight down to Fort Lauderdale for a few days before hitting Miami then the Carribean - will be there for about a month or so as visiting a few islands and catching up with some more friends and of course going to Kate and Kurt's wedding. After that I have no idea yet - I am watching the Swine Flu (one of the reasons I'm not planning anything too far in advance) and will just see what happens and where I can get flights to from the islands!!!

No sure what internet access I will have over the next month so don't worry if no update for a bit - remember I am meeting people who should notice if I don't turn up ;-)

Hope that the sunshine is coming out for you guys at home (or wherever you are).

Jack xx