Cherry Blossoms − 1 April, 2007
Note: this is the second of four articles about my trip to Washington, D.C. If you're starting in the middle of the story, a better beginning is at the launchpoint.
New -- added photos 3-May-2007.
My wife is staying with her brother while she's assigned to D.C. He lives just beyond the beltway in Virginia. We wanted to do some sight-seeing, so the best strategy we had was taking the Metro downtown.
It was an excellent idea. By a coincidence, my school district's spring break week matched up with the annual Cherry Blossom festival. Even on a Sunday, there was no parking available downtown (without a lot of frustration).
Employee of the Month
First we hit the museums. I had to go to the new American Indian museum; and, of course, the Air and Space museum.
Which brings up my first major observation: the museums in D.C. are not that great when compared to those in Florida.
This might come as a surprise to you, but think about it: museums in Florida have to compete with beaches, Disney, and alligators. In total, the D.C. museums involved too much standing around in a crowd staring at things behind glass.
Florida takes the opposite tack -- MOSI, for instance, is almost all hands-on and interactive. Maybe I've just been teaching 6th grade too long, but I found the D.C. museums boring in contrast to the level of excitement I'm used to.
OK, time for my usual weird throw-in story. It was a cold day in D.C., and considering that it's already in the 90s in Florida, I had forgotten to bring a jacket. So while we were in the American Indian museum, I bought a jacket. It was a simple, dark windbreaker that said "Smithsonian" on it -- I had to go for that one, the ones that actually said Indian were all pullovers, which I can't abide.
The first odd result came in line at the American Indian museum cafeteria. The cashier asked me for my card. After a second or two, I realized she saw the jacket (as well as my shirt & tie -- can't go everywhere looking like a bum, you know) and thought I was an employee!
I explained to her "They sell these in the gift shop, you know." She and her fellow cashiers were shocked -- I looked like I was on staff.
Well, in retrospect, I realize I could have turned this to my advantage, but didn't. I should at least have held out for the employee discount.
This turned out to be a theme. All through the Air and Space museum, people kept asking me for directions and about exhibits. Since I'm a science teacher, a lot of times I'd just give the answer and move on.
Cherry Blossoms
That afternoon, we walked to the tidal basin and got to see the cherry blossoms. It was pretty amazing. We walked all the way around the basin, stopping at all the sites and monuments along the way.
I was particularly moved by the monument to one of my favorite presidents, FDR.
On the other hand, I was struck by something odd at the World War II memorial. Here were all these tourists, seeing something fairly serious and troubling . . . yet, when they took pictures, they'd be cheesing it up for the camera. I mean, here's a monument to 400,000 dead -- and you're taking pictures of your family smiling and putting devil ears on each other's heads? Nonsense.
But on whole, the festival was a great experience. Our experience with the museums, however, convinced us we needed to try another strategy for the next day.
Story continues tomorrow.
New -- added photos 3-May-2007.
My wife is staying with her brother while she's assigned to D.C. He lives just beyond the beltway in Virginia. We wanted to do some sight-seeing, so the best strategy we had was taking the Metro downtown.
It was an excellent idea. By a coincidence, my school district's spring break week matched up with the annual Cherry Blossom festival. Even on a Sunday, there was no parking available downtown (without a lot of frustration).
Employee of the Month
First we hit the museums. I had to go to the new American Indian museum; and, of course, the Air and Space museum.
Which brings up my first major observation: the museums in D.C. are not that great when compared to those in Florida.
This might come as a surprise to you, but think about it: museums in Florida have to compete with beaches, Disney, and alligators. In total, the D.C. museums involved too much standing around in a crowd staring at things behind glass.
Florida takes the opposite tack -- MOSI, for instance, is almost all hands-on and interactive. Maybe I've just been teaching 6th grade too long, but I found the D.C. museums boring in contrast to the level of excitement I'm used to.
OK, time for my usual weird throw-in story. It was a cold day in D.C., and considering that it's already in the 90s in Florida, I had forgotten to bring a jacket. So while we were in the American Indian museum, I bought a jacket. It was a simple, dark windbreaker that said "Smithsonian" on it -- I had to go for that one, the ones that actually said Indian were all pullovers, which I can't abide.
The first odd result came in line at the American Indian museum cafeteria. The cashier asked me for my card. After a second or two, I realized she saw the jacket (as well as my shirt & tie -- can't go everywhere looking like a bum, you know) and thought I was an employee!
I explained to her "They sell these in the gift shop, you know." She and her fellow cashiers were shocked -- I looked like I was on staff.
Well, in retrospect, I realize I could have turned this to my advantage, but didn't. I should at least have held out for the employee discount.
This turned out to be a theme. All through the Air and Space museum, people kept asking me for directions and about exhibits. Since I'm a science teacher, a lot of times I'd just give the answer and move on.
Cherry Blossoms
That afternoon, we walked to the tidal basin and got to see the cherry blossoms. It was pretty amazing. We walked all the way around the basin, stopping at all the sites and monuments along the way.
I was particularly moved by the monument to one of my favorite presidents, FDR.
On the other hand, I was struck by something odd at the World War II memorial. Here were all these tourists, seeing something fairly serious and troubling . . . yet, when they took pictures, they'd be cheesing it up for the camera. I mean, here's a monument to 400,000 dead -- and you're taking pictures of your family smiling and putting devil ears on each other's heads? Nonsense.
But on whole, the festival was a great experience. Our experience with the museums, however, convinced us we needed to try another strategy for the next day.
Story continues tomorrow.
dc_cherry_2_500
dc_cherry_1_500
