DC in springtime

Spent the day in Washington DC yesterday. Started at the Library of Congress, where we registered for Library cards which allows you to do research there at the Library. Beautiful building, you could almost call it a temple built to knowledge.
Then the long walk down the mall through a seething mass of humanity. This weekend was the beginning of the Cherry Blossom festival, and downtown DC was packed. The mall was brimming with families, tourists, people of all sorts. Looking down toward the monument, the air was full with a swarm of kites. Big, little, huge, flown by kids, adults. It was quite an experience to meander through the thousands that were gathered there, dodging kite strings and trying to avoid running into anyone. It's also awesome to rub shoulders with all the different cultures that come to DC for the tourist experience. I think you can hear more languages in a short amount of time in downtown DC than about anywhere.
I have some other thoughts on the WW2 memorial, and may post them later, but not now.
From WW2 we walked around the tidal basin, enjoying the gorgeous cherry blossoms on a lovely afternoon. Short stop off at the FDR memorial, which I highly recommend. A quote that stood out to me was in reference to the poor.

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little. "

If the country, nay even if the citizens of the country, operated according to that principle, so many things would be different.
We spent a little time sitting at the Jefferson Memorial and watched a presentation by a Bollywood dance school. Very beautiful and exotic. After another long walk, (The nearest metro station was paralyzed with the crush of commuters) we were finally able to get a train to Union Station for supper and some shopping, then headed home.
An amazingly fun day, although pretty tiring. By our estimation we walked around 5 miles, and our legs could feel it by the end of the day. The cherry trees were pretty and the company was indomitable. Thanks Sweetheart, Beebs, Prudence, and Chente. You made the day fun.


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Now playing: Linkin Park - Hands Held High
via FoxyTunes

Hello All...

I've blogged before, although not terribly regularly, but I wanted to start a new one as a place to throw out random thoughts as needed. I think I'll try to keep updates to whatever is on my mind, rather than trying to develop long and arduous arguments, (which are fun, but hard to get started on.)

So... Read on if you like. And let me know what you think.

Jesse

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Now playing: Radiohead - Karma Police
via FoxyTunes