Touring The White House

September 14-17
When in DC, we always stay at Cherry Hill in College Park, Maryland. This is a well known RVer destination if Washington is on the agenda. The park makes it so convenient to get into the city via city bus making a connection to the Metro. All you have to do is just follow the colors of the lines you want to take. If you want to take a tour of the city, many of the tour buses pick up groups right at Cherry Hill. You never have to take your car into the bustling city, and you really want to avoid that if at all possible!

BUSES AND THE METRO...BILL, CYNDI, PAMI, AND FRANK WAITING ON THE METRO

THE TOOMBS OF THE METRO...GET OUT FAST...GET ON FAST!

This was our second trip to Washington. We saw most of the monuments and did several tours in ‘06…nothing was repeated this time. Our main purpose here was to visit the White House. Due to the tightened security after 9/11, you have to have a security clearance. We applied for this in March 2009 and finally got our acceptance just a week before arriving. My brother-in-law, Allan, got the paperwork through the office of Congressman Bart Gordon from Tennessee. Bart is a Murfreesboro native and a long time friend.

DOWNTOWN AND THE TREASURY BUILDING

SHERMAN PARK AND THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

AT THE NATIONAL MONUMENT

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MOTORCADE

On the day of our tour, we had to be up at 4 a.m., catch the bus at 5:20, and connect to the Metro to be in the city for a 7:30 tour. No cameras, handbags, or backpacks, could be taken into the White House. Being in the city after the tour, I would have no camera or lipstick!! That problem was solved by our friends, Bill and Cyndi, who met us afterwards, bringing my purse…couldn’t have made it all day without those two items!! What a schedule just to take a 30 minute tour!!

FRANK OUTSIDE THE SECURITY GATES AT THE WHITE HOUSE...DAY BEFORE THE TOUR

The tour was a bit disappointing because only five rooms were shown…Red Room, Library, Yellow Room, etc. The guides are Secret Service agents who have become White House docents. Our agent was a young man who graduated from Mississippi State and was drafted by the Washington Redskins for a pro football career; however being cut, he went into the Secret Service. He was well versed in the history of paintings, furniture, and function of each room we were led through. Overall it was impressive and we at least have a sense of location as to where the President signs bills, delivers televised speeches, and meets with Heads of State. Just wish I could have taken a few pictures!!

AFTER THE TOUR IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE

Before visiting the White House, we filled our days with other pastimes. We visited the American History Museum…it had been closed for renovation our last time here. The Star Spangled Banner exhibit was most impressive. The First Ladies’ Exhibit was still under construction and only a small showing of Inaugural Ball Gowns were displayed. The Willard Hotel offered up a bit of history; we found the lobby there to be a great spot to rest our weary sightseeing feet.

Meeting up again in Washington after leaving Pennsylvania, we got to do several things with our new friends, Bill and Cyndi. They were also staying at Cherry Hill and would be there for two weeks touring on their own, and then later meeting up with a rally that would be touring just about everything Washington and the area had to offer!
We went to the National Zoo together and took a picnic lunch...dinner at Five Guys after the zoo! We met at the Holocaust Museum after our White House tour. We also had lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill, a popular restaurant for the politicos of Washington. Frank and I actually ate there twice…good food and a great place to people-watch!

ZOO AND OLD EBBITT

ZOO PICS...SLEEPY PANDA...CURIOUS PANDA

EXOTIC BIRDS

BIG CATS

MOM AND BABY GORILLA...SO CUTE!

After lunching at the Old Ebbitt, Frank and I took a cab to the Rayburn Office Building to say hello to Bart…our congressman and friend from Tennessee. Bart met with us for hometown talk and a quick photo session before sending us over to the Capitol Building. One of his young aides, Eric, was sent with us to give us a personal tour.

CONGRESSMAN GORDON...AN OFFICE WITH A VIEW...ERIC GIVES THE TOUR

This was a fantastic tour! We were actually more impressed with the Capitol than the White House. So much history with a personal touch given by Eric who was very knowledgeable of the building. While in the Small Senate Rotunda, Frank recognized Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy walking through in a group. Frank said as he was passing, “There’s a good Vermonter” stopping the Senator in his tracks. The two of them shook hands as Frank told him he, too, was a Vermont native…they stood talking like two old friends.

INSIDE THE ROTUNDA...AWESOME!

LOOKING UP

STATUARY HALL

OLD SENATE CHAMBER AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OFFICE

SMALL SENATE ROTUNDA...CEILING AND CHANDELIER

REPLICA OF THE STATUE OF FREEDOM IN THE CAPITOL WELCOME CENTER

It was an exhausting trip…Washington will wear you out with all the walking. However, what a place of history…the center of American Democracy and Freedom. Everyone should go there at least once in their lifetime!