AMERICA
TRIP TO
WASHINGTON D.C.
Arriving in Washington D.C., we
took a bus to our hotel – and second
home in the US - ‘The Harrington’.
Later that evening, we took a (cold)
walk around some of the iconic
monuments of Washington D.C.
such as the Washington Monument,
which is particularly stunning in all its
illuminated glory in the night. We also
saw the World War Two memorial,
whose pond was iced over (it really was
that cold!), as Mr Braidwood and Mr
Hughes spieled us on some of America’s
history in relation to these monuments.
Exhausted from all the travel and
the time difference, we woke up next
morning to another monumental sight –
this time the legendary buffet breakfast
at our hotel. Mounds of bacon, towers
of pancakes and vats of coffee gave
us the energy for our more extensive
exploration of D.C.’s epic monuments
. Ranging from controversial artistic
metaphors, such as the healing wound
for Vietnam, to the giant Martin Luther
King Jr. memorial by the lake, the
memorials were all moving, providing
an insight into what it means to be
American.
The Smithsonian museums, which we
visited throughout the week, offered an
experience for everyone as they were
not only all free to visit but ranged
from art museums featuring Monnet to
the National Air and Space Museum
featuring Star Wars. However, the two
outstanding museums were the African
American Museum and the Newseum.
The African American museum
was inspirational as it told the story
of African Americans from ancient
times to modern, and from sport and
culture to military. The Newseum,
as the name suggests, was about
journalism – including exhibits on the
FBI’s most wanted and 9/11. This was
a particularly emotional part of the
museum and there was not a dry eye for
those who took the time to contemplate
this event that has shaped the world we
live in today.
Spending the day in Gettysburg, we
were educated on canon authenticity
and hidden secrets of foot placement
in Civil War monuments on a bus
tour of the battlefield. Our battlefield
guide – no, not Mr Hughes this time
– was exceptional, possessing an
encyclopaedic knowledge of the site.
Drawing maps in the dirt and pointing
out the claw marks of a local bear who
also happened to have visited the site,
he really brought it to life. The museum,
which had a movie theatre and gift shop,
was where we spent a few hours being
educated on the most famous battle of
the American Civil War 1861-65.
Taking the Metro to Foggy Bottom,
we spent the next day in Georgetown.
Guided by Miss Cheadle and Mr
Hughes, we toured the university and
town, talking about its’ history – both
modern politics and its intriguing Civil
War links. Finishing the day off with
some ice-skating, followed by a walk
along the harbour.
Visiting the Pentagon was a unique
experience. Once through security, the
tour guides (who ranged from marines
to naval officers) walked backwards the
entire time, ensuring that nobody snuck
off to steal any US military secrets!
Although shopping at the Pentagon
mall later that day was fun, seeing
inside the high security building was a
highlight.
The most popular event, however,
was the sport. We saw three matches:
NHL ice hockey (Washington Capitals
v. Anahiem Ducks), NBA Wizards
basketball,
Georgetown
college
basketball (Hoyas v. Texas). With a
fight happening within the first minute
of Capitals v. Ducks, the games were
anything other than boring! We also
make an appearance on the Jumbotron
due to our excellent chanting and
cheering resulting in Mr Hughes’ live
interview, in the Hoyas basketball
game. All in all a fantastic week!
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
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