Washinton Monuments, Memorials and Madness

We had an interesting day yesterday (I think it was Wednesday, but I've kind of lost track) doing a tour of memorials and monuments with a local tour guide. Kathleen was previously a university lecturer and now takes tours on Shakespeare, American history, and architecture. She was very good and pointed out all sorts of interesting things we'd never have discovered on our own.

We visited: World War II memorial; Roosevelt memorial; Korean War Memorial; Lincoln Memorial; Vietnam Memorial; White House (from the outside); lunch at Union Station food court; Arlington Cemetery; and shopping and dinner at the Pentagon Mall.

The Roosevelt memorial was impressive, formed of huge blocks of granite into four "rooms" representing different stages of Roosevelt's Presidency. There were quotations chiselled into the granite, and water features in each room that represented the times (eg waterfall for the Depression). Many Americans at the time didn't know that Roosevelt was in a wheelchair, because there was no television and the press didn't mention it.

The Korean War Memorial was very moving, with statues of soldiers placed as if they were on patrol in the jungle, looking out for enemy soldiers. Their faces showed their fear - this was not a victory, Kathleen says, it ended with an armistice.

The Lincoln Memorial looks over a reflecting pool and the World War II memorial to the Washington Memorial in the distance. His statue dominates the memorial, with quotes (again) chiselled into the walls either side. Kathleen pointed out that the pose is ambiguous: one side firm and resolute, the other side conciliatory and seeking peace.

The Vietnam War Memorial is the one you hear most about. It was a polished granite wall with the names of all the dead and missing, in the order in which they were lost. From the wall there's a direct line of sight to the Washington Monument, so that all the great monuments are linked to each other. It was designed by a uni student, who also submitted it as an assignment and got B+ from her professor.

The White House is right in the heart of the city, with hotels and government offices all around. I'd always imagined it was set apart, as the Governor-General's residence is in Canberra, but I was wrong. Blair House, where visiting foreign heads of government are put up when they're in town, is just in the next block. Kathleen pointed out that President Obama was in residence and working in the Oval Office, because there was a Marine posted outside, but we didn't get to see him.

Union Station was meant to be the transport hub of the city in the days when rail was the modern form of transport, and was built in suitably impressive dimensions. It's still functioning, but now has lots of shops and a food court.

After lunch our tour guide took us to Arlington Cemetery - a vast expanse of lawn, trees, paths, and long lines of white crosses for soldiers, sailors and airforce who died on active duty. (and other dignatories). They are also allowed to have wives and children buried with them. The cemetery is filling up, so now the rules about who can be buried there are stricter. We saw the grave of John Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, set in the ground with an eternal flame; and Robert Kennedy (just a white cross in lawn).

Then off to the Pentagon Mall where we said goodbye to our tour guide, and then had dinner and more shopping. I must say the husbands who came on this trip are a pretty patient lot when it comes to shopping, as we've done a lot of it.

After dinner it was back on the buses as headed off to the Kennedy Centre for an interactive play called 'Shear Madness' which was a murder mystery. The police lieutenant got the audience to put their hands up when the suspects lied, and to ask questions, and then to vote on who the murderer was. It was very funny, with lots of ad lib jokes: they mentioned Aussies, and New Zealand, and Sweet Adelines, and the names of all the school groups that were in the audience. The Kennedy Centre is a massive rectangular building with an atrium that's supposed to be the biggest room in the world (or the US, I can't remember). There's a wide terrace all around the top floor with wonderful views of Washington.

Today we're off to New York, with a bit of shopping on the way.