If you don’t like photos of kids standing in front of monuments, you had better skip this post. (You could read Isaiah 40 instead to make good use of the time…”Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket…”)
Our adventure for the day started off in a parking lot, circling around and around and around. We had chosen a hotel beyond the end of one of the subway/train lines with the thought that we would save some money. I failed, however, to reckon with all the locals who arrived earlier than we did.
When we made it on the train, the kids were delighted. I am not sure if any of them have ridden a train that they can remember. It deposited us near the Capitol building, and after we secured passes to the House and Senate galleries, we left Mom and Baby outside holding everything they wouldn’t allow us to enter with. (Frankly, it’s easier to describe what they do allow in the building: clothes and wigs.)
We didn’t have time for any of the tours, but we did see lots of famous people in the House and Senate and everyone was impressed with the grandeur of the building. An underground tunnel led to the Library of Congress where we saw a couple of old Bibles, including a Gutenberg.
We were walking from the Capitol building to the White House when our famous selves were recognized by one of the best Bible professors in the world and by one of the best wives of a Bible professor. We later met up with seven of their eight children, three of whom we knew from semesters at IBEX. This surprise was fun and encouraging. Their family has become very dear to us over the years; recounting how that has been so would be a happy occasion sometime.
With what was left of the afternoon we paid quick visits to the exteriors of Ford’s Theater, the White House, and the Washington Monument.
We walked down the National Mall to the World War II Veterans Memorial (built only in about 2000) and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Our trek to find a sub for the return to the hotel led us through the campus of George Washington University and past the State Department building (huge; I really struggled when thinking about who is the boss of everyone in that building).
We had a great day and made many memories. The part of the city that we saw was clean, peaceful, and safe. You can review the photos above if you want to learn more about Jonathan’s nap schedule.
Bonus spelling tip: never spell the word “capital" with an o unless you ‘re writing about a building.
Unexpected encounters with the body of Christ, what a joy! We moved to Alabama last month and on our first week at a new church, we turned around to shake hands and met two IBEX alumni.
Alabama, wow! Life is different there, at least outside of big cities. I wonder if you met Jonathan and Sharon, though there could be other IBEXers in Alabama. And I think you were the same semester as them so perhaps it’s someone else.
I was just in D.C. the other day! Wish I also could have run into you and recognized “your famous selves.”
The Library of Congress Building is my most favorite building in the whole world! I LOVE the paintings and mosaics on the ceilings inside! So glad you guys enjoyed your time. :)