Be back soon!

[Alessandra Necova]

I didn't see a forum for notices, so this will have to do until someone moves it.

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that I didn't drop off the galaxy, I just went on vacation. I'll be gone for about a week and a half.

If anyone was interested, I was planning a trip to Washington DC and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Its my "firework" display for Independence Day. If by some off chance I don't return on time, I'm probably in jail for silently dancing at the Jefferson Memorial and will need someone to bail me out.

Should be back around the 18th. See ya!
Aless

[Alessandra Necova]

So, I stayed at the Wyndham in DC last night, didn't see much since I was exhausted by the time I arrived. Today I arrived at Gettysburg and began my journey. Toured the entire battlefield (which in retrospect, I wish I had 2 days for. I had to skim through a lot of it!) I then had a bite at a local tavern that was completely candle lit in a wine cellar, and I checked in a few minutes ago. I have a night tour scheduled later tonight of the "ghostly" side of Gettysburg, and I haven't decided yet if I'll take an extra day or not to stay here before I go back to tour DC.

On a quick note, I was deeply disappointed with the way that the history was being taught here. Everywhere I went today the evil South was being called the bad guys of the Civil War, and that the war was fought entirely over slavery. There was only a single plaque that even mentioned state's rights, or sovereignty. And yet today we wonder why our kids don't understand or aren't willing to stand up for their rights and liberties.

[Alessandra Necova]

I doubt anyone cares, but since no one has complained I'll continue posting.

I decided I couldn't leave Gettysburg unfinished, so I spent a second day here. I think the one thing I must suggest to anyone else touring this area is to give it a full 3 or 4 days to completely explore the battleground. Even with 2 days, while I finished, I felt like I hardly scratched the surface. There's so much history and so much here that you really need a team to take it all in.

Anyway, less rambling.

I'm back in DC now to stay, and it looks like I'm going to have rain to contend with Tues/Weds. But I'm not letting it get the best of me. I'm just planning to see the Smithsonian during the rain.

Speaking of getting rained on, I'm not a racist or anything, but I did find myself in an instance where I felt very, VERY unwanted. It was late and I hadn't eaten yet, so I went to the nearest "Popeye" since I've never eaten there before. On my way, I decided to head down to the local grocery store (called "Giant") and pick up a couple things for the room.

I questioned if it was a good idea pretty early, since it was dark out, and a police car was parked out front. I parked my BMW, and when I exited, I noticed the gas tank on the car next to me had been tampered with. At this point I was thinking that maybe I should wait until tomorrow, but I was tired and just wanted to get it done, so I headed inside.

That was when I looked around and made the quick realization that I was being stared at...by seemingly everyone. I had to look down to see if my shirt fell off or something. But the reason I was being stared at was much more simple. Of the probably 100 people I could see all around me, I was the only white person there. I had walked into a completely black store, and I was clearly not wanted there. I was torn between simply getting whatever I needed and leaving quickly, but after walking up near a isle and having two men say something towards me and giving me looks that I didn't want, I decided rather to leave quickly. It was one of the few times I truly felt naked because I wasn't carrying (MD laws forbid it).


So word from the unwise. If you're going to DC, make sure to either bring friends, or make sure that you don't go into a bad part of the suburbs.

[Yeshmiel]

Washington D.C. was the murder capital of the US for many years. The fact that the city is impoverished and full of indigents is lost to the glamor of Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial. There is a lot of fascinating things to see, experience and learn but there are places that are going to be more rough then others. Glad to hear you were unharmed and that you were able to get back to the motel/hotel safely.

[Alessandra Necova]

Visited the Washington Mansion today. My favorite Founding Father is still Jefferson for his liberty or death principles, but I have to give Washington props for being one of the only people if not the only person throughout history that was offered power on a massive scale, and turned it down so that the people could govern themselves. But he did this twice, not once. Amazing stuff, and standing over his tome, I was moved to silently pray that someone like him arises and cleans house of the current dire situation that our country is in now.

Smithsonian museum is planned for the next two days. Out of curiosity, which ones would you recommend? I'm committed to the Space and Aeronautics already, but not sure which I'll do on Wednesday. Would love your opinions and input!

Aless

[Alessandra Necova]

Turned out no rain, but it was rather hot today. Visited the Smithsonian Space and Aeronautics museum, then went to the National Art Gallery. I learned there that I'm obviously not a sophisticated person, because I felt completely out of place there.

Next on my list was the National Archives, where I saw the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. I learned a couple interesting facts. For example, there is a spelling error in the final draft of the Constitution. Kodos to whoever knows what it is! 8)
I didn't really care too much for the public vaults or whatever they were called that contained letters, recordings, etc of various things. I found out they have an interesting system in place to choose those though. Say they have a letter Reagan wrote in 1970. They would put it on display for 365 days, then put it into storage. After 10 years, it could then be chosen to be on display again, but its not guaranteed. Apparently there are items in the vault that haven't been on display for over 20 years.

I finished the day at the Natural History museum, and visited the dinosaurs, mammoths, whales, and other stuff there. If anyone saw that comedy with Ben Stiller in it about the museum, it was a lot like that (although completely different layout).

Overall, it was a busy day, and I got a lot more done than I expected. I will say this though. I'm not really a city slicker by any stretch of the imagination, and the way that I 'borrowed' Fallout 3 subway knowledge helped out immensely to navigate downtown DC (subways especially).

[Alessandra Necova]

Loooong day. I am hoping to avoid a sunburn because of how long I was out today, even though it was a beautiful day compared to all the rest. Had a tour of the Arlington Cemetery from Robert E. Lee's old home to the Kennedy area to the Tomb of the Unknown. The changing of the guard is such a remarkable thing to witness. It was so perfect I was fighting back tears because of the dedication of the military that stand watch there. Apparently during 9/11, there was a mixup in the orders, and no relief came as it was supposed to, but the few soldiers that were there continued to stand guard, even with the Pentagon on fire and full knowledge of what was going on.

Went to the Jefferson Memorial, which to me was one of my best highlights. As my favorite Founding Father because of his principles on liberty, it was a great thing to see. I am sad each time I visit that he was made into a statue though. He insisted several times that he never wanted himself nor any other presidents to be made "larger than men" yet was made one anyway. Also, I danced a little there under the eye of the rangers to exercise my freedom of expression. I wasn't arrested!

My low point would have to be the Lincoln Memorial. He sits on his throne needing only a scepter and crown as far as I'm concerned. Because of his actions to create a nation, Americans now believe we have "the" Unites States, not "a" United States. There's a huge key difference, especially when related to the 9th and 10th Amendments. Anyway...

The WWI and Vietnam memorials were visited, the Washington memorial (no trip to the top unfortunately). To my great disappointment, the Pool of Reflection was destroyed. Its currently the Pile of Dirt and Mud. I guess they are renovating it, that that was a bit of sand in the face.

Visited the White House...or at least as far as I could. I don't remember there being a full 3 fences to get though when I was here about 10 years ago, but then again, maybe they were there.

Had lunch at Ben's Chili, the same place from Man vs. Food, and place Obama had lunch at recently. I wouldn't recommend the place though, the chili was okay, but I had MUCH better chili from a place called "Hard Times" on King's Street, Alexandria. Also, the jukebox being played was rap, and I can't handle rap.

Tomorrow just the Supreme Court and Capitol. Then a very relaxing time home. Its been a fun vacation, but man, I feel like the ugly duckling out here amidst the Obama/Hillery '08 stickers.

[Phoenix Burn]

Awesome stuff. I was fortunate enough as a child to have my father work in DC for about five years. It's an amazing testament to the ups and downs of this country.

Gettysburg is very lopsided in the teaching of the Civil war. I never learned the other side to the Civil war until I lived in TN for a few years. I did enjoy climbing through Devils Den when I was twelve.

A few other places to see if you haven't is Valley Forge and Philadelphia. I sneaked a touch on the Liberty Bell as the crowd was walking out. That rated up there with seeing and touching the Enola Gay when it was at Wright-Pat Air Museum. The best part of Philadelphia was standing in the halls of some of the buildings where all the details of a new country were hashed out through sweat, arguments, and back door politicking.