Conclusion & Advice For Washington, D.C. Plus A Soup Story, Capitol & Law Enforcement Memorial

Our United States Capitol tour was set for 10:00 a.m. We knew the visitor center opened at 8:30 a.m. so we got there when it opened.  We figured we could look around in the visitor center before the tour. Security was easy to get through and then, since I had timed tickets, we went to the front of the line where you show the worker the email and they hand you physical tickets. We asked for the ASL video tour on the iPad. I had read about this when planning and thought this would be just fine so I didn’t request an ASL interpreter. The lady got the iPad for me. A staff person asked if we wanted to go through the tour earlier, at 9:00 a.m. and we said yes. While waiting in line, I watched the introduction in ASL on the iPad. It was very well done. We went into a theater for introduction film, it was captioned. This place gets an A. Everyone was handed headphones. This is a really neat way to do it – the tour guide would speak into a mike and the people, who are hearing!, could hear them through the headphones. 

I knew this before, but, it was still very disappointing not to be able to even look inside the house and senate floors. It was incredible to be in the Rotunda. Just to think of all who have laid in state here. Wow.

Statuary Hall was neat. I didn’t get a lot of pictures because the iPad was so big to hold (so thankful to have it). Each state gets 2 statues and they can change them out any time. They used to be in this Hall but it started sinking from all the weight. So they get moved around. We turned in the iPad and then went into the Exhibition Hall. 

We sure think they did this up well. Great information and easy for young and old to learn. I learned about the House Chamber:  *votes at electronic stations *no assigned seats *a system of bells, buzzers, and lights throughout the Capitol tell what is happening in the Chamber. The Senate Chamber: *desks are picked at the beginning of each Congress every two years *the most senior members get first pick and usually sit near the center aisle *Democrats sit to the right of the Presiding Officer, Republicans sit to the left *Senators like to keep sweets in the “candy desk” since 1960s.

In the main area we saw one of Alabama’s statue – Helen Keller at the water pump. 

Then it was time for lunch. We went to the cafeteria right in the visitor center. They have a huge array of foods to pick from. I saw the sign for Senate Bean Soup. I HAD to try it. Why? Because years ago I got the Senate Bean Soup recipe from somewhere and added it to my recipe book. Just so you know, dear reader of my journal, I really enjoy cooking and have been told I am a good one. That being said…when I made this recipe it was yuck, awful, in fact, Kevin didn’t even like it and we threw it out! Not kidding. I guess I like the “idea” of making and eating Senate Bean Soup and I know I would grab the recipe anytime I saw it. So on my recipe card, I wrote, YUCK so that I will know not to make it again. HAHA So, at the Capitol, I ordered a bowl for us to share. It tasted very good! I had to make myself share a few bites with Kevin. 😋 I wondered where the recipe came from and the story. Here it is, plus, it gives the recipe! It sounds just like the one I made but I will try this one. The following link has several stories of where the recipe might have come from and the recipe at the end. Excuse me as I go add this to my menu.  https://www.aoc.gov/about-us/organizational-structure/office-chief-operations/senate-office-buildings-jurisdiction/senate-restaurants#:~:text=Senate

After checking out the gift shop, we were done with the Capitol. We walked to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. This is in a large oval with low water features in the middle. The walls are 304 ft long and are blue-gray limestone.  Into the walls are carved the names of more than 23,000 officers who have died in the line of duty. It goes back to the first known death, 1786! Names are added every spring, just in time for National Police Week. https://nleomf.org/memorial/#:~:text On both ends of the curves are stands that have books where you can look up a name by state, department and then name and then it tells you where to find the name.

We know of one officer who died in the line of duty. He was a personal friend of our brother-in-law and sister. We found his name and took several pictures for them. Oh, so many names. 

CONCLUSION OF OUR TIME IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

We feel so thankful to have been able to visit Washington, D.C. We were there long enough to see so many different things. We don’t have a favorite; each place was incredibly special in it’s own way. I was here 40 some years ago and I was thrilled to add to those memories.

Some thoughts and observations about Washington, D.C.:

*People there walk on the left side of the sidewalk. At first I thought this was because they were tourists from a country that drives on the left side of the road. Then I continued to watch and it was almost everyone there – people with badges who worked there, tourists, and people who we could tell lived in the area. I wonder why?

*Bathrooms. Now, maybe most of the readers here don’t concern themselves about this, but I do. HA Don’t worry, every museum had lots of bathrooms, clean and big. Except for a short time when I got behind some high school girls, there was never a line.

*RVers: we highly recommend Cherry Hill Parks campground. I mentioned some things about this place in the first post about Washington. Let me add this, when you are tired from walking all day and don’t want to fix dinner, they have a cafe there next to the pool. Delicious burgers, fries and chicken sandwich is what we had. On top of them being so good…they deliver to your RV for free. We did this twice and the food was hot and delivered quickly. Rated: Whenever I Am Too Tired To Cook!

*Metro System: this is all we used to get around, except for taking the truck twice to the train station. With the bus stop right there, across from the office, you don’t even have to go off the property of the campground to catch the bus. Trains were cleaner than we thought they would be. They came often enough that we hardly had to wait. The Circulator goes around the Washington Mall, most memorials and to Union Station. It only costs $1.00 and you can use it as a hop on hop off. The charge is good for 2 hours. If you come back after 2 hours, just pay $1.00 again. If you use cash, it is $2.00, so use the SmarTrip card or app. We were surprised that the entire time we were there, including Memorial Day, and some rush hour times, there was always a seat available on the bus and trains.

*Take recommendations from your friends and family of things to see and do. But, be sure to make the trip your own. If you aren’t too interested in something, find something that you are. Especially if your time is limited.

*While a lot of the museums and government places are free, a lot of them require you to get a timed ticket. Do your research way ahead of time. Some of them go fast. And some you need your representative to do it for you. So research and learn.

*Deaf and hard of hearing friends: don’t stay away from this place. Visit Gallaudet University. Take a tour there and learn the history and how things are set up. You will probably be a little jealous like I was. Next, I found that every film in all the places we went, had closed captioned. Wonderful! Most places are self-guided so you just read along the displays. If there is a time you want an interpreter, they want several weeks notice. Stand up for yourself and get all the accommodations that you need in order to fully experience this wonderful place.

This concludes our 15 days in Washington, D.C. Thanks for reading.