On our first full day in Washigton we made a beeline for my bucket list item, the National Air and Space Museum. Ah me – spaceships, planets, nebulae, and aeroplanes. This museum has a comprehensive history of space travel and aviation. Some of the bigger pieces (eg Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber which dropped the first atom bomb) have been shifted to another site where larger aircraft can be displayed. No matter. I was more than happy to wander around in here for hours.
Many school groups were visiting, too. The displays are often hands-on so people can actually experience activities. For instance, you could climb into skylab and get an idea of what it was like. The lunar lander from 1969 was on display, as were several Russian space craft.
Even lunch was an experience. This would have to be the biggest Macdonald’s in the world, with about thirty or forty service lanes doling out burgers, fries, and shakes to hundreds of customers. I think there were other options apart from Macca’s but I’ve forgotten the details. The kids loved it, of course. And it was great to see groups of kids from every culture mixing together at the long tables. No segregation here.
The space museum naturally has a planetarium. We booked for an afternoon show that included a 3D fly through the Orion Nebula. To get a bit of fresh air before the session started, we walked out to an open-air modern art sculpture garden. I’ll admit I’m a Philistine when it comes to most modern art. This was no exception.
The planetarium presentation was breath-taking. We were given 3D glasses and it was just like being there in the middle of all that gas in a stellar nursery.
Later in the day we went to see some of the more obvious touristy places like the White House, which was within walking distance. We did more than our ten thousand steps that day.
Back at the hotel I set myself to working out how to get the WIFI to work while Pete rustled up some food. I’m wearing my Estonia Tee shirt – bought in Tallin earlier in our trip.
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