washington d.c.

Back in April, Brans was invited to the National Collegiate Model Arab League Conference at Georgetown for several days in Washinton D.C. Since it was the week of my birthday, we decided that we would both go out a few days early and see the sights and have a little vacation, then I would fly home and Brans would stay for the conference.

Prior to this trip, I had been on an airplane once... for 45 minutes on a flight to California. Not really a true airline experience. But this time, I got the real deal. We took the red eye flight from SLC to JFK then caught a connecting flight on to D.C. It was long... and we were tired... but it went well. 

We saw SO many things while we were in D.C. - we saw most of the monuments, spent hours and hours in the American History Museum, Air & Space Museum, National Archives and the Library of Congress. We got to take a tour of the Capitol Building. We even took a day trip up to Gettysburg - and how perfect for us that it was the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg!

Everything was spectacular.

But my favorite part? We were there during the peak of the Cherry Blossoms. They were splendid. It's always been a dream of mine to see the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom... so this year when it lined up with my birthday (and especially after the crappy year I'd had so far), I counted it as special present just for me. And let me tell you... it did NOT disappoint.

But as much as my descriptions and stories can help you imagine how awesome our trip was, nothing does it justice like actual photos (and even then... some photos don't capture the magnificence).

Like I said. The Cherry Blossoms were incredible.

Happy Birthday to me!

 We got to take a tour of the Capitol Building.

The building is m.a.s.s.i.v.e and so stunningly beautiful.

Coincidentally, the day we went, Congress was in session voting on a piece of gun legislature.

I didn't get a great photo, but there were security guards e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. holding M16s. 

I didn't know if I should feel really safe or really scared... ha.

Funny note:

Last minute, we got in on a guided tour and were assigned to a delightful tour guide and a group of about 15 other people. Near the end of the tour, we were in the National Statuary Hall, where our tour guide told us a few interesting facts about the building, statues, etc... She then led us over to the most recent addition to the hall: a statue of Rosa Parks. She informed us that the statue of Rosa Parks replaced the statue of Robert E. Lee, which was moved to another room. There was a European family in the group scratching their heads, and the man sort of scoffed and, in a thick accent said, "Who is this Rosa Park woman and what makes her so special that she would replace a man so important as Robert E. Lee?" Our tour guide looked shocked and replied, "Oh, sir! Are you saying you don't know who Miss Rosa Parks is? Well, let me tell you!" It was hysterical. She, as a black woman, understandably could not be more prouder of Rosa Parks, and launched into the whole story of how Rosa Parks would not move to the back of the bus and how she changed America for people like her and her family. It was one of the highlights of the trip.

I think my favorite building in D.C. was the Library of Congress.

These photos don't even come close to do it justice.

It's one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen.

We saw all of the National Monuments.

Again, such beautiful and stunning buildings and statues.

I was surprised by just how enormous all of these things were.

But even more than the size, I was caught off guard by the spiritual nature of these places.

There's a holiness and a reverence about them.

While looking at the Vietnam Memorial, we found a relative.

Harry D. Ashcraft. Not sure how we're related, but it's rare to find an Ashcraft.

(Time to do more family history!)

We could have spent days in museums alone...

But we saw lots of cool things in the American History Smithsonian, Air & Space Museum

and the Gettysburg Museum (which was actually our favorite).

 Gettysburg was one of our favorite places.

We're so glad we took the trip. 

I didn't really know what to expect at Gettysburg, to be honest, but it was amazing.

Like the National Monuments, it was spiritual. Holy. Sacred.

(P.S. If you ever want to go, I highly recommend that you take Brans with you.

I had my own handsome tour guide.

He knows everything about this place.

We would be driving on the road through Gettysburg, and he'd say,
"Up here on the right should be this"

or "Let's walk up there. Just above there is where this happened."

Seriously. The smartest guy I know.) 

And of course, we ate well.
Life is too short not too. [Grin.]

Our favorite was an all you can eat seafood buffet in D.C., just up the street from our hotel.

It was delicious.

I think I ate twice my weight in crab and lobster.

So. Good.

It was a great trip.

And we're so glad we went, and can't wait to go back.