Washington DC 3rd Trip Report April 17th Just finished another day of demanding touring with Collette. First item on our schedule was to visit Arlington National Cemetery. This was interesting to see and significantly different then when I last visited there in 1992. For one thing, in 1992, I could drive my private vehicle in the cemetery and I did. Also, some high ranking generals burial area had been moved to probably a safer, more remote area. Now, security personnel search you, metal detector and make you buy a ticket to take a tram which will make various stops in the cemetery. We stopped at stop one for the Kennedys burial sight and three to visit the tomb of the unknown soldier. A change of guard takes place every half hour and it is a detailed ceremony practicing rigid Army procedures for inspection and drill and ceremonies. The soldiers are dressed in immaculate dressed blues and every move is choreographed. It is a very solemn ceremony and absolute quiet is required. Since I had visited last, a new edifice had been built in front of the ceremonial area. At my previous visit in 1992, I had come very early in the morning and was by myself. I could tell the soldier on duty was very aware of my presence and uneasy about it. I was there to watch only and left after a brief visit. We then drove to Old Town Alexandria and walked around and ate our lunch at are own discretion. It was a cool, windy day and Linda and I found it peaceful. Easter celebration day. We then drove to Mount Vernon for a tour of the Founding Father’s Mansion and grounds (George Washington). It is a very well maintained area and on this Sunday Easter, had a lot of people present. This is spring time and the vegetation is spectacular. Also, the view of the Potomac River was very nice. The area is very well maintained and included restored areas of the plantation. The visiting center had a terrific film presentation and we also watch separately two other video presentations that involved Washington’s wife’s views on George and the ongoings of the time and a tactical alternative computer game where we had to make decisions on what tactics to use against the British. I chose withdrawal which was the wrong answer, Washington attacked in a different direction which led to the British withdrawal from North America (obviously simplified with many other factors involved). The whole visiting center included many viewing areas and is first rate. It took a full afternoon and was much better and more then I expected. I am ready to buy a book on Washington’s life and read it (maybe two). I ordered two the following day. April 18th, Monday last day of formal tour with Collette Today we made our way to the Basilica. This the largest church in the U.S.A. I would add that it is probably the one worth the most money regarding its value in dollars and sense. Every part of this very large church speaks of wealth, quality. It is breath taking regarding how spectacular it is. I have seen many ceremonies that were conducted in this church on television when high ranking government officials and dignitaries had died and assumed it was important. Now I know that it is important. It is very high value real estate. I took many pictures. This church is cable of holding 10,000 people for a service. It is one of the 10th largest in the world. A guide in the church made a detailed presentation of most significant aspects of the church and its religious significance. It was almost to the point of “preaching” which towards the end motivated me to walk away from the talk. I am a believer and have figured out based on my actions in my government jobs (Army, prison), after careful reading of the Reader’s Digest Bible written in plain English translation, old testament and new testament, that I am not going to heaven. I accept that. We then went to the Smithsonian Museum complex area and visited the Museum of Natural History. The area where minerals are displayed took much of our time there. We also visited the “Castle” (oldest part of the Smithsonian), the Asian Museum. Having visited China, Turkey, in the past, the Asian museum was not significant in its content. We then decided that we had enough of touring with Collette on this trip and returned home using Lyft transportation and saved our strength for the last formal event of the trip, the farewell dinner. Linda and I have one more day left in Washington DC. Overall I think Collette has done a very good job of having us see the highlights of Washington D.C. considering the lingering restrictions of COVID. We are ready for our return to Texas.

Trip Report 2, Washington DC, April 15, 2022 We are touring with a group of 34 people who are elderly like Linda and I and from many parts of the U.S.A.  All seem to be nice.  The Tour Director is named Chad and seems well qualified for the trip.  He studied horticulture and Architecture in college and was able to identify vegetation and building styles.  He also has a pleasant personality which is beneficial with the many personalities that end up in a group such as this.  Getting on the bus, getting off the bus, and understanding the schedule is challenging.   We drove into the Capital area and parked near the Supreme Court Building.  We walked around  Capitol Hill.  We were very close to where the June 6th rioters demonstrated, invaded the legislature buildings.  I walked over 11,000 steps yesterday.  Too much for an elderly person.  We ended up in our walk going into the Library of Congress.  My suspenders ended up being a security issue because of the metal clips and resulted in close contact with the Capital Police with an. Electronic hand held device.  The Library is very impressive and I took some pictures.  The displays are nice and I would recommend going to the internet and checking it out. Lunch was a brawl where I ended up eating from a van.  Those that stood in line in the local restaurant ended up taking it back to the bus.  We are seeing massive crowds and the local tour guide indicated that this shows easing COVID restrictions, etc.  We had a local guide then Lynette and visited the WWII memorial, Korean War memorial, and the Vietnam memorial. This was the second time for me visiting these memorials.  The. Third time going to the Vietnam memorial.  The first time I went to the Vietnam memorial I cried.  I was surprised when I did shed one tear from one eye on this trip.  We walked past the Lincoln memorial and the masses of people there made going there unreasonable.  Linda and I had been there previously when I went to a Department of Justice sponsored training to enhance my Criminal Justice teaching skills years ago.  I also was assigned to the Pentagon for two years over 26 years ago and visited these areas (I retired from the Army in 1994 after 31 years of service).  We then received a bus tour of old George Town with our guide talking about it and ended up at a place called Dog tag bakery where over 3,000 dog tags were hung up from the ceiling and veterans were employed to bake. In the evening we went to a German restaurant where we were served German food (I am not a fan) which was fine for me as they served me vegetarian dishes.  The group dinners on tours are a real test.   I wear hearing aids and generally do not hear well and we end up yelling at each other to pass the time while being served the food.  I only hear a third of what is spoken at most.  We sat across from an Insurance sales manager and his wife from Idaho and talked to them.  Tomorrow  Ford’s theatre where President Lincoln was assassinated.   April 16, 2022 , Washington DC; Continuation of Trip Report 2 Today we started going to the White House Visitors Center.  Security is tight and I had to be wanded by the Capitol Police person because of my suspender metal latches.  I was not expecting much from this center and was pleasantly surprised regarding how nice it is.  There is a presentation video by past occupants of the white house which is very nice.  There are still burn marks preserved at the White House where British soldiers had burnt it down in the War of 1812.  We then as a. Group walked around the perimeter of the White House. There are many barriers up and police are highly visible.  I was rushing and fell down in a small tree pit.  Luckily no scratches.  I am in trouble when I rush at age 78.  I then walked in the new WWI memorial park which is very nice.  We then went to Ford Theatre and sat in the audience section while a park Ranger gave a very detailed description of the assassination of Lincoln and the results.  The reaction from the audience in the theatre at the time he was killed was to kill the assassin and there was much unrest. We did not go to the building across the street from the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was laid to rest after being shot in the head.  Linda and I then went off on our own.  Our terrific group director, Chad, took time and walked us personally to the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery and National Art Museum.  We had a nice lunch there and walked among the many exhibits, paintings, statues.  Linda decided to go back to the room early and I wandered the streets, looking at the FBI, Department of Justice buildings and a parade forming to celebrate Easter.  It was a pleasant day of touring. 

First Report Washington D.C. April 14, 2022 We flew from El Paso, Texas to Washington DC yesterday, April 13.  It was a long flight that had two stops, Austin, Texas and Colombia, Ohio.  We stayed on the plane in Columbus.  The hotel is Yours Truly and is very nice.  We were met at the airport by a Lincoln Continental with a driver who introduced himself as a Chauffeur.  He wore a black suit with a tie. There was a slight delay at the airport because the driver had received instructions to go to another pick up point, airline, at the airport.  We still drove from the airport to the hotel at 3PM after arriving at 2:30PM.   Two nice double beds and a nice view to the street at the hotel.  We did not have the energy to do anything much on the arrival evening.  We walked around the block (city blocks) and saw many young college students walking in the area.  The GeorgeTown University is next to us.  It was warm here today and yesterday.  82 degrees today.   Today, April 14, we took Lyft and drove to the United States Botanic Garden.  It was spectacular and we took many very nice pictures of the flowers and lay out of the garden.  Really, it was almost worth the trip just to see this very nice garden facility.  We also walked in front of the Capitol building in the area.  It was nice to see the Capitol building without rioters hanging off of and battling Capitol police. For months that has been the fare on TV.  The Lyft drivers have told us that the capital is somewhat quiet now because of the Easter holiday.  Not as many people in the area. We walked to the local Walmart to buy some items we forgot to bring.  It has been a long time since we traveled because of COVID restrictions.  Need to get back into the habit of traveling.  We walked a total of 6,350 steps today.  We start the formal tour tomorrow. 

Linda will pick out a picture (s) of items she thinks I should try to copy on my lathe. It is a challenge. See the picture she picked out and then me working on copying it. I am many times successful. This is a work in progress. I started with a large log.