The hot and cold Xmas/NY break

[Scarlett]

New Years Day.
The next day, well rugged up, as much as I could with a light golf jumper and a spray jacket, as well as a beanie, I headed out for a first timers look around DC. Forecast max was to be 6degC but windy. The following day was forecast as few degrees cooler so I decided today would be the main walking around day and tomorrow the visiting museums day. Don’t think I need to use too much text as I’m sure many have seen these sights before:








There were about 50 of these white dogs all congregated near the big Xmas tree. I guess the owners club was having a New Years walkies.




Botanic gardens (small), but with some model trains running around and some interesting sculptures added.


Including this little guy: a Pygmy possum with a Banksia.

As I was standing there, just to my left was a US family and the little girl was saying “oh look, a possum”, then she asked her father, “do possums still eat children dad?”, to which he of course replied “ohh, yes”.

 

[Scarlett]

National Museum of the American Indian, a really interesting looking building.


I’ll be going in here tomorrow! Smithsonian NASM.


Smithsonian Castle, closed for renovation.



All the fountains around DC were off and dry, ready for the winter.


National Museum of the African American rocking Taipei 101 vibes.

 

[Scarlett]

Good to see some runners out in the cold.


It’s a lot bigger than I expected!


In the background here is one of the very few glimpses I got of the White House. Lots of barricades down there.




…because it’s windy.

 

[Scarlett]

WWII Memorial heading down to the Lincoln Memorial.




The wind was blowing little waves up over the edges occasionally and soaking unsuspecting tourists shoes. (not me)




Looking back from the Lincoln Memorial. Interesting note, to the right of this shot was an open parkland area and there were two games of touch footy being played. Not the flag football version of American football, but like you would find touch rugby league games in Australia. They were playing pretty seriously.




They’re currently doing some work to open up the vast area under the memorial and make it a museum on Lincoln and famous events at the Memorial.

After the memorial I tried to get around to the White House but it’s blocked off about 500m around the building. I’m sure there was an ‘in the know’ viewing spot but I didn’t see it.


The more common WH view.


After 22,000 steps and really wishing I’d had gloves, it was time to go find something hot to drink and some dinner. Sunset was about 1630.

 

[drron]

Probably Rugby Union. It has been played seriously for many years. Our son was playing there in the early days of this century.
In the 60s George W Bush played it for Harvard. A little trivia.

 

[RB001]

Probably Rugby Union. It has been played seriously for many years. Our son was playing there in the early days of this century.
In the 60s George W Bush played it for Harvard. A little trivia.

Yes, Touch Rugby is a thing in DC.
They're playing on the JFK Hockey Fields.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Winter storm hit DC today - you missed out on the snow!