All quiet along the Potomac they say

After a relatively step free day yesterday we got back on the walking game!

Another town; another metro... We are in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington

DC - the paper says the sights are all 8 minutes away on the metro!

We got a lift to the metro (i think we were supposed to pay) and asked a kind stranger which train we should get - she kindly pointed out that as it was at the end of The line either would do! She then confirmed with us that we were Irish - no one gets the Scottish Accent; even this lady who told us she had spent her childhood being told she was half Irish half Scot.

as she advised we disembarked at the Navy Archives; good choice lady - sailor memorabilia everywhere; and next door to a massive building where the declaration lives... We were so early nothing was open. Not even the park of sculptures... But it opened, and we wandered thru and then on to Constitution Avenue where we found the Smithsonian Museum of Natural history; we wandered in (all Smithsonian's are free) amongst 1000 screaming school kids. - it would appear that every state sends at least two schools to Washington dc On any given day.

I spotted a butterfly walk Thru and i was desperate to do it so while I did that; himself examined dinosaurs and sea life. I surrounded myself with loads of butterflies of all sizes and colours and gasped as they landed on your head or arm Or bag.. You have to get examined on the way out to make sure you aint taking a hostage.


Then we headed for the big pointy thing and the white house!

The map makes it all look walkable in about 10 minutes-what the map doesn't show you is that the monuments are monumental and walking round them is a expedition in itself! Imagine our disappointment when on approaching the path to the White House, two big police with very big guns waved to
Us and said 'STOP' you cannot come further go away go back come back in one hour'

Hmmph. 'Can you please point in the direction of the white house sir please'

'GO BACK IN THAT DIRECTION Now'

'Just the general direction?'

'BACK NOW GO'

Hmmm, its very difficult you know - in the movies the White house looks massive and standing there all on its on; and it really isnt... Apart from all the trees and buildings
Its quite small and i just wanted someone who knew to show it to me!

Best thing tho - we did walk away in the other direction and headed for Abe; and as we climbed the slope towards the
Monument a cacophony of sirens began and we turned to see a cavalcade of outriders and big black cars and a big long black car in the middle - mr Obama was going out for the afternoon;

Then we did the big pin; then we did the bush memorial; then we did Abe; then we had coffee then we examined the map again.... Then we decided to get on a bus; then we saw everything and got history too; then we swapped buses and went out to Arlington where we got off and walked...

And walked. And I walked. It lasts forever and is a saddening reminder of the lives lost for the country.

As we approached the tomb of the unknown soldier we realised it was 5; our tour guide told us wherever we were we had to be back at the stop at 5 because thats when the
Last bus left.

We had just climbed three mountains and walked down 347 steps. Where is the bus stop i asked himself.... All the way back we came;

Oh my god. By the time we approached the terminal, i was almost exactly the same
Colour as a red pepper... No bus...

We stood and contemplated amongst the people and thought... Metro. It has its own metro station so we headed out to see if we could find it (thru 50.000 people and 500 buses). And then we spotted it!!!! Our
Bus!!! we were sooooo happy

And then a shopping mall, and food and then the metro and then a mile walk from the metro to hotel.

And then we discovered that i was still red! I'm cooked - so is himself; but he just Goes Brown.

Since arriving in Merica. We have walked 33
Miles!