One Saturday morning we packed up the dog, stuffed some clothes in a suitcase, grabbed the camera, squeezed in the PT Cruiser, and we headed northwest for New York State.
A day later we were looking over Niagara's American Falls.
I made an inquiry concerning barrel rides over the falls, and was told that this concession was no longer in business. "Hit bottom when the economy hit the rocks?" I did quoth.
Although the Niagara River is only about 3 feet deep as the swift moving water approaches the falls, the volume of water is tremendous, and the falls make a thunderous noise!
CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE IMAGE
"A picture is worth a thousand words."
With that threadbare adage said, my blog will henceforth be more of a visual nature so as to assuage the TV generation.
Buddhist Monks hamming it up for the camera.
SUNRISE AT WASHINGTON'S MONUMENT
Recent repairs to monument's edge.
The Elevator
The ride up is fast and crowded, especially on weekends and Holidays.
They allow only as many people up as can fit into the confines of the elevator.
Inhaling, and holding our breath the whole way, so as to make us feel as much like sardines in a can as possible.
NOTE:
If you want to visit this monument you will have to arrive at the ticket kiosk before sunrise. The Park Service only hands out a limited number of timed-entry tickets (though they are free).
The Lincoln Memorial
Once at the top you immediately realize that this monolith sways in the wind.
Unnerving? Yawh, sure, ya'betcha!
It gave me the Starbucks, quad-espresso, screaming jitters.
Your activities are always monitored, and you can no longer walk the stairs up or down.
This view is looking up into the interior of the very top.
One of the four window portals.
Monument as sundial.
At ground level.
Cherry trees lining the Tidal Basin, and the Jefferson Memorial, the river is the Potomac.
When sponsored activities take place on the Potomac River the water is tested for pollutants. If the water is too contaminated, the event is postponed.
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
March 2010
Cherry trees at peak bloom with Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House, the Custiss-Lee Mansion (Robert E. Lee's pre-Civil War home) in the background.
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
TOURIST of the DAY CONTEST
>Vote for your favorite<
1.) Adorable Japanese girl in cherry blossom dress;
2.) Woman steadies camera on limb;
3.) Peak bloom;
4.) Grannies "Walk Like an Egyptian" foot race;
5.) Homeless man having a yard sale on the National Mall;
6.) Woman with bad posture;
7.) Woman admiring her latest cherry blossom photo with smirk of satisfaction;
8.) Woman with white gloves;
9.) Waiting for the bus;
10.) Boyfriend explains to passerby that his girlfriend snorted an olive, and he was administering mouth to nostril extrication (MNE).
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
11.) Jane Fonda is still thought of by Vietnam Vets (note the yellow, inverted patch on the man's vest to the left).
12.) Diminutive woman peers out from behind a larger woman with baby stroller;
13.) Hot day, cool dress;
13.) Sparrow on the prowl for crumbs;
AND THE WINNER IS?
This is your cue to vote by e-mail.
Our Nation's Capitol
Inside the Rotunda
Ceiling of Rotunda
(George Washington is painted in amongst this heavenly host. It was proposed that he be entombed -- re-entombed -- in a chamber below the Rotunda floor. However, upon the re-reading his will, Washington desired that his remains remain at Mount Vernon).
The massive dome's superstructure is constructed out of steel with painted cast iron ornamentation so as to appear to be made of marble.
The Capitol's Statuary Hall
Each State in these United States was asked to send at least two statues (bronze or white marble) of someone within their borders who made a notable contribution.
UTAH'S CHOICE
Brigham Young and Philo T. Farnsworth
When I first arrived at the Capitol my first question was: "Where's
Philo T. Farnsworth?"
Who is Farnsworth you ask?
He invented the way in which we watched analog television.
"Before Philo, it was just radio."
Statue atop of the Capitol.
Plaster cast of Capitol's final with aging model standing at stage right.
A PARTING OBSERVATION...
All Hell broke loose when a myopic employee of the city's road crew, attempted to place this monk in the middle of the street. He apparently mistook him for a traffic cone.
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Jonathan Aspensen.
