From: "Philip Merryman" <phil_merryman@hotmail.com>

Date: Tue May 21, 2002 02:04:52 AM Etc/GMT

Subject: Capitol City

Hi all!

I am still in DC, I will be getting the train to NY tomorrow. Today was one of those 'see as much as you can in a day' days. My first port of call was the Air and Space Museum, where they have everything from the Wright flyer to the Apollo 11 command module, Viking Mars lander, etc,etc. Even a Spitfire!! I spent over two hours in there and I could easily have spent all day! So eventually I had to wrench myself away or I was not going to see anything else.

From there I went to the Capitol Building. Like so many things here there was a lot of construction work. The guide said that it had the third largest dome after St.Peter's in Rome and St. Pauls in London! From there to the Washington Monument. This is 555ft high and is a huge obelisk. However tickets to go up (free) are issued at 8am and run out by 10am. So no chance of getting up! While I was there I was asked twice in 5 minutes, by Americans, if the building "over there" was the White House! I said "yes". Glad to be of service!! :-) After that to the Lincoln Memorial. For some reason I cannot explain this has always been the one particular monument I wished to see.

After this I was too late for the tour bus, so I had to walk to the White House. But on the way I found a statue of Einstein outside the national Academy of Sciences. Eventually I get back to the White House. After taking a few pictures a motorcade comes out, which contained the Vice President! Big George is probably 'deep in the heart of Texas'!

After that dinner in Washington's only brew pub just a couple of blocks away on the same street as the hostel. Opened in 1992 and the first since Prohibition. Excellent Beer and a good meal!

So that's it for today. As I said yesterday, I have no idea if I can find an e-mail place in NY, but if I can I'll say hello from there, if not see you back home!

Cheers

Phil