Washington DC: Thursday, Part II
The weather was kinder today. Clouds blocked the sun and it was much cooler, though it was still a hot day. I set out, determined to see SOMETHING worth seeing today.
I didn't dick around this time. I went straight to the Library of Congress.
The LoC isn't really a library. It's a museum of American books. You don't get to wander the stacks, but the library has put a bunch of interesting library artifacts on display for visitors. The big, vaulted central room and the gallery above it were impressive. It's more like a cathedral than a library, and that was on purpose. Back when the LoC was built, libraries were venerated institutions dedicated to learning for all. It was religious, in its way. Hence the impressive architecture.
It was also very crowded. Yesterday the Archives and the MAH had only a sprinkling of visitors, so I was surprised at the big crowd at the Library. Why was it more popular? No idea.
I poked around to my satisfaction and realized I was starving. I'd skipped breakfast, and it was already way past lunchtime.
Outside, I found a hole-in-the-wall diner. It was as narrow as a Dutch house, and it was crowded. I had to squeeze past other diners to get to the counter, where I ordered a club sandwich and fries. The server brought me the fries the moment they came out of the fryer, so they were hot and crispy and perfect. The club sandwich was delicious, too. I think this diner was one of the high points of Washington!
That done, I headed back to the National Mall to see what trouble I could get into. To my surprise, Capitol Hill was open for business, so I went in.
I should mention here two features of every national building in Washington DC. First is that admission is free to all of them. Second is that you have to go through airport-level security to go into any of them. I understood why, but when you've removed your belt for the third time in one day, you get aggravated.
Anyway, I wove through security at the Capitol and had a look-see.
The inside was more like a train station than a government building. There were lines for this and that, and crowds of people sloshing from one side to the other. Lots of statues. I started to explore, and then stopped. I didn't feel good. Emotionally, that is. I really, really didn't want to be there. Why? The current administration. I just couldn't stomach being in the same building as the current Congress. So I left. I'd been in for maybe ten minutes.
Outside, there was a guy sitting in a chair under an umbrella. He was wrapped in white bandages from head to foot. A sign at his feet explained that he was in day three of a hunger strike. I felt like I should offer him words of support or something, but I didn't feel comfortable with the idea for some reason, so I didn't.
Next, I went to the Supreme Court building. Is it weird that the Supreme Court building has a gift shop? Yes. Yes, it is. The lobby area is really another museum, and you can also join tours. There are signs everywhere about LIBERTY and FREEDOM and RULE OF LAW. I felt angry and nauseated at the sight. So I turned my back and left. So much for that.
I was done. I just couldn't stand the thought of examining yet another display expounding the glories of the American government and its emphasis on freedom and liberty and justice. Not when the current administration was destroying every one of those ideals. It was time to go back to the flat.
The buses weren't running right--some kind of breakdown somewhere--so I treated myself to a nice, air-conditioned Uber and rode back to the flat, chewing over what had just happened.
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I didn't dick around this time. I went straight to the Library of Congress.
The LoC isn't really a library. It's a museum of American books. You don't get to wander the stacks, but the library has put a bunch of interesting library artifacts on display for visitors. The big, vaulted central room and the gallery above it were impressive. It's more like a cathedral than a library, and that was on purpose. Back when the LoC was built, libraries were venerated institutions dedicated to learning for all. It was religious, in its way. Hence the impressive architecture.
It was also very crowded. Yesterday the Archives and the MAH had only a sprinkling of visitors, so I was surprised at the big crowd at the Library. Why was it more popular? No idea.
I poked around to my satisfaction and realized I was starving. I'd skipped breakfast, and it was already way past lunchtime.
Outside, I found a hole-in-the-wall diner. It was as narrow as a Dutch house, and it was crowded. I had to squeeze past other diners to get to the counter, where I ordered a club sandwich and fries. The server brought me the fries the moment they came out of the fryer, so they were hot and crispy and perfect. The club sandwich was delicious, too. I think this diner was one of the high points of Washington!
That done, I headed back to the National Mall to see what trouble I could get into. To my surprise, Capitol Hill was open for business, so I went in.
I should mention here two features of every national building in Washington DC. First is that admission is free to all of them. Second is that you have to go through airport-level security to go into any of them. I understood why, but when you've removed your belt for the third time in one day, you get aggravated.
Anyway, I wove through security at the Capitol and had a look-see.
The inside was more like a train station than a government building. There were lines for this and that, and crowds of people sloshing from one side to the other. Lots of statues. I started to explore, and then stopped. I didn't feel good. Emotionally, that is. I really, really didn't want to be there. Why? The current administration. I just couldn't stomach being in the same building as the current Congress. So I left. I'd been in for maybe ten minutes.
Outside, there was a guy sitting in a chair under an umbrella. He was wrapped in white bandages from head to foot. A sign at his feet explained that he was in day three of a hunger strike. I felt like I should offer him words of support or something, but I didn't feel comfortable with the idea for some reason, so I didn't.
Next, I went to the Supreme Court building. Is it weird that the Supreme Court building has a gift shop? Yes. Yes, it is. The lobby area is really another museum, and you can also join tours. There are signs everywhere about LIBERTY and FREEDOM and RULE OF LAW. I felt angry and nauseated at the sight. So I turned my back and left. So much for that.
I was done. I just couldn't stand the thought of examining yet another display expounding the glories of the American government and its emphasis on freedom and liberty and justice. Not when the current administration was destroying every one of those ideals. It was time to go back to the flat.
The buses weren't running right--some kind of breakdown somewhere--so I treated myself to a nice, air-conditioned Uber and rode back to the flat, chewing over what had just happened.
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