Let me get to the meat… or what we did AFTER the briefing was over.
We all ran upstairs to change and stuff food in our mouths before we headed out on the town. Since we were done by 1 o’clock on a weekday, we had to choose our activity carefully. There are some things in Washington that are only open from 10-5 Mon-Fri. We have very little time available between 10-5 Mon-Fri, so every hour we are available is very valuable.
The Supreme Court of the United States (or SCOTUS) is one of those activities.
And the Supreme Court was even cooler than I remembered.
We went downstairs and saw some interesting exhibits, admired the beautiful building (even the cover for the fire hose was breathtaking), and talked to the very nice and very helpful docents. They answered all of our questions and then some. We actually learned a lot about the Supreme Court. When we went in the chambers (no pictures allowed), we learned about where each justice sits, where the press sits, where the public sits, where the court artist sits, etc. etc. We learned that the building was built in 1931-1935 and only cost approx 9 million dollars. Did you know that President Taft was the chief justice of the Supreme Court for nine years after he was President?
The justices come back next week, and Justice Sotomayor will formally join them on Wednesday. The public is welcome to hear oral arguments when the court is sitting, but they only hold them Mon-Wed during business hours, and sadly, we have to work.
Also, the gift shop at the Supreme Court is fantastic. I was almost persuaded to spend a lot of money, but ultimately spent nothing. It’s all kitschy, but I still wanted it. Who doesn’t want a mini gavel to put on your keychain? It’s got to come in handy whenever you have to call someone to order. Or a Supreme Court Christmas ornament? How have my Christmases been complete without them?
The Library of Congress is also one of those select activities that is only open during the week, during business hours.
It also happens to be right next to the Supreme Court.
A veritable temple of learning, the Library of Congress is covered in murals and mosaics, positively bedecked with statutes and moldings, and absolutely teeming with wide-eyed, crane-necked tourists.
We got there an hour before it closed and it was not nearly enough time. We hitched on to the last tour of the day with a wonderful tour guide who vaguely reminded me of Nancy Reagan (I think it was the hair). She had a soft voice, but interesting facts about the LoC. We learned that the library receives an average of 22,000 books a day and keeps 10,000 of them. The rest they donate to schools/other countries etc. Also, the gold moldings above the front doors are 23 karat gold. And speaking of the doors, they weigh one and a half tons each!
In the main hall, all of the moldings on the ceiling are aluminum because they thought that aluminum would be more valuable than gold back then…except there is one rose, just one, that is gold. It is fun to find.
Also, did you know that the shell is a symbol for a pilgrim? There are shells all over the LoC because we are all pilgrims finding our way to knowledge and learning.
We saw the main reading room from above, and I will try to go inside before I leave. It will be difficult finding a time during working hours when I can go, but I will try my darnedest to get in there. Pictures aren’t allowed, but I’m sure my memories will be vivid enough.
We also saw a map drawn in 1507 (very cool), and Jefferson’s library (no pictures allowed, but also very cool).
The architect/designer of the Library of Congress said that he wanted to create a building so majestic and beautiful that everyone in the country would want to come see it with their own eyes at least once in their life. I think he might have accomplished his goal. The building is monumental, indeed.
After they kicked us out (it was 5 o’clock), we wandered down Pennsylvania Avenue (close to where I work) and found a Pakistani Tandoori restaurant. We got some interesting and very good food. I enjoyed my meal, but the heat/spiciness was a little bit too much for some of the girls I was with. It was also a little pricey, but I did get two meals out of it.
Now, keep in mind, we are about a 25-minute metro ride from the Barlow Center at this point.
Being overly ambitious, we decide to walk down to the mall.
We make it to the sculpture garden by the Smithsonians for Jazz in the Park. Every Friday they host a jazz combo in the garden, hook up some sound equipment, set up some wine/beer stands and prepare for the onslaught of young, hip people to come.
They didn’t build anything, but they set up speakers, and the people came.
And a lot of them came. We ran into some friends from the Barlow Center and just enjoyed the music and the atmosphere.
We were in the shadow of the National Archives, and decided to lie down on the grass. We stayed there, completely surrounded by people, until the sun went down. We left around 9 o’clock and again, being overly ambitious, decided to walk home.
After all, the mall didn’t look that long. (Ha!)
We did have a delightful moonlit stroll though, and got some great nighttime pictures of the monuments lit up. See for yourself, but the monuments are even more stunning at night.
We swung by the Vietnam memorial (the girls I was with hadn’t seen it yet), and then Safeway (we were all out of produce) on the way back.
We walked in the Barlow Center at 10 o’clock, weighed down by grocery sacks, and exciting memories, and stepped into the elevator, legs throbbing.
My legs are still throbbing as I write this, but I don’t regret a single step.
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