When a tour guide pamphlet states that the closest Metro stop to a given attraction is a certain one, that does not mean that its close. Unless you consider two miles away, close.
The International Spy Museum is kind of fun, and kind of sobering.
As a surprise, my wife and daughter gave me a copy of Casino Royale (the Craig one).
We stayed in the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton. Our suite had two plasma TVs, frigid AC, a bed with a zillion pillows, marble walls in the bath, along with an apothecary store's worth of lotions and cremes (most of which were glommed onto by my daughter), and twenty four hour room service. Oh, and a nice view of the Pentagon in one direction, and the Washington Monument in another. Elegant hotels are quite nice. My daughter approved, hugely. My credit card's in Intensive Care.
Its an odd experience to see people in camo uniforms in the halls of said hotel, using cell phones, laptops, and Blackberries. Not their usual venue. I spoke to one of them, who told me that she was with the US Army Recruiting Command, and they were having a group meeting of the best recruiters across the country, trying to create a 'best practices' model. I learned what 'dwell time' means to a recruiter. I told her that I wished her well, and I do. Its a tough job.
When they say that it's hot in DC, believe them. Believe them intensely. I was never so close to fainting, I think, as when I was walking through the grounds of Arlington National Cemetary. It was, oh, about 95 degrees out, and about 85-90 percent humidity, with long hilly paths, and damn few benches.
The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington is simple and elegant. Its a moving experience.
The memorials for the Challenger and Columbia astronauts is also at Arlington, as is the grave of Oliver Wendell Holmes. We lingered at the Kennedy memorial - it's quite large - but we did not get to the Holmes grave site, which I regret, as I do admire him.
And it's not just Americans who have memorials there.
When we got back from Arlington, still sodden from the heat and the humidity, we met a woman in the elevator carrying drinks and chips. We joked that we didn't know the party was in her room, and she said that it was actually for her kids, who had just come back from Arlington after seeing their father buried. I was stunned. I looked for her, later, and by good luck found her, to ask if we could do anything for her or her family. She thanked me, and said that they were fine.
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