Exploring DC on foot - new sights, new experiences and new food!

- March 23, 2024

It's so cool that we can continue to explore Washington, DC and experience new places and eat at restaurants that we've never been to before. Will we ever tire of this city????? Not yet, anyway!

We visited the Planet Word Museum with daughter Alexa and her boyfriend JP. It's billed as an immersive language museum with interactive exhibits that bring words to life. We had a great time! It was much better than expected.

As we walked to the entrance, this tree of lights began lighting and chattering as if we were in a crowd of people. It grabbed our interest!

The inside of the elevator was made to look as if we were in a library with books and shelves.

That's Alexa standing next to Don.

The interactive wall spoke to us as it highlighted the words being referenced. It was a great way to learn about the history of various words.

Don is using a brush to change the seasons and colors on this wall.

We visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It is the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America. One might wonder what the difference is between a basilica and a cathedral. Well, a basilica is an honor bestowed by the Pope while a cathedral is the home of a bishop. There are major and minor basilicas. Major basilicas are located only in Rome and minor basilicas can be located elsewhere once designated by the Vatican. This Basilica has more than 80 chapels. It's main church seats more than 3600 for mass. It was so beautiful!

Special chairs are made specifically for the Pope when he visits.

We continue to visit our favorites, like the Lincoln Memorial. The interior has three sections - the speeches, the mural and the statue. Reading the speeches is very moving. We read them each time we visit. The interior walls are at least 50 feet tall.

The statue of Lincoln himself is both 19 feet tall and wide. It was originally intended to be only 10 feet tall...but....plans changed and we're glad they did. It has so much grandeur!

We walk by the Navy Memorial every time we visit the courthouse. We have been attending January 6 trials and sentencings about two or three days per week. It's very interesting to see how the process works. We've also heard the defendants' narratives - which don't match what's in the actual video and social media evidence or what really happened!!!!

The Prettyman Courthouse has six floors. Here is a photo of the walkways taken from the first floor.

The Courtyard at the Portrait Gallery has a beautiful display of orchids. We're surprised at how many people we have seen viewing these flowers. We often eat our lunch in the courtyard.