today, we spent walking along the National Mall, a two mile stretch that starts with the Lincoln Monument on the west end and ends at the Capitol Building at the east.
although we didn't quite have enough time to see everything, we were still able to catch the WWII Monument and the Washington Monument (even though we didn't go up; tix usually are gone by mid-morning). oddly, we didn't go into any of the Smithsonian buildings or Nat'l Air/Space Museum - both are so impressive.
The WWII Monument was a new one for me. unfortunately, we weren't able to really enjoy the structure and its architectural nuances because my eye was killing me. initially, i thought i'd be okay with the 'vision impaired' sun shades that i had brought. ha! you have to remember that my left pupil has been constantly dilated since the end of May. so...to avoid brain-splitting headaches from the sunlight, i had to have a visor, clip-on shades, AND the sun shades just so i could enjoy the sights with few complications.
anyway, the monument is quite impressive. unlike the Vietnam War Memorial, which is emotionally striking but a long wall with the names of the 58000+ casualties, the WWII is a beautiful central fountain surrounded by fifty six granite pillars that (along with the fountain's reflection) are almost blinding in the afternoon sun. i think seeing this monument affected me more than seeing the Vietnam Memorial in 1987 because my father fought in Europe in 1944-45.
we didn't see the Korean War Memorial, which was a bit further down. i wish we would have gone though; i wonder what Lois' reaction would have been. when i first saw it in '97, it spooked me. just looking at the bronze soldiers, so life-like, returning from what looks like reconaissance, almost puts you there without the sound of war - too surreal.
after suffering through the all too bright sunlight and reflection from the fountain, we headed towards the White House...which is too blocked off for a good view. feh.
we ended up in a *$$ just NE of it and got some major brain freeze from that yummy frappucino we shared. after hiding out for an hour, we decided to feed our tummies and took the metro to a Thai restaurant not far from the Capitol building.
mmm...Thai food. whenever we travel in the U.S., we always try to seek out a Thai restaurant in each metropolitan city. this place was a teeny narrow place with fewer than 15 tables. it was so great to get out of the prohibitive heat and humidity, into a cool refuge with spicy food. the a/c stops yer sweat, but the food starts it up again...cooling you off starting off with yer forehead, now dripping with beads of sweat. ain't life grand?
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