So after shedding our trademark bahamian surnburnt skin and spending the week seeing the sights of Charlotte we discovered we had a long weekend ahead of us due to Memorial Day, which was celebrated on Monday. Not really knowing much about this public holiday and wanting to use the extra day of freedom we opted for the 6 hour-drive to the nation's capital...and as we discovered, we had made the right choice. Being in the US Capital, on what happens to be the most patriotic day of the year, we certainly got a rich and varied taste of american culture. As a person not really expecting much of the city, all of my expectations were definitely exceeded. The city is gorgeous, really pretty and green and full of amazing historical buildings: we saw Abe Lincoln, Kennedy's grave, the FBI buildings, the monument, we got to watch the live memorial day concert on the lawns of Capitol Hill - with Natalie Cole singing live...and, the absolute must, "visited" (sounds a bit too polite really..) Bush at the White House. We also caught the Vietnam Vet's "Rolling Thunder" Protest Rally - not sure how many but definitely a couple of thousand Harley Davidson riding, american flag bandana toting, american flag waving, american flag everying everything(!!!) american war veterans riding their course through the city. Although nearly passing out from exhaust fumes my hightlight at the rally was of course the small group of aussie vets who'd turned up for the show. All in all D.C. was defininely an experience and we'll be back here. For the time being, having just dropped off the inlaws at the airport after their 3 week stay, I'm looking forward to relaxing and being a total hermit on my birthday tomorrow!
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