USA 2017

Two days in Washington D.C.

The next morning greets us with a cloudless blue sky. So it's going to be a hot, sunny day in Washington

But as always, breakfast is first on the agenda. The Route 30 Diner is very close to the hotel. It's exactly how you would imagine a classic American diner from the 50s and 60s to be. So we order another omelette and "one" pancake. When the "one" pancake is served, I suddenly realise that was a mistake. It has the diameter of a good pizza and is more than a thumb's thickness. My omelette looks tiny next to it. So we fight it down and then pay. Here's a little tip: diners like this often only accept cash. So check your wallet beforehand!

We set off for Washington at around 9am. It's about 125 mi (200 km) and for us it's probably a few more, as we leave the interstate here and there to take in the scenery.

The hotel prices in Washington are quite expensive. And if you come by car, you quickly have to pay another $50 a day for parking. That's why we opted for a hotel in Arlington in the Rosslyn neighbourhood. There is a metro station nearby and you can be in the centre of Washington in about 20 minutes. Another advantage is that you can quickly reach the Georgetown neighbourhood in the evening. There are many restaurants here.

We decide to drive straight to the hotel and park the car there. Then we take the metro towards the Capitol.

Wow, what can I say. The buildings around the Capitol and the whole area up to the Lincoln Memorial are simply impressive. What's more, they glow in the sun and form a wonderful contrast to the steel-blue sky. Unfortunately, it's a public holiday (Labour Day) and so the Capitol, among other things, is closed. The good thing is that not so many people are out and about.

The planet is on fire and we start our tour south of the Capitol. This is where the Supreme Court and the Law Library are located. Incidentally, this side of the Capitol is the front and not the often photographed side with the sweeping staircases.

Little by little, we make our way westwards. I can tell you, it drags on, so we always take the opportunity to sit down on one of the benches or on the grass. The main thing is some shade. Fortunately, the day's destination, the Washington Monument, is always in sight, which we reach at around 4.30 pm. Standing directly in front of it, we realise that it is 555 ft (169 m) high. The white marble tower in the shape of an obelisk really shines in the sun and is certainly easy to recognise from a distance. Normally, you can take an internal lift to a viewing platform just below the top. However, this was not possible due to the public holiday - or so I thought. But more on that later.

As we have to walk a little way to the next underground station anyway, we decide on a station directly behind the White House. This can only be seen through fences and multiple barriers. Well, seen - ticked off.

Then it's back to the hotel. We rest our flat feet a little and take a refreshing shower. We want to go to George Town for dinner. As already mentioned, there are a few restaurants here and the good thing is that we can walk. Right next to the hotel, a bridge leads across the Potomac River to George Town and there is one restaurant after another on Main Street. We choose an Italian restaurant to eat something light for a change. As is usual in American restaurants, the noise level is high. In this restaurant, however, it is so high that hardly any conversation is possible. Too bad, because the food was very tasty.

So we stroll back to the hotel, where I have the brilliant idea of travelling to Washington again. The brightly lit Washington Monument, which we could see from the bridge, gave me the impetus to do so. By now it is 9 pm. We stop briefly at the Capitol and the monument to take a few photos. After that, I want to make a quick trip to the Lincoln Memorial, but this fails because the roads there are like spaghetti in a pot and we give up after three laps and umpteen missed turns. Let's see what happens tomorrow in daylight.

The second day in Washington

After a good night's sleep, we take the train back to Washington. This time we get off near the Washington Memorial because I want to have a look from above.

And this is where the story from yesterday continues. It's suspiciously empty around the obelisk and when I try to find out where I can get tickets, I find the following discreet notice: Closed indefinitely for elevator repairs!

That immediately makes me think - thanks Spider-Man - and then, why didn't I see that yesterday?

Well, I guess we now have a little more time to traipse towards the Lincoln Memorial. Yes, traipsing, because once again it's a long walk. The Reflection Pool, through which Forest Gump jumped so light-footedly, is damn long. By the way, it's about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial! This also applies in the opposite direction ;-)

At some point we arrive at the memorial, take a few photos and then head all the way back again.

We use the rest of the day to visit the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Flight and Space. You have to realise that most museums in Washington are free of charge.

In total, we spend about seven and a half hours in the museums, including a short lunch break. Both are highly recommended and certainly interesting for children. We leave the Space Museum at some point due to the fact that it has cooled down so much that it is simply unbearable. A sweater is therefore definitely recommended.

As we leave the Air and Space Museum at around 5 pm, the first thick rain clouds appear on the horizon. We take the underground back over to Arlington to our hotel. Once there: Same procedure as every day. Take a shower and relax briefly.