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The Tour Begins

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It was still raining, windy and cold but the Navel Museum was open. The young man in charge was kind enough to let me wait inside. Admission to the museum is free. I didn’t go downstairs to see all of the exhibits, I didn’t want to miss my tour, but I looked over the items on display in the main lobby.

There was a bronze statue of a family reunion, a model of the Yorktown and etchings  on the walls about other ships including the Coral Sea. My brother served on the Coral Sea and I think my brother -in – law may have served on the Yorktown. It sounds too familiar to not have a family connection.

The memorial itself wasn’t turned on because of the cold. I think there are a series of fountains. I’m told they bring in the water from “All of the seven seas” and have a huge ceremony with the admirals and top chiefs of staff when they turn  them on. Washington does like it’s pomp and circumstance.

More people began to arrive while I waited and all were welcomed into the nice warm, dry lobby. Finally at about 9:45 a nice young man with a clipboard arrived to check us all in.

The bus was parked about 2 blocks away so we all hiked up the street. Our tour guide was a super nice lady named Joey. The bus driver was Tony. Joey explained that tours never leave from the Capitol building on Sunday because there is always something going on that closes the streets. She just shook her head when I told her that I was first told to go to the Capitol Building, then the Naval Memorial and finally the text with the address for the memorial that never came.

While we waited for any stragglers the other guests began to talk about what they were promised. Even though we were all on the same trip, everyone has been given different expectations. My tour was supposed to be 10 am to 2 pm to see the  Cherry Blossoms. (I expected that to change since there weren’t any cherry blossoms) Others said their tours were 10 am to 1 pm and still another group was 10 am to 3:30 pm with a break for lunch and a boat ride on the Potomac.

Poor Joey had to straighten out the mess and keep everyone happy! She promised to work it all out while we were doing the first part of the tour. Her job looks like fun except for the part where she has to straighten out the “back office” mess. That would make me very grumpy!

Finally the fellow with the clip board found the last of the group and herded them to the bus. We were ready to start out.

Cherry Blossoms Galore Tour

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I wanted to do a photo safari tour of the cherry blossoms.

That’s where a photographer leads the group, offers help and hints, and just shares his professional expertise. They advertised sunrise and sunset tours but when I tried to book one I was told they were all filled up. I took the next best thing, a tour called Cherry Blossoms Galore by USA Guided Tours DC.

Turns out they were a bit disorganized in the “back room”. I was told to meet at the Capitol building at 10 am, then when I called to confirm the tour was still on since the cold snap had damaged so many cherry blossoms, they told me to meet outside at the Navel Memorial at 9:30 am. They promised to text me the address. (I never got a text)

So bright and early I headed down to the complimentary breakfast, toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, waffles, fruit, oatmeal, cinnamon loaf bread, cereal and the list goes on.

After breakfast I headed out into the cold and rain. I didn’t know how long it would take to get a train (Metro) on Sunday (in Boston you can wait for an hour) or how far I would have to walk from the station to find the Navel Memorial. Turns out, not far.

The train showed up almost as soon as I got there and when I came out of the Metro station I was looking at the Navel Memorial. It was only a little after 8 am and it was cold. 32 degrees with a wind chill dropping it to 28 degrees and it was a cold, icy rain! The Navel Memorial is an outside memorial. The Navel Museum didn’t open until 9:30 am. I was going to freeze! And my camera was getting wet.

I’d left the camera bag at the hotel because the girl I spoke with said no bags allowed on the tour for security reason. ( Another misdirection.)

All of the streets around the Navel Memorial were closed off. I didn’t know if there was a demonstration ( after all, it is Washington DC) or something else. I could see the police cars blocking the streets. It didn’t make me feel too confident that the tour bus would be able to get to us. Or should I say me. Maybe it was the early hour but I was the only one there.

I decided to do the only sensible thing. I went back into the subway where it was warm and dry to wait for 9:30 to roll around.

By 9:30 I was restless and ready to try my luck again. SO back up the escalator I went.

To Be continued…

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock Statue

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There I was…standing in the icy rain. A cold wind was blowing. I looked around for something to do for an hour plus while I waited for the tour. Nothing seemed to be open but as I turned to head back to the subway (where at least it was warm) I spotted a man riding a horse. Well actually a statue of a man riding a horse.

The monument stands next to the elevator to the Metro and across  Pennsylvania Ave from the National Archives.

It’s also very close to the US Naval Memorial.

I looked at the engraving identifying the rider as General Winfield Scott Hancock. I’d never heard of him. General Winfield Scott (Old Fuss and Feathers) was a Civil War general but this fellow had a “Hancock” added onto his name. I looked both Generals up and both served in the Civil War for the Union. This general’s nick name was (“Hancock the Superb”).

There were a few similarities : both Generals ran for president and both were defeated. But more specific to General Hancock was his reputation for integrity which was rare in the corruption of the era. Hancock was only narrowly defeated by James Garfield in his run for president in 1880.

General Hancock lived a storied life with much of it committed to the service of the country. He served as  a second lieutenant in the Mexican War, joined the Union Army and was rapidly promoted to brigadier general. He was a new corp commander at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Hancock’s corp was crucial in the battle at Cemetery Ridge (Pickett’s Charge). Hancock himself sustained wounds in that battle that continued to plague him for the rest of his life.

The Memorial that stands on Pennsylvania Ave was dedicated  May 12, 1886 right after his death. President Grover Cleveland commissioned the memorial at a cost of $50,000.00 which was a lot at that time. The statue is a dedication to the Civil War as well as the General.  Before his life ended on Feb 9, 1886, General Hancock had dedicated forty years of his life to the United States Army.

Seems to me he earned that statue!

 

 

 

United States Naval Memorial, Washington DC

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The United States Navy Memorial honors the men and women of the United States Navy – past, present and future. The outdoor Plaza features a “Granite Sea” map of the world, towering masts with signal flags, fountain pools and waterfalls and The Lone Sailor© statue.

 

Although the outdoor memorial was closed due to the cold weather the Granite Map was clearly visible and of course the Lone Sailor stares out across the plaza. The Lone Sailor was dedicated October 13, 1987 during the 212th birthday of the United States Navy.

The southern hemisphere of the Granite Sea is surrounded by 26 bronze high reliefs commemorating events, personnel, and communities of the various sea services. A relief is a sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material.

I’m told that when the waters that fill the fountains are turned on for the season a huge ceremony is held. The waters represent the waters of the 7 seas.

Fairfield Inn & Suites, Washington Downtown

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Quick review … This hotel is conveniently located in the Chinatown Section of Washington a short walk from the Gallery Place Metro stop. I enjoyed my stroll from the metro to the hotel past buildings decorated with Chinese symbols and dragons. The streets were busy with heavy pedestrian traffic even on a Saturday.

The lobby is small but the staff were friendly and had my room ready when I arrived. I thought check in was 4 pm but I guess its actually 3 pm.

My room is a corner room at the end of the hall on the 2nd floor. It is clean and I like all the windows.

The bathroom is well stocked. I had a little trouble finding the closet. It’s tiny and set into the wall next to the bathroom. I didn’t notice it at first.

The WiFi is free, always a good thing, and seems to have a good strong signal.

One of the complaints on the web site was “street noise” but I really haven’t noticed it much. Yes I head a siren or two but no worse than if I were at home. I guess if you are used to living in a rural area it could be annoying but it didn’t bother me at all.

Even though this is not a condo like my Timeshare, they still have guest laundry in the building. I won’t need it for a 2 day stay but good to know.

There is a free breakfast in the morning too. I’ll certainly check that out but so far I like the effort the staff puts in, the cleanliness of the room, it’s location and the Wifi.

On the downside, the facet in the bathroom drips and the water in the shower is only lukewarm even after allowing it to run to warm up.  The hairdryer was hidden on the top shelf of the little closet. I didn’t find it until I’d been there 2 days! Found it in time to wash my hair for the trip home.