Welcome to Washington D.C. – the land of security, American flags, sirens and short buildings. I have never been to Washington D.C. before, and it wasn’t what I was expecting, but I don’t know exactly what I was expecting.
We started off at the Old Post Office and went up the tower, and I’ve got to say it was a great day for a view – the sun was out but not going to lie, it was cold. I can see my American friends giggling:
“She’s Australian. She doesn’t know what cold is!”
That’s true, but it was the wind today that took it out of you. It was so strong and somewhat choking. Dad and Mum looked very attractive, and not like tourists at all (in case you haven’t figured out by now, I’m pretty sarcastic):
The next place we went to was the National Archive, with the Bill of Rights and the history of making America. It was something you have to do, when you go to America, and it was interesting. I, obviously, didn’t have the same vibe about it as an American probably would. What I did enjoy was the security around the Bill of Rights – identical to the movie “National Treasure” and there were people guarding it too. There were sensors all around it and bullet-proof glass encasing it. I just liked looking at the old language and hand-writing more than anything, but I do say it’s something you must go to if you go to Washington D.C., of course it probably means most to Americans but if you’re interested in it (which I am, somewhat) you could honestly spend days at the Public Vault and not see everything.
After that we went to the Air and Space Museum, which I enjoyed a lot more because I like big things (take that as you will). I love to fly, I enjoy turbulent flights and I like stars; they’re pretty. I absolutely love learning about missions in space, and weightlessness because it trips me out. I love aviation, but it trips my brain a bit hence why I didn’t do physics. I just love learning about how astronauts have to live, the Wright brothers and early flying machines and how technology has changed and futuristic ideas. I even am interested in learning about the disasters, but that’s not always a good thing when you’re going to do a long haul flight in a week and a bit. I even like learning about how “air hostesses” have changed to “flight attendants” over time.
(Some of the uniforms over the years)
I have to say, I’ve started to get used to standing on the right side of an elevator and now driving on the left hand side of the road seems totally wrong, but something I can’t get really used to is tipping and tax.
The other day, I was buying a gift for a friend back home. It also didn’t have a price on it, so I had to ask – which makes me slightly annoyed in a way, because I don’t like to put something back once I’ve asked how much it is. When I found out how much it was, it wasn’t exactly reasonable but I knew it would be much more in Australia, and I knew to expect tax on top of the price so as usual, I always have a little extra. And it was okay, the price was covered but what gets me is the fact that it’s not included in the original price, but I also cannot guess the amount of tax. When I find charge It changes from food to goods, and it’s just all too difficult for me.
But if tax is difficult, that means I’m hopeless with tipping.When I was in the States in 2005, it was 12 – 15% of the final charge and now it’s 18% and up to 20%. I don’t understand, why has it changed? I know about inflation and the GFC and all that jazz (my Dad’s an accountant) but why should that change the percent?
Yeah… I don’t tip. Dad deals with it all. That was really just him speaking through me.
But today, the exciting part of the day was certainly Auntie Mandy arriving in Washington D.C. She is travelling with us now to New York City, and it’s really great to see her. Uncle Chris and Cousin Henry are skiing in Japan, but Auntie Mandy wasn’t so keen on it after breaking her arm last time, waiting in line for the chair lift for her first run.
After she arrived, we went to Capitol Hill and the National Library of Congress. Everywhere we went today, we had to go through security. It was insane.
And trust me, I definitely see why they do it, but I had my phone in my pocket, my camera, I had a watch and a necklace and having to take them off all the time is tiresome. The National Library is just as seen on “National Treasure” and has a certain sort of European beauty feel to it, and if you like that stuff you would love it. Personally, I don’t so much, I mean I can appreciate it but I don’t enjoy travelling Europe, and I don’t like Rome or Paris. I know, I’m like the only person in the world but it’s true. I much prefer Canada and New Zealand – I think they’re beautiful. But for those who do fully and truly appreciate European beauty, here are some snaps:
That European feel about Washington D.C. is everywhere. See this building?
By law, no building in Washington can be higher than the dome. This is why everything feels so Parisian.
But anyway, everyone here is daring each other to nibble the funny-looking and smelling Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, so I might as well go and join in the fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment