Wednesday, August 25, 2010

A Big Day in Washington D.C.

Joe & Joline are family, Joline is a cousin we visited with about this time of year back in 2007 on a trip out west to see Ed.

Joe and Joline are great people we feel totally comfortable with and were happy to visit them at their home near D.C.


Sharyn was very excited to visit with them and see the places they wanted to show us.


We both love their kindness and passion for peace.


So off we went to the big city passing interesting places like this tower and...


... these colorful condos...


... then we hit the town of statues ...


... with one on most of the corners.


I got this picture for Doreen of the American Bar Association building...


... then a few of important places like the Treasury building...


... and a headless horseman...


... even one of a Segway Tour of the city.


Joline had packed a great picnic lunch and we stopped under some trees to eat after finding a parking place between ...


... the Washington Monument...


... and the White House.


We were also next to a sleeping biker and...


more of those famous government buildings


These grounds are part of a park with a horse patrol.


It is really amazing to see these places in person ...


... and it's especially nice to see them with J&J.


I got so many pictures of the Washington Monument ...


... it was hard to choose them for the blog.


We drove around a little looking for a place to park near the Lincoln Memorial and I snapped away at everything ...


... including this park patrolman and ...


...the Watergate hotel...


... and another shot of the Washington Monument otherwise known as the "Big Pencil" ...


... heck, I even got a leaning tree.


We next went to the World War II Memorial...


...which afforded a great view of the Lincoln Memorial...


... and was very moving with fountains and ...


... a reflecting pool...


... and the famous reflection pond.


The pillars had the name of every state that supported the War effort.


The walk from the WWII memorial to the Lincoln Memorial is beautiful...


and it is obvious this area is heavily used...


I walked much of the way to the Lincoln Memorial with a nice couple supporting the Glen Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally and bit my tongue to keep from asking them when America lost it's Honor but I was polite.


The Lincoln Memorial is very impressive not just for the building but the greatness of the man honored there. If you notice the yellow in the picture top of the stairs near the center column...


... it wasn't protesters or a big group just two very nice young ladies offering "Free Hugs."


Then there I was at this great statue that stirs the heart of so many people.


To see this in person is an experience I will never forget...


Joline stopped in the side room to reflect on the words on the wall...


... while two men looked across the reflecting pond at the WWII Memorial and the Washington Monument.


We next went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial...


... with moving memorials of the men ...


... and women who served there.


This memorial meant so much to me because I was drafted then rejected for service but I lost a friend to the war who I thought of a great teammate in baseball - a young man who was a year younger...


... his name was Michael Tritico and was a friend and classmate at Holy Name School in Houston, Texas.


The wall is ever bit as moving as everyone has said and maybe more...


...and as you walk the wall you can feel the end coming and wonder as the soldiers must have wondered, who would be the last name on the wall in Vietnam.



We had done a lot of walking ...


...so it was nice to rest a moment and talk...


... and even the ducks were talking back.


J&J know this town and next took us to the Kennedy Center...


... a place of wonder ...


... and great performances...


... even breath taking views like the three curved spires of the Air Force Memorial in Virginia...


... and the busy streets of Washington D.C.


The reason we came was for a free concert (they do these every night)...


... not in the big concert hall...


... but in a smaller venue called the Millenium Stage...


... where great performances are sponsored by Target and Fannie Mae and the slogan is "Performing Arts for Everyone".


The lead singer, in white, and namesake for the group. It's name is Khaira Arby and her Band...


... she is a fantastic singer...


... with so much energy I think of her as "Mother Energy."


by the end of the show many in the audience were trance dancing and smiling. This group will be performing in out town, Eugene, Oregon Friday, September 03, 2010 8:00 PM - 10:30 - Don't miss it Isaac.


It was a great performance and the performers we all from Mali and near the town of Tombouctou, Timbuktu

To see the performance click here


Lead Singer: Khaira Arby
Drums: Mahalmadane Traoré
Bass: Baba Laraw
Lead Guitar: Abdramane Touré
Rhythm Guitar: M’Barka Dembelé
Traditional Violin: Zoumane Tekereta
Ngoni (traditional guitar): Ebellaou Yattara
Backup Vocals: Inna Diarra / Abdrahamane Cissé


Scrabble Score - who has time?

Quote of the Day ~
"I will not be just a tourist in the world of images, just watching images passing by which I cannot live in, make love to, possess as permanent sources of joy and ecstasy." ~ Anais Nin

1 comment:

Joline said...

As always, Paul, we loved this blog!! Looking forward to more and sending our love.

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©Paul Viel