#58 Bus Day Tour

#58  Bus  Day Tour

Cherry Hill RV Park provides both a day and a night tour of Washington D.C.  During our last visit we took a Grayline tour that came right to the park, and loved it.

The Sunday Bus came highly recommended.  The eight-hour tour from 9 am-5 pm with lunch provided sounded inviting. However, our well touted guide appeared unorganized, not as knowledgeable and interesting as others,  and there was a great deal of standing around in 85-degree heat and high humidity waiting.  We didn’t think it was worth the big price tag.

Our stops at the Capitol and Washington Monument felt like spur of the moment stops, like we were ahead of schedule.  Maybe yes, maybe no.

The tour included a water taxi ride from the tidal basin up to Georgetown.  Sounded good!  Was disappointing.  The boats at the dock next to the ferry impressed us.  Reagan International Airport  was interesting to see.

It did pass the Lincoln Memorial and the Watergate building.

The Water Taxi was low profile to get under bridges, which left little outside seating. For those of us left inside, sitting sideways, you could barely see out the dirty windows.  Although there didn’t appear to be too much to see.  We had another wait in the sun afterwards and then walk a couple of blocks to meet our bus.  I must say our driver Karen did an outstanding job of maneuvering around the town.

We drove through Georgetown with its distinctive architecture.

Our next stop was the Marine Corp Memorial of raising the flag on Iwo Jima.  The names around the edge represent all the wars in which marines have put their lives on the line.

I found this memorial very impressive.  We didn’t get to see it close up the last time. As you walked around the Memorial the different angles provide interesting views.

We drove by the Pentagon on our way to lunch at the Pentagon Mall.  Our vouchers were for the food court.  I would have rather paid for my own lunch and less for the tour.  We could have even brought our lunch and got a drink or dessert in the food court. Or they could have given us vouchers earlier so we could take time to consider where to eat. 

Back on the bus we went to Arlington National Cemetery.  Our tram driver provided a quality narrative on our way to the Kennedy grave sites.

This marker with the chain shows the site of Robert Kennedy’s grave.  The one without the chain belongs to Edward.  Then we passed their father, Joseph Kennedy’s marker.  Again we had to wait for the next tram in the heat.

The next tram took us to the grave of the Unknown soldiers.  Since they change the guards every half hour, we had to hurry to see the next one.  I hope everyone has the opportunity to watch this ceremony. Visitors stand in silence, hats removed.  You could hear a pin drop.  

Derrille and I spent a good deal of time here last time.  But after waiting for other things all day, we were rushed out barely after the change.  Derrille and I would have preferred to sit and observe for a while longer, before and after.   We think of the Changing of the Guards a highlight of coming to Washington D.C.     As a side note, the bus did have an interesting ongoing film of what it takes to be a tomb guard, and the rigorous training and maintenance duties they have during their assignment here.  You can buy it at Amazon.

400,000 people have been buried here since 1860.  More than 3 million visitor come each year.

Sharon's husband, Jim, was buried with honors here last year. (Julie's dad)

Some graves use the more elaborate markers, but we were told the crosses are easier to maintain and these kind of markers will no longer be used.

Visitors pass through these gates going into and out of the cemetery.

Back on the bus we went to the Air Force Memorial.

On the way back we passed these old factory buildings that are being converted to apartments.

We were surprised by a stop at the Kennedy Center.  Maybe we were ahead of schedule.  Cats was playing.  One entry foyer displays photos of the Kennedys and things that happened during his administration.  The state flags hang above the foyer.  This glass sculpture graces the foyer too.

  

The chandeliers create a very impressive look.  You can see the giant head of Kennedy down the lobby.  As we enjoyed the interior designs, the theater doors opened and a well-dressed audience poured out into the lobby.  I found it refreshing to see adults and children in dress up clothes to attend a performance in this prestigious place.

Outside on a balcony overlooking the river we found these words etched into the building.

We got back right at 5 pm very tired and very hot.  Looking back we did seen some interesting things, but perhaps 8 hours in the heat smothered our enthusiasm.  We aren’t very good tour group type people and would have done better, in short time on our own.  I really appreciated the air-conditioned bus.  We also met some nice people…there were 50 of us on the bus.