Air & Space Smithsonian

Wednesday 9th July

We decided to get going a bit earlier this morning and forego our run due to all the walking we are doing today.  We walked uptown to the Capitol Building and went into the visitors centre to have a look I walked through the security metal detector but they stopped David and said "you'll have to throw that bottle of water away!" OMG! it's water people!! so I walked out again and we left that's just way OTT!

We walked down to the Botanical Gardens which were very beautiful a good portion indoors, I guess when it's snowing they have to protect the plants that are not native to the area. 

We then walked down to the Air & Space Smithsonian Museum.  A nice cuppa in the park before we go in is just what the doctor ordered.  The best thing about all the museums, gardens etc in DC is they are all FREE yep gratis and really good!!

The space vehicles look like a child's science project let me show you

Gold foil and black cardboard LOL

It's actually gold layed plastic and the 'wrinkles' are deliberate to reflect heat and the black is actually heat resistant nickel plating.  This is an actual moon landing vehicle that was never used.  We looked around for ages and had lunch in the hugest Maccas inside the Museum from where we sat I could see 7 beverage stations!!!

Again we walked uptown to the Thai restaurant and drank $3 Heineken, ate delicious Thai food and watched the World Cup.  I know sucks to be us.  On the way back to the hotel we found these

Mall balls!!!

 For the non-Novacastrians our Mall balls in Newcastle were recently removed for the Mall renovation well it seems they ended up in DC!!

Some funny things we have noticed in Washington DC
1. They hose down all the pavements every morning!!!! WOW and California is in a drought
2. Ridiculously useless security checks EVERYWHERE!
3. Black cars EVERYWHERE with men in black suits sitting in them
4. Police EVERYWHERE standing on the street, riding on the street on motorbikes, riding bicycles and eating in restaurants
5, Helicopters ALL the time