Day twenty three - Tuesday

Up early and off to the bus. We took the bus from the Campground to the Metro. The bus ride cost $1.25 each to get to the Metro. It'll cost us $0.35 to take the bus back from Metro after getting a transfer at the Metro station. We bought an all-day pass for the Metro for $6.50 each. Between the bus and Metro it took us and hour-and-a-half to get to the National Mall. Since our Capitol tour wasn't scheduled until 1:30, we had some lunch and a short look at the Air and Space Museum.

Lunch was at the Wall Street Deli about a block from National Mall. It's a sandwich and wrap place where the locals eat lunch. Good stuff.

After lunch we had about an hour to kill so we went into the Air and Space Museum. We couldn't even scratch the surface in an hour. In fact, we pretty much ignored the Air and Space displayed and went through the small American History displays that have been placed in the Air and Space Museum due to the American History Museum being closed for remodeling. By the time we got to the displays, we had only a half-an-hour and saw only a fraction of these displays. It was obvious we'd have to come back with a whole day available to see the displays in this museum. That will be tomorrow!

Next stop was our Congressman's office. Walking into the Rayburn House Office Building across from the Capitol, we went through security comparable to airport security. The ONLY difference is we didn't have to take off our shoes. This won't be the last time we go through security on this day. In Congressman Herger's office we met with Josh Reiner, the Staff Assistant and our tour guide.

One couple, from Cottonwood, was already in the office and we waited for a third couple. While waiting, I sat in the hallway and watched the parade of suits. One group of suits included a big guy in a polo shirt. He looked familiar and as he passed I realized he was Bobby Knight, the basketball coach. I've never been a Bobby Knight fan so I said nothing and just wondered why he would be hanging out with a congressman.

The third couple didn't show up so off we went with Josh. He took us to the elevator where we went to the sub-basement and took an underground walkway to the Capitol Building. It was pretty cool walking among Congressmen and staff in an area not open to the public. There was also a tram in the tunnel that the Congressmen can take when its time for a vote. In the Capitol Building we saw the Rotunda, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, Statuary Room and, finally, attended a session of Congress in which the Congressmen and women came in to vote on a bill.

Josh turned out to be a great tour guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. When we returned to Congressman Herger's office we were given a pass so we could return and observe a session of the Senate. When we got back to the Capitol though, the Senate was in recess until 5:00 p.m. Although we didn't see the Senate in session, we did go into the Senate side of the Capitol. I noticed an interested juxtaposition after visiting both sides. On the Congressional side, when we saw Congress in session, we had to give up our cameras, phones and anything else electronic. I even had to give up my spare camera battery and car-lock remote. When we got to the Senate side, we went through security again but didn't have to give up anything! We had no WMD (weapons of mass destruction) so in we went. I guess Feinstein and Boxer don't carry the weight they think they do! We didn't want to wait so we'll return in the next few days and check out the Senate. Actually, in fairness to the Senate, we didn't actually get to the Senate Floor Gallery so maybe we'll have to give up our stuff on our next visit.

If anybody is coming to D.C., make sure you contact your Congressman's office to arrange for this tour. Since 9-11, the Capitol is closed unless you're on what is called a "Staff Tour" or other guided tour. You can't just walk in a wander around the Capitol.

Back at the coach, we had a game of scrabble, dinner and watched some TV.