From flapjacks to Lincoln: our whirlwind day in DC
Breakfast with an apparent tea crisis
Today would be our crash course in Washington DC history. As part of our Travelmarvel tour we had a sightseeing trip scheduled for the morning. But firstly, breakfast at the Washington Plaza Hotel where we were staying. It was simple, but nice. I went with flapjacks topped with strawberries while Ros went with bacon and eggs on toast. The ladies at the next table warned that the restaurant was running out of teapots thanks to the sheer number of Aussies dining at the same time – so good luck if you were hoping for tea. I was perfectly happy with my orange juice while Ros enjoyed her coffee.
Following breakfast we had to be in the lobby at 8:15am, ready for an 8:30 departure. The tour was slated to last about four hours, with no idea of exactly what we were going to see.
Presidential fences and policing galore
Our first stop was just down the road – The White House. Before that, the bus took us through the Embassy area so we could spot the Australian Embassy. Like any other visitor, we could only see The White House from a distance. But it turned out we got closer than expected. Although barriers were up, there was a gap allowing people to get right up to the fence on the northern side. So we did – all of us. There were selfies, group shots and plenty of pictures of Secret Service police vehicles.
On a side note, it seems everybody here has their own police: Park Police, Metro DC Police, Pentagon Police. Honestly, the Washington Plaza Hotel could start its own police force and nobody would bat an eyelid.
One curious traveller asked a Secret Service officer how you could tell if the President was inside. The reply was short: “Google it.” Our guide was more helpful, explaining that if there was a Marine on duty at the West Wing door (which we could see), then the President was in residence. That’s probably a better tip than checking Google.
Arlington’s endless rows
Our next stop was Arlington National Cemetery. This is the final resting place for over 400,000 service members, veterans and their families – and its sheer size hits you straight away. Row upon row of identical white headstones stretch as far as the eye can see across the rolling hills, a stark reminder of the scale of sacrifice. On average, 28 burials take place here every weekday.
The most visited site within the cemetery is the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy. His eternal flame has been burning since the day of his funeral in 1963 and remains one of the most moving sights in Washington. Beside him are his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and two of their children, with his brothers Robert and Edward Kennedy also buried nearby. Standing there, the scale of the cemetery combined with this piece of modern history felt both humbling and sobering.
Monuments, myths and motorcycle mayhem
We continued on, spotting the Washington Monument and the Capitol building from the bus before making stops at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the WWII Memorial.
It was here that American pride slightly got in the way of the facts. Our guide insisted that America was the only country to fight in both theatres of WWII – Europe and the Pacific. One of the guys on our bus tried to challenge her, but she pressed on. I guess she forgot about Australia, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, India, France (Free France) and the Netherlands.
At the Vietnam Memorial we crossed paths with three busloads of veterans arriving from a flight, each escorted by motorcycle police. It was impressive, but also gave us a taste of why US police don’t always have the friendliest reputation. As our guide stood slightly off the path to see past a bus, one officer deliberately turned his motorcycle towards her, hit the siren and sped off. It was odd, and unnecessarily aggressive.
Lincoln’s marble legacy
Our next big stop was the Lincoln Memorial. Dedicated in 1922, the memorial was built to honour the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who led the country through the Civil War and pushed for the abolition of slavery. Inside sits Daniel Chester French’s 19-foot statue of Lincoln, gazing out across the Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument. Surrounding the statue are inscriptions of his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address, texts that have come to symbolise unity and equality. Even amid the crowds, it felt like one of the more powerful and dignified sites of the day.
Food, naps and a Lincoln feast
Our tour wrapped up with more sights from the bus – the Smithsonian museums, another glimpse of the Capitol – before we returned to the hotel. By then we were peckish. Ros grabbed sushi and fruit from the Whole Foods around the corner while I went for Popeyes chicken just up the street. It was juicy, but nothing to rave about. Honestly, the best food I’ve had so far was the pizza from the hotel where Carol and Mick were staying.
We had big plans for the afternoon, but our bodies had other ideas. We crashed. After a week on the go without much downtime, it was blissful to finally rest.
Dinner was a group affair at the Lincoln Restaurant. Everyone made it except one lady who was unwell. The portions were plentiful and the flavours memorable. I started with Brussels sprouts cooked with ginger and peach – surprisingly sweet and delicious – while Ros had devilled eggs. For mains, Ros ordered salmon and I had shrimps with grits. It was my first time trying grits. Hard to describe the taste and texture, but it was the prawns that stole the show. For dessert Ros went with chocolate cake while I finished with a peach vanilla cake.
Stuffed and satisfied, we waddled back to the hotel. Thankfully, tomorrow would not be an early start. With an 11am departure, we’d have the morning free to visit the souvenir shop just up the street.
