Washington DC - Paris, US style
October 9th 2009 00:05
It's true that everything is bigger in America. Even Paris. That's right. Washington DC is Paris, on a bigger scale. The architect of DC, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, was commissioned by George Washington to design the new capital in 1791. The French born artist and architect came to America to fight in the Revolutionary War and never went home.
All the history aside, Washington DC is visually stunning. There are so many museums to see, and yet, to walk the streets, is just as interesting. Some of the highlights include the Capitol, the Treasury, the various presidential memorials, the Smithsonian museums and of course, the White House.
Touring the Capitol is worth the effort. I booked in for September 10 - the day after Obama's speech to Congress on the Health Care Reform package, when the Capitol was closed to the public, and the day before 9/11. So, security was tight. But, the Capitol Tour provides you with an insight into the US political process. The standard tour is interesting, but the real stuff happened on the Brumidi Tour, which takes you into the painted corridors, decorated by the Italian artist Constantino Brumidi. I only found out about this tour because one of the Capitol guides recommended it to me.
Michael was our guide for the Brumidi Tour and he clearly knew his politics. He filled us in on all the gossip from the day before when Obama was heckled in Congress by South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson. While on our behind the scenes tour, a pack of journalists emerged from Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's office. I snapped a picture of her from two metres away. Another celebrity sighting!
The Paris of the USA, Washington DC
All the history aside, Washington DC is visually stunning. There are so many museums to see, and yet, to walk the streets, is just as interesting. Some of the highlights include the Capitol, the Treasury, the various presidential memorials, the Smithsonian museums and of course, the White House.
The White House, home of the US President, Washington DC
Touring the Capitol is worth the effort. I booked in for September 10 - the day after Obama's speech to Congress on the Health Care Reform package, when the Capitol was closed to the public, and the day before 9/11. So, security was tight. But, the Capitol Tour provides you with an insight into the US political process. The standard tour is interesting, but the real stuff happened on the Brumidi Tour, which takes you into the painted corridors, decorated by the Italian artist Constantino Brumidi. I only found out about this tour because one of the Capitol guides recommended it to me.
The dome of the US Capitol, painted by Constantino Brumidi
Michael was our guide for the Brumidi Tour and he clearly knew his politics. He filled us in on all the gossip from the day before when Obama was heckled in Congress by South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson. While on our behind the scenes tour, a pack of journalists emerged from Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's office. I snapped a picture of her from two metres away. Another celebrity sighting!
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, US Congress
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