May 3 - Walking Around and the Botanical Garden

Another view of "The Castle", the original Smithsonian Museum. The Smithsonian has grown to include 19 museums and 9 research centers. Each one is amazing in itself and a wonderful thing for the American people to own. The Mall (another of the Smithsonians across the mall)
Something was being set up for the weekend.... obviously having something to do with the military. I thought Stu would like this picture of the helicopter!
The National Museum of the American Indian. When we saw this building, I told Clive that it had to have been designed by Douglas Cardinal, and when I looked it up on the internet....by jove, it was!!! His designs are so recognizable with the way he makes the buildings flow. His designs are intended to be in perfect harmony with nature. Always beautiful. We didn't actually go inside the building. So many museums and so little time.

Our first real look at the Capitol Building. Just as beautiful as we thought it would be.

http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/index.cfm

This webpage lists all the different architects who have worked on the Capitol Buildings and where their area of influence was felt. Makes for interesting reading.
Cute ducks. Bobbing in the water for something good!
There were lots of people around on this lovely Saturday afternoon, including a few bridal couples and their entourages, getting their photos taken.
Not bridal couples, but still cute!!!!
Closeup of the front of the statue. One thing about Washington, DC..... there are statues of anything and everything, everywhere you look.

After we walked around the Capitol Building, we came upon the National Botanical Garden.
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is a botanic garden run by the Congress of the United States. It is located in Washington, D.C., on the U.S. Capitol Grounds campus near Garfield Circle. The building itself, which includes a large Lord & Burnham greenhouse, is divided into separate rooms, each one simulating a different habitat
Lots of weird and beautiful flowers and plants!

This one is called a "shrimp" plant. I wonder why????
We called it a day after the Botanical Gardens and walked back to the subway. We had made it safely down in the morning, so we were positive that we would have no problems getting back. One should never assume anything!!!! Well, we didn't have any problems other than that the bus was over an HOUR late coming to the transfer station at the end of the line!!!! When you are out hoofing around and touring on foot all day long, that is NOT a nice way to end the day!!! However, we really did enjoy ourselves, and it was only a minor problem.