Day 2 in DC! John and I grabbed a coffee and admired the homes around where we were staying, in the DuPont Circle neighborhood.
Then we met up with Mike and Andrea and went to the Newseum, a museum dedicated to spreading understanding of the freedom of the press and the first amendment (freedom of speech). It had some really thought-provoking exhibits, starting with the Berlin Wall and fall of the Soviet Union. There’s actually a big piece of the Berlin Wall there!
The top deck area has a great view of the Capitol. The roads were all blocked off for Rolling Thunder, a big Harley Davidson ride that was celebrating its 32nd and final year in DC. Not counting the Toys for Tots Harley-Davidson parade along Western Avenue every December, I think this is my 3rd national Harley event that I’ve caught by mistake – 2 in Sturgis, South Dakota, and this one in DC.
After the Newseum, which had very interesting exhibits on other topics too, we went to the wharf area. This genius idea had us wishing we’d thought of it: a S’Mores truck with firepit and chairs nearby. You buy S’Mores ingredients at the truck (graham crackers, which are like rectangular shaped digestives), chocolate bars and marshmallows. Then you get a stick which I think is provided, melt the marshmallow in the fire, and then make a very delicious little dessert sandwich with the graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate. We observed all this while seated at an upper level deck, eating guacamole with blue cheese (!) and lamb tacos. Mmmmmmm!
Walking back we spotted the Planter’s Peanut bus on the highway!
Then, although this may not seem tiring, it was a lot of walking, and we took the subway back to Mike’s neighborhood. The metro is really nice, and the design is classic. Cool shapes everywhere you look.
Later that night we went to Georgetown, also along the Potomoc, or the river shown earlier at the wharf, for dinner. Great dinner, and also we went for a drink at the pub where many famous things happened, including JFK’s proposal to Jackie. Fun day!
We have also seen (and heard) a number of Harley-Davidson events, always by accident. The S’mores pit is a great idea, although I’ve found s’mores to be concentrated sugar bombs. I think it’s the marshmallows and chocolate together.