A visit to Rome, Egypt and Greece in one day

US Capitol

US Capitol in the rotunda

With Franklin D Roosevelt's dog, Fala

The ducks like the rain

Lincoln memorial as the sun is setting

Iwo Jima, for the marines in the night

Its up and at ‘em for Day 3 of Washington, a quick ride on the metro to kick the day off with a tour of the capital building. It’s the only way to get into to see the Rotunda and a particular painting I am interested in.

Through the obligatory security screening and now I start the tour, first up is the crypt. Now shuffle, shuffle with all the other people and that is where the President and family wait before inauguration, then that is the steps he walks down. Now finally into the Rotunda which is the domed area under the capitol building, this the most impressive bit of architecture and design I have seen so far in Washington. There is the painting, it’s about 3m x 5m and one of 8 panels around the room. This place is huge, there is even a Brumidi interpretation of the Sistine chapel on the roof with Washington surrounded by 13 ladies representing the initial states that formed the union. Our guide Paul is a legend, pointing out interesting bits and telling funny anecdotes.

Each state can donate 2 statutes of important people to the building. Paul has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the statues and gets the Americans to call out where there are from and then he explains who there statue is and always has some funny bit about the person to share. Fascinating. My favourite is the astronaut, Jack Swigert. You can even see the dome of the capitol building reflected in his helmet.

What’s that, sunshine? Yes, onwards to the monuments I go. Hop on one of the cute little trolley buses and head towards the Jefferson memorial. As the bus goes around the tidal basin the memorial, comes into view, that’s big and beautiful. Hop off and explore all around, it is based on the Pantheon in Rome. Next stop is FDR memorial, which even includes his wife Eleanor and more importantly his dog Fala. The ranger tells me a whole lot of sorties about Fala a Scottish terrier who got into lots of trouble and was even was included in a speech.

These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don't resent attacks, and my family don't resent attacks, but Fala does resent them.

I could stay and chat to this ranger all day, but alas it is time to move on and met the newest addition, Martin Luther King. Now onto the Korean memorial, so real and finally Lincoln Memorial based on a greek temple this is extra big and impressive.

Time for a break under the trees, it looks like it is going to rain so will just hang nearby Lincoln memorial so I have somewhere to get out of the rain. Well the rain hits and it is torrential, not enough time to get up the steps to the memorial and thankfully I end up under the eaves of a shop with a bunch of kids from Mississippi and a tourist from Bath. We chat and get wet and have a excellent time. 45 minutes later and it is still raining, we valiantly decide to move on and keep exploring in the rain. I am heading for the Washington Memorial the great Egyptian style obelisk that can be seen from all over. The ducks are enjoying the rain. Alas when I finally get there the memorial is shut because of the weather. There is a lift right to the very top but not much to see under these rainy skies. Now to get back on the bus and rest these weary legs. This trolley bus driver is excellent and his narration of the different sties as we travel along is enjoyable, a pleasant hour. Time to find some dinner and rest up for tonight’s event.

Its 7:30pm and I am back on the bus for a night tour, back around the monuments with the lights on. Iwo Jima is the best. Its pretty eerie seeing a little bit of Arlington Cemetery in the dark with rows and rows of white headstones. Final trip for today in a taxi the driver, originally from Ethiopia tells me Australia lost in the soccer today.