Arlington

Today we had another relaxing morning.  Jane went to the convenience store to purchase cereal and milk and Starbucks coffee and hot chocolate for the others for breakfast in bed.  Talk about service!!  She is still waiting for the obligatory tip!!

We caught the Metro to Arlington to visit the Arlington National Cemetery.  There we visited and paid our respects at the graves of John Fitzgerald Kennedy andJacqueline Kennedy-Onassis and their two deceased children (Patrick who lived only 2 days and a girl (Catherine I think) who was stillborn.  JFK was cremated and buried at sea in the Atlantic ocean.  His and Jackie's "graves" are either side of the enternal flame.  Robert Francis Kennedy is buried at the foot of the steep slope down from the Robert E Lee Memorial.  The wooden cross (as specified in his will) marking his resting place is the only wooden cross in the cemetery.  There are momuments to chief justices and many other notables.  The only president other than JFK buried here is George (?) Taft, who was a chief justice after his term as president.  There are apporximately 310,000 graves in the Arlington Cemetery.

In peace and honour, rest here our sons.

We observed the changing of the guard at the Tom of the Unkoown Solider.  Unbelievably precise and sombre ceremony.  It is performed on the hour of every hour of the day on every day of the year, whatever the weather.  We also saw the amphitheatre where Memorial Day  commemorations etc are observed.  There was amilitary funeral taking place in a part of the cemetery whilst we were there.  The slow beating of the drum and the slow procession of the carriage with the coffin was very sombre.  This was while we were waiting for the internal shuttle bus.  It was freezing.  The wind was whistling past our ears.  It was hoods up on the jackets, scarves, ear warmers and gloves weather.

The huge US flag hung at half mast.

We then went on to visit the mansion which was owned by John Custis-Washington,who was George Washington's adopted son.  He was a child of Martha Washington's first marriage.  He built the mansion as a memorial to George Washington.  Through marriage, Robert E Lee lived there with his wife and 7 children until he resigned from the Army after a 30 year career and joined the Confederacy during the Civil War. Very historic and interesting, although unfortunately, the mansion is under restoration and all the furniture and pictures etc. had been removed, so there were only the empty rooms to look at, but you did get the idea of how they lived.  The slaves quarters were at the rear of the mansion.

Back on the Metro to have lunch in the office building (600 Maryland Ave) opposite our hotel at Vie de France.  A Chicken BLT.  Jane was bemused by the question as to whether she wanted "the lot".  Well what would you think was on a Chicken BLT - chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato.  Nope - cheese and dressing were the extras.  Side serve of a pickle and a packet of potato crisps seems par for the course with every lunch order.  .

Back to the hotel to reorganise suitcases to accommodate the various purchases we made on our Thursday shopping day.

Craig and Vara visited the Smithsonian Information Centre and the African Museum.

No decision could be made on dinner so we went back to the cafe part of Vie de France and had quite a good dinner at very reasonable prices.  Jane tried out an American version of Creme Brulee - not too bad!!  Craig and Vara headed off for a Mc Flurry at the McDonalds a few doors down from the hotel and to have a look at the Capitol Building at night.   Thank goodness the wind has died down.  It is supposed to be 29 degrees F tomorrow morning.  There has been lots of snow across NE USA and even ice storms, bringing down power lines and at least 1 mil people without power.   Red Cross shelters have been opened up as it would be very cold with no heating available.

Tomorrow is Saturday.  We are off to Nashville to be met by the Tennessee relatives.  We are all looking forward to getting there and seeing them all again.