MLK Holiday

Last week we took a walk around the Tidal Basin. It was quite cold but very sunny. I was also on the look out for slow shutter photos, but not having a tripod didn’t help and none of them turned out - as you can see by the blurry photos. But we did spend some time hanging around the Martin Luther King Memorial. This memorial didn’t exist when we first moved to Capitol Hill sixteen years ago. But since then we have visited it many times. So today being the holiday is a way to showcase the area. There are always people visiting - even in January. The contrasting blue sky always makes for a distinctive image. 

Martin Luther King and Me

Last week was a lot different than this week. We spent the morning at the Tidal Basin searching for the right image for the 52Frames photo challenge. We wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near the place now. Even the bridges from Virginia to DC are or will be closed off. So our weekly drive to DC is now thwarted. But last week was quite memorable. My husband and I were practically the only people to be seen and it gave me an opportunity to spend some time with Martin Luther King. Not a lot of folks can make that claim. We had quite the conversation as I was taking his photo and my husband was taking photos of me taking his photo. He already looks larger than life anyway, but when you are on the ground looking up and are the only one around he looks even more impressive. And it was such great timing for the holiday today. 

MLK Memorial

On Monday we went to the Tidal Basin and were able to park by the Martin Luther King Memorial before all the inaugural road and bridge closures. The area was devoid  of pedestrians, and there was an enhanced police presence with helicopters. I was on my search for a 52frames “get low” challenge photo and spent most of my time at the FDR memorial with Fala the Scottish terrier. After that, we walked over to the MLK Memorial and it was also starkly empty. In order to capture a “get low” image, I needed to literally lay on my back. My husband captured the oddity of it all. In the end I didn’t use the photos from MLK for the challenge, but got a few lovely images to celebrate the MLK holiday tomorrow. The memorial is located on the tidal basin and is surrounded by the Washington monument, Jefferson Memorial, and all the other landmarks in the area - the Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam Memorials. In spite of what all has gone on in the Capitol city, it was a wonderful way to spend the morning. And we had it all to ourselves. I wonder if that will ever happen again?

Bikers and Monuments

Memorial Day weekend brings to town Rolling Thunder- something I disliked in Milwaukee and still dislike here. Harley Davidson always has huge celebrations in Milwaukee, where bikers descend on the town, make a lot of noise, and create driving distractions. Invariably, there is an accident. As we drove back home after lunch, the bikes and riders were out in full force. Along with the motorcycles in all shapes, sizes, and colors (and drivers and riders in all shapes, sizes, and colors) were all the other bikes as well. One really needs to be even more careful when so much 1, 2, and 3 wheel action abounds on the streets. Only a few find their way in to our quiet, "suburban" neighborhood here on Capitol Hill. Luckily it only lasts a few days.

The Memorial Day dress rehearsal concert is this evening

By the House Office Building

Darting in between trucks, buses, cars, other bikes

Not sure why a helicopter was on the Mall

Bicycle action around the MLK Memorial

Near the Lincoln Memorial along Independence Avenue

By the Washington Monument

Along Constitution Avenue near the Viet Nam Memorial

The White House in the background

Future site of the Smithsonian National Museum of
African American History & Culture- tough work on a hot day!

By the American History Museum

By the Archives- long lines today

By the Sculpture Garden

On 14th Street

Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial

Turning on to Independence by the Lincoln Memorial

Martin Luther King Memorial

We rode past the Martin Luther King Memorial along Independence Avenue. It is located just past the Washington Monument along the Tidal Basin. Because it is winter, the leaves no longer block the view, and the White House can be seen in the distance. And the usual security measures are in place- the occasional helicopter patrols the Potomac River. It is a cloudy and very brisk windy day, but the visitors are streaming by to see the newest monument on the Mall. As a Federal employee, I have the day off, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Federal holidays are great!

A steady stream of visitors

Along Independence Avenue

Security helicopters

Martin faces the Potomac River with the Washington Monument to the East

MLK Memorial

It was as bright today as it was dreary yesterday. I knew I was not about to get up for an 8 AM dedication ceremony at the Martin Luther King Memorial tomorrow morning, so we decided to take a walk this afternoon and check out all the action. It was very busy, and active, and all sorts of things were going on at the same time. The Occupy Wall Street group was marching, the Unions were chanting, and we couldn't figure out all the other stuff going on in between. But the largest bunch of folks were hanging about the new Memorial- sort of a pilgrimage for many.  Just imagine what has passed over these last decades. I'm sure that is what a lot of folks were thinking, and imagining as they sat in every corner of the space to enjoy the simply beautiful afternoon.