Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn House Office Building Afternoon Walk

I decided to take a different route for my afternoon walk. Usually I only go there because the Post Office is convenient for the rare package mailing, and most recently I had my passport processed there. The tunnel that connects the Library of Congress to the Cannon House Office Building is usually filled with pedestrians of all kinds. Now the entrance is restricted to staff only, so the once in a while lunch with outside friends has stopped. But rather than head to any of the aforementioned places, I decided to walk to the end of the Rayburn building - the furthest one away - and back. It was relatively empty of furniture and visitors. The one thing in common is the grey and boring hallways. I heard someone on a tour say this looks worse than a crummy high school in Michigan when they passed by me going in the opposite direction. The little train station is located at the Rayburn building - an alternate route to the Capitol building if you don't feel like maneuvering the maze of halls. I didn't recognize anyone as I made my rounds, but I don't pay any attention either. The goal is to get away from my desk for awhile and it is an interesting place to walk - or is it?

Here or There?

Since the usual entry and exit door is closed for repairs at the Library of Congress Madison Building, my route to the temporary entrance to the other side of the building changed my walking pattern. From the temporary exit, my walk takes me to Second Street. Saint Peter's Church, residential homes and parks that greet me along the way. There is hardly any traffic and a lot less pedestrians. There is something serene about it all. It is a huge contrast to the usual route I've taken for the last eight years. First Street, on the other hand, is filled with every kind of moving vehicle, restaurants, food trucks, Capitol South Metro, House Office Buildings, congested walkways, and oftentimes rude people who stand in the middle of the sidewalk and won't budge. When I asked my husband which one he preferred, it was a no brainier in favor of First Street. Maybe I need to start a blog about the differences between he and I rather than the differences between the Midwest and Capitol Hill. Or maybe they are one in the same!?

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

We've been watching the construction over the last couple years. Right next to the house office buildings and two blocks down the street from us is a new memorial. It was dedicated while we were away on our vacation earlier this month. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial was quite stunning in the bright fall afternoon sky. It was already attracting a lot of foot traffic. The flowing water feature is highlighted with a five point star that represents the branches of the armed services. The Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are most dear to me as our family members served in WWII and for the last twenty years with three deployments overseas. The glass walls are etched with stories from every day people and their personal lives and struggles. George Washington and Bob Dole are prominent, and so appropriate. So now when we walk to the US Botanical Garden, this spot offers another place to stop, sit, and reflect on a lot of things.  It will be interesting to see it change with the seasons, but the feeling one senses while meandering about it will remain the same.  

 

An Aerial View of the Capitol and Our House

We were watching a repeat Sixty Minutes program about the Capitol Dome restoration project. Just as the Washington Monument was closed and scaffolded up for the last couple of years, the same thing is about to happen to the dome. One was for earthquake repair; the other is for preservation. Yes, you can see cities on google maps. But it is more interesting to see your city and neighborhood from a helicopter vantage point on a TV show. What makes it even more appealing is to see your own house as well. Since we live on Capitol Hill we always look to see if our house actually is shown. This time it was. It never ceases to amaze me to actually see how close we are to all of these historic landmarks. It's one thing to know you live here, but to actually see it is something else. 

 

A Walk Down Independence Avenue to the Smithsonian Castle

Finally a sunny day has arrived so it was a great opportunity to see how far the spring blossoms have progressed. Rather than taking our usual route, we headed out to Independence Avenue past the House Office Buildings. The cherry blossoms were flourishing against the white backdrop and crisp blue sky. The Capitol Building looked very regal, and down the street the US Botanical Garden was the background for the fields of bright yellow daffodils. At the Smithsonian Castle the photographers were having a ball. The magnolias and blossoms were simply gorgeous in the surrounding gardens and architectural elements. On the way home we passed by the American Indian Museum. The fountain has not been turned on yet, and we were on the un sunny side of the building. The massive boulders in the pond made their presence known in the reflection of the stone walls. Passing back through the Botanic Garden, the mockingbird was trying to get someone's attention as he chirped in front of the distant Capitol. His mind was obviously somewhere else when I snapped his photo. The purple hyacinths looked spectacular in the fresh garden. We really love the early spring here compared to Milwaukee, and especially find the afternoon walks this time of year heaven sent.