Ducks and Ducklings at the Capitol Reflecting Pool

It was soooo busy in DC today. Apparently the tourists and visitors exceed the number from before the pandemic. There were hoards of buses and huge groups. I hate it when it gets this busy - my husband loves it. I try to avoid the city near the weekend. Wednesday is usually the best day to visit when the crowds are around. But for whatever reason we couldn’t make it until today. And we try to drive in at least once a week for a change of scenery and enjoy our old neighborhood. We parked right in front of our old condo when we couldn’t find any street parking along the mall. I didn’t need to get any specific photos for the weekly photo challenge because I already had some options.  So we were just in the mood for a morning walk. Congress must be out because the streets around the Capitol were quiet. But one area wasn’t as quiet - the Capitol reflecting pond. The ducks and the ducklings were everywhere and they were capturing the attention of all of the passersby. This is the busiest time of year to observe the babies and their guardians and it’s always fun to watch the feathered friends. After that we walked to the botanic garden and then headed back to the car. I can’t tell you how many times we walked this way over the last almost eighteen years of living here. There is always something to see and we are able to still enjoy it. 

Lincoln Memorial And WWII Memorial

Last week we drove in to town to see the America Remembrance COVID flags art display next to the Washington Monument. It was a simply beautiful day. So we continued our morning walk towards the WWII Memorial. We have been there many times before. The fountain was gushing and it was rather busy compared to the last many months. There was an honor flight group touring the spot. From there, we followed the path by the reflecting pool toward the Lincoln Memorial. The ducks were enjoying the water - a perfect place to stay. When we walked up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial we decided to walk around the monument on all four sides. It was a very interesting view from the rear and the sides - especially when we faced the Washington Monument and the Capitol beyond. On the way back to the car we checked out the tidal basin a bit and the annual flower garden. We hadn’t been on that side of the mall for a while. It was very pleasant indeed. 

Duck Pairs at the Capitol Reflecting Pool

It was really nice to finally be able to drive in to and park in our old neighborhood on Capitol Hill and walk near the Capitol and to the reflecting pool. There was still fence up around the Capitol but you could at least now walk through the botanical gardens and our other favorite walking places. We spent a lot of time at all of these places over the thirteen years we lived in DC. Nothing has seemed the same any more for quite some time since the pandemic and the riots. But the one thing that has remained the same were all the duck pairs floating about on the Capitol reflecting pool. We went there to try and get a fast shutter shot of the birds for my weekly photo challenge, but they weren’t cooperating. So we just walked around the whole perimeter and checked out the water foul including a few seagulls. Eventually the ramps will be put up for all the ducklings that aren’t able to navigate and climb the pool ridge. So from every corner the mallards were in large groups, smaller groups, and most often pairs. It was a beautiful day for the drive in and a morning walk, and for taking photos. Hopefully one of these days things will get back to “normal.” But I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. 

The Lincoln Memorial

When we were at the Tidal Basin a few days ago before all the streets were blocked off, we took a walk over to the Lincoln Memorial from the FDR and MLK memorials. We drive by the Lincoln Memorial all the time since we take Memorial Bridge in to the city - when we lived on Capitol Hill and now since we moved to northern Virginia. There was hardly any one in sight - more police and helicopters. Watching the inaugural events last night made it even more interesting since we had just walked in the same steps as so many people who visited the place this week. Our view of the memorial was always from the other side of town. We lived two blocks from the Capitol so when we looked west the Washington monument was clearly visible, then behind that were the WWII and Lincoln memorials. Whenever we see scenes of Washington - especially around the National Mall and Capitol - we miss our walks and events. But we are close enough to drive in every week for a ride and hopefully one day will be able to start to attend programs at the Library of Congress where I worked for ten years. Since joining the 52Frames weekly photography challenge it is also an excuse to find more photo options. We are hoping the city opens up this week so we can take a ride in soon.