If you missed part 1, you can access it here.
Day 2:
What a busy day – I’m sure it’s not always going to be like this but I’m definitely going to have to break today into several posts, so here goes:
The day started off with a mandatory Covid test, which thankfully came back negative and then a walk to find a coffee shop with Tony from Ghana (who had a chili bowl for breakfast – they breed them differently in West Africa
) On our way there I saw my first sorority, though it appears all the young ladies were away for the labor day weekend, one that supported the fight for the vote it seems, and also my first gas lamp.
When we got to Annie’s and the waiters came out to assist us it suddenly made sense why there were so many Pride flags around – I mean it turns out even the squirrels support the cause
. I do think that Tony might have wished I’d chosen a different spot though as he didn’t seem quite as comfortable being served by a VERY camp, hip-swaying, mullet and earring wearing, Russian sounding young man.
We were then picked up for a city tour (in true American style
) by Ms. Jeanne Fogle, whose family has lived in Washington since the early 1800s, has written history books about the city, lectured on Washington DC history at university, and now owns a company giving tours of the city.
Our first stop was… The White House, where I found out that Tony is a lot worse at taking photos of me in front of landmarks than I am of him
). Jeanne, who in true David style I made sure to follow around like a puppy so that I could ask as many questions as possible…, explained to me that the ever-evolving Peace Protest outside of the White House was first started in the early 1980s when they were given a permit that stated they could hold a protest in the spot for as long as it was occupied – though the original protestors have died, it has been occupied/inhabited ever since and due to the nature of the permit there is nothing that can be done to remove it – always read the fine print!
From there he headed to the Capitol Building where they were preparing for a free concert by the Washington Philharmonic tonight (between that and Moulin Rouge being on at the Kennedy Theatre I might have to risk going out at night!) and where security has been bolstered in a huge way since Jan 6 last year. (To be fair to Tony, at least one of the photos he took of me here came out alright
).
From there it was off to the Lincoln Memorial, where sadly the spot Dr. Martin Luther King stood when he delivered his “I have a Dream” speech is behind the barricades where renovations are busy taking place. Jeanne told me to come with her and took me first to the right hand side of the statue, pointing out how tense Lincoln appears, with his leg drawn back, his eyebrow raised, and his fist clenched, and then to the left, where he is much more calm; a deliberate design by the artist, who wanted to show the different sides of the man.
On the way out she also explained to me that you can visit the Ford Theatre (more on this later), which quite literally gave me shivers. And then in a lighter moment I looked out over the reflecting pool and had a Hair moment while a group danced for the crowds and the punters tried to outdo each other in their quest to sell cold water and cooldrinks on what was a very hot and humid day.
While everyone else jumped back on the air-conditioned bus I decided to rather say goodbye for the day and walk my way back to the hotel over the course of the afternoon, stopping off at several of the sites along the Mall, including the memorial to the victims of the Korean War, the World War Two Memorial, and the Washington Monument, before heading to the Smithsonian Museum of American History where there were only really two cultural artefacts that I wanted to take photos of, as well as a nod to early radio.
Next I headed to the Museum of Natural History, where I figured I needn’t spend too much time in the African Hall
, but where I did find something to remind me of Paulie [a good friend who died] (who I will forever remember due to his austra-lo-pith-i-cus chirp when I mispronounced it on-air – I miss you buddy!).
The dinosaur exhibit was very cool and I’m Steven [my son] will enjoy the photos, and I found a fellow Namibian who is a permanent resident of the museum
). By this stage though it was far too crowded for me and I needed to get outside fast!
To read part 3 click
here.
Written by: David Bishop
Abraham Lincoln Edward Murrow Edward R Murrow Edward R Murrow Program Korean War Lincoln Ruby Slippers Star Wars United States Washington Washington Monument
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