Day trip to
Trip Start
Apr 25, 2012
1
28
38
Trip End
May 24, 2012
Washington DC, District of Columbia
Monday, May 14, 2012
Caught the Amtrak at 7:03am to Washington, stopping at Philadelphia, Baltimore on the way. Phildadelphia looks fairly industrial, but Baltimore on the huge Chesapeake Bay looks very nice.
Arrived at Union Station at 10:30 and met by our guide Ellen for a walking tour. Passed Christopher Columbus memorial thenSenate and House of Reps offices to the Supreme Court. Just in time for a 30 min tour. No photos allowed in the courtroom itself, but very interesting.
There are a Chief Justice and 6 Associate Justices. About 9000 cases are submitted a year for hearing but only about 70 are heard a year. Some very unusual protocols are followed. For example, all judges are considered equals, but as the Chief Justice is the most senior, he has the opportunity to speak first on any matter, hence his moniker of "First among equals". He sits in the centre seat of the court, and to his right is the next senior Judge, to his left, the next senior after that, and so forth. When a Justice leaves (they are elected for life), all the seating positions afe juggled so the newest Judge sits on the outside left seat. It is also this junior Judge who is responsible for taking notes (there are no electronic aids allowed in the courtroom at all; the press write notes and draw pictures as required). The junior Judge's staff is also responsible for arranging lunches and other administrative functions for all other Judges.
From Supreme Court, we went to the Capitol (spelling correct, not to be confused with Washington as the capital of the country). This is like our Parliament House, with the Senate and House of Reps sitting in their respective assemblies.
We were met after this by our limo - a huge 12 cyl black Chrysler Mammoth or something. Anyway, if he wanted to take right of way, he took it.
Visited the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial (camera battery flat by now, no no more photos, sorry!).
Saw heaps of other memorials to Washington, Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S Grant, Michael Jordan (just joking). Went past embassies, FBI J. Edgar Hoover Building, etc. There are over 30 separate Police Forces in Washington (eg. the Supreme Court have their own force).
Washington is really beautiful and we didn't do it justice in one day. We all want to go back.
Arrived back at Brooklyn at 10:30 - big day.
Early start tomorrow to Boston.
Comments
You are full blown tourists and people don't realise how much better it is to have
A guide to give you the facts . The Koreans have made a big statement with
Their statues. Thought Philadelphia would have appealed as thought it a rich
Place. Have you seen the big universities yet ? You will need a holiday on your
Return. all is well here..getting a bit wintry xxx M
Enjoying the travelogue, did you try out any Irish jokes with the Bloke on the seat? Camden v Shammies last week 22 all, Vikings away this week.
Cheers,
Hello Tony and Sue,
Your photos of Ground Zero, New York and Washington are fantastic - special memories to remember by. Take care and enjoy the rest of your US trip.
The photos we all have seen on Movies are great and te blurbs also put us in
On the scene...eg. Supreme Court. You may like to take up a'new vocation, tour guide of Camden Amd it's environs. are the downtrodden on evidence. read on e that some of US slums are right. Ehind the White Housedont try Amd see.
love the blogs xxx M
So glad to read you guys have such a great time. We look forward to seeing more of your Ireland pics seeing as our card was corrupted. The travel blog is excellent we don't need to go to America now.Enjoy the remainder of your trip.
Jan & Peter M