Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Day 4 - Open Itinerary

On the final day of our stay students were given the opportunity to self-select where to go and what to see. Many chose to go back to the mall to view additional war memorials while others visited another Smithsonian or two. Professors Milakovic and Winter chose to investigate possible locations for future D.C. trips including the Washington National Cathedral and Old Town Alexandria.
The National cathedral, beautiful in its design but bizarre in its content. Was it designed in reverence to God or to our military?

Unknown Civil War soldier at the Alexandria National Cemetery.

24 comments:

  1. Getting a chance to hit the Smithsonians for a full day was nice. Seeing all of the animals in the natural history museum really showed how short life can be.

    Robert Hayes

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    1. I was worn out on this last day. I didn't make it to the Natural History Museum to see the animals like I wanted to. Guess that means I will have to go back sometime!

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    2. The natural history museum really showed how short life can be? That's very interesting phrase. I think life is long enough to do anything. In fact, human life is much longer than the other animals' lives.
      Yohei

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  2. I wanted to venture out and see the Cathedral but it was too much of a walk and I didn't have it in me that last day. That picture is awesome. I'm sure it is a beautiful Cathedral!

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  3. From the pictures I could say that the National cathedral is really nice. I like the way it is built and I wish that I hope one day I will go and visit it.

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    1. I agree with you Mohammed. I would really like to go back to DC and visit that along with the archives to see the Declaration of Independence. -Lexi

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    2. I would like to see the Cathedral someday as well. I hope I can go back to the city sometime because there is so much more to see!

      Maggie Thomason

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  4. The cathedral seems really cool I wish we would've gone to see it. Instead we spent our last day revisiting the museum of natural history and visited the zoo on Woolley park. That ended up being a really cool part of town that I was excited about exploring. -Lexi

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  5. The cathedral looks beautiful, I would have really liked to see it but we just didn't have time. I spent the last day at the museum of American History and the Air and Space museum. Those were really neat to see although I would have liked to spend more time at each of them. We also walked by the White House on the last day, but didn't get very close. Still great to see a historic landmark in person though!

    Maggie Thomason

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  6. By day 4 I was simply EXHAUSTED! My group had the opportunity to see the White House; even though we didn't get very close. It was still a perfect photo opp!

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    1. By this day everyone was exhausted. Somehow you just keep pushing yourself to see more even though your body is telling you differently. One word you must know for this trip "TAXI".
      Crystal Gordon

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    2. I agree with Crystal completely! I was so tired as well because I wanted to see as much as possible, even though my body was fighting against me by the end the trip. Considering I am still recovering, I think I lost the battle.

      Katie LaRose

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    3. I'm so glad we walked by the White House, even though I am in a pretty little walking boot with my fractured foot now! I had such a blast the last day!
      Maggie Luehrs

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  7. The National Cathedral was on our list but unfortunately we didn't have enough time to experience everything. We finally got to see the front of the White House and two of the Smithsonians on Sunday. In American History museum we saw President Lincoln's hat, the first lady's dresses, and of course Dorothy's ruby red slippers. There was a Civil War section and one on the President's as well. The Air and Space museum had spaceships, satellites, and even a piece of the moon. Some of the satellites looked like they were made from aluminum foil and the piece of the moon, which you were able to touch, felt like marble.
    Crystal Gordon

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    1. I bet it was cool to see Lincons hat! Along with everything in American history museum hopefully next time I go to dc I will be able to pay it a visit -Nick Parsells

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  8. I went to see the white house. It might be one of the most famous places in the world. I was so exited. i thought Washington D.C. was the best place to study American history. When I was in DC, I felt the pride and patriotic spirit of America, which was really good experience. This place made me feel like studying American history more since I really don't know about it.
    Yohei

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    1. I felt the same way! I think I know about American history but being in DC made me want to know more. Since we both felt the same, I would say that the city is doing what it was designed to do, evoke pride and patriotism.

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  9. On the last day of the trip, my group briefly stopped by the White House. Despite the fact that it was so far away, it was still an amazing sight to see. I've seen countless pictures of the White House over the years, but nothing is a good as seeing it in person. Afterwards, we went to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian. I was so excited to see Abraham Lincoln's hat and suit! Having the ability to get so close to such important historical artifacts is mind-blowing. I'm also quite the musical nerd and seeing Elphaba's original dress from the Broadway musical Wicked was a highlight of my day as well.

    Katie LaRose

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    1. I too went the White House on the last day and I was amazed by the site, but for a different reason. I was more impacted by the amount of tourism that is never shown in pictures of the white house and then the hideous fencing that incloses the White House and much of the D.C architecture. Both this instances left me with a strange feeling that instead of witnessing great architecture I was in fact at some over crowded tourist destination.

      Bryan Schottman

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    2. I had the same strange feeling but not only about the white house but the whole city really. We alwsys see photos of DC with the amazing monuments and all of that but we don't see the homeless people on the streets and the extreme poverty so close to the area.
      -Nichole

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  10. The last day I took it pretty easy and wanted to go to the white house and then walk around the surrounding downtown. My favorite part of the day was the "upscale" McDonalds and a guy with a card board box on his head playing a mini guitar outside the White House. The "crazy" musician playing in front of probably the most exclusive and famous piece of real estate was a nice little reminder of the all inclusiveness that is America.

    Bryan Schottman

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  11. The last day I spent in the National Mall area. I am a huge fan of the cherry blossom trees, so naturally I went to the tents and checked out the festivities. I did not know the significance of the trees before but learning that the trees are a gift from Japan made me feel proud. There are not just pretty trees.

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  12. The last day I got to go to the American History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. These were great museums and I could have spent so much longer in them. I really enjoyed that our group went out and explored Washington, D.C. a little bit more and did a lot of walking. It was great to see the city and the white house!
    Maggie Luehrs

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  13. I am so glad I got a chance to see the White House. I didn't want to pass up on that kind of an opportunity if you know what I mean! - nick Parsells

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