Day 10 - Washington D.C.

Unbelievable what this city has to offer. I think D.C. is completely rightfully the capital of this overwhelming country.

We took a bus and metro to the city to Penn Quarter. Right when we got off the metro, there was a memorial event for fallen Marines happening. With live anthem and a lot of pathos. Goosebumps included when for a moment the world around us stands still.

Then we walked down Pennsylvania Ave towards the Capitol. An impressive building, unfortunately currently under scaffolding, but still impressive. From there, we went to Union Station, a head station that is no less impressive. Then the National Mall, a kind of park to the Washington Monument. A huge obelisk lined with US flags. Just a short turn to the right and we arrived at the world-famous White House. Standing at the fence among many Chinese people, I managed to take exactly 3 photos...

Then a friendly but very determined police officer told us to leave the area. 'NOW!!!! We dont have Time!' Something was about to happen, the entire area was cordoned off. Shortly afterwards, we observed a large convoy of vehicles with a police escort. We couldn't find out exactly who was going where... but it was exciting.

Slowly but surely, the heat became noticeable but we still had so much to do. It was over 40 degrees, incredible!!! And we still had a few miles ahead of us. I found the World War II Memorial very impressive... Lots of water and symbolism from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Magnificent. Next to it, there is a long waterway in front of the Lincoln Memorial, known around the world from Forrest Gump.

Then over the bridge to Arlington. There is the world-famous national cemetery for the victims of the American armed forces. A very special place and I cannot imagine a more honorable and beautiful cemetery. Paying tribute to people who sacrifice their lives for their country cannot be done in a more appropriate way.

A little tip on the side, you can only leave the large area through the same entrance. We had planned it differently and wanted to exit towards the Air Force Memorial and the Pentagon. Begging, Traudi and Mutti asked a cemetery employee to take us through the supposedly closed gate with him after his work was done. As always, the Americans were super nice and we could save a few more miles. Then we arrived at the Pentagon, where taking photos is actually prohibited, but I still managed to take one. We were approached twice if we wanted to visit the 9/11 Memorial Exhibition. It would have been interesting, but we had seen enough for today...

We took the metro back, everything perfectly wheelchair accessible! A wheelchair user's paradise... At the motorhome, we had some watermelon and liters of cola... We deserved it!