Tuesday, March 2, 2010

An impromptu trip to China by way of DC

Cabin Fever had been hitting me HARD this week.
I neeeeeeded to get out!
So much so, that I spent two hours on Friday night, searching google maps and accuweather to see how far south I could get in six hours of driving and how much warmer it might be there.
Let me just say that 5 degrees warmer is NOT worth driving 6 hours for,
so I stayed home.  :oP

 
Instead of leaving town, I wracked my brain cells for a plan nearer to home.
That's when I remembered the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit in DC.
AND
The temp rose several degrees on Monday to a whopping 49 degrees 
(beggars can't be choosers), 
making it a perfect day to get out and about.
  
Unfortunately, DC was being attacked by Jurassic-sized insects!!!!!
  
But that's okay.... Grant doesn't look worried at all.
I'm sure he's got it all under control.
  
We enjoyed getting to see an area of DC that we don't normally go to.  
The less touristy portion of town.
Most of the buildings were just your basic, modern, straight-lines type of architecture.
But we found a few points of interest.

I took this picture just as the bells were chiming.
Hear them?
Bong, bong, bong.

(Hey! my blog comes complete with audio effects!  
I just want you to live the experience with me.)
:o)
 
Then there was this building.
I loved the dragonfly awning.
And you can see from the outside the very cool stained glass windows flanking their elevators.

  
They called my name and drew me in.
The building is just an office building, but I had a very nice conversation with the receptionist
who gave the kids and I all sorts of info about the Defenders of Wildlife
as well as a couple of coloring books and a calendar.
And she let me take pictures of the stained glass.
 
Which is more than I can say for the people running the Terra Cotta Warrior exhibit.
Not that I thought that they would let me take pictures, 
but how is one to blog about the very cool things that they saw if they can't show everyone the corresponding photos?!
They did throw us a bone with this reproduction warrior (his name is George)
at the end of the exhibit.
George is a good guy and was very patient with us as we took several photos in an attempt to get one where no one had their eyes closed.

My wanderlust has officially been sated, no more cabin fever for me.
My feet still hurt and I'm more than happy to stay home today.

9 comments:

Leslie said...

that is where you were all day yesterday!!! what a fun time. i wish i could have gone with you it sounds like fun. i love that building and the stained glass is amazing. those giant bugs were so cool! good thing Grant had it under control

Maude Lynn said...

I love the dragonfly awning. How cool!

Alita said...

love, Love, LOVE D.C! Can't wait to go back.

koreen (aka: winn) said...

Sounds like fun. Love this part of DC you're showing. I love DC! I'll have to find this the next time I'm "in town" and see all this. =)

Grammie/Mom said...

I'm glad was on top of things. Julia looked a little concerned. What a nice receptionist. The stained glass was worth it for me.

T.J. said...

I love when you post DC tours and take us all with you. Some cool stuff you found- those bugs are amazing- Bear was all about reading your post today, too with those cool pictures!

Maria Berg said...

I would love to go there and see all the big insects - I have a small exhibition here in Sweden about small insect with photos I have taken so It had been very fun to see them big!

Maria Berg

Jientje said...

I've read a post about the exhibit on another blog, so I knew you were not allowed to take pictures. Except for George of course. Well, it looks like you got fun anyway!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I love DC ~ so, so much to see! I like the photo of the Smithsonian. We have been in that building several times. Your kids are so cute! What a nice time you all must have had!