Washington D.C. and Walt Disney World 2013

[KeithS]

And there aren't many! 16!!!! -/ -/ -/

Woohoo!!!!

Although I still have two weeks of work when I get there - so it is about 30 sleeps before I get to WDW

[KeithS]

I now have my ticket to the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Just three more sleeps to departure!

[churros]

-/

[KeithS]

One more sleep. I am all packed and will be staying at The Star tonight as Della is staying there for a work conference. Makes it easier for me to get to the airport tomorrow morning for my 10am flight.

About to check in online.

Just need to get through this day at work...although I have to say I won't be super excited until the next two weeks are over and I get to go to WDW.

[churros]

Have a great trip Keith!

Looking forward to the updates

[KeithS]

Thanks Beth. I am all checked in and waiting to go!

[KeithS]

Sitting in LAX waiting for my flight to Washington. Security it Sydney took my Vegemite as it is classed as a gel. Oh well, live and learn. LOL

[mushu mama]

omg, I need to check in here a bit more often, I've missed several departures.

.... have a great trip Keith -/ can't wait for the pics

[KeithS]

I am here! A fairly painless 26 hours, and I am all checked in to my hotel. Here is my day one (short) journal.

Day One! Travel from Sydney to Washington
Got up this morning at 5:45. Della and I were staying at The Star as she was there anyway for a conference and it made perfect sense for me to stay with her and go straight to the airport from there. We pre-ordered room service breakfast which arrived right at 6:30. After a final check that I had everything, I grabbed my bags, said goodbye to Della and headed down to the lobby for a taxi. The concierge picked up my suitcase, and bang - off came the handle! Nooooo... Nothing I could do of course, so I didn't worry about it - the extension handle was still there and working okay so I can drag the case through the airport okay. I hopped in the taxi and got to the airport with plenty of time to spare for my 10am flight.

I went through security and they pulled up my cabin bag because it had Vegemite jar in it. I had bought it for our friends in Orlando but had to abandon it at the security point (our Orlando friends will probably be happy about that!)

I went up to the Qantas Club for a while then headed back downstairs to the main hall to see if I could see Mel, but I couldn't see her.

I then boarded the plane and we were off for a pretty uneventful flight. It was bumpy for a while - maybe two hours, but then it was smooth all the way.

We got to LAX and as usual, there was a massive crowd. The queue I was in was very slow, but then they opened another queue and the floor walkers grabbed the people in my line to join it - beginning with me! So happy days as I was first in line to the new queue. A quick transfer and I was waiting at the American Airlines terminal for my flight to Washington. This time, I had a whole row on the plane to myself. The weather is fantastic across the US today and the flight was smooth and sunny. We arrived in Washington and it is about 24 degrees and beautiful. I picked up my luggage and grabbed a taxi in no time. So I was heading into the City and I saw the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

After checking in to my hotel, I went for a quick walk around the block, found the Starbucks for coffee and a panini - then headed back to the hotel where I'm typing this and watching Nascar. Shower then bed soon - I've now been up 28 hours. Tomorrow, I am going to take it easy and just walk around getting photos of the famous sites. I'll update my diary tomorrow night!

[churros]

Sounds like a nice gentle start to your trip!

[KeithS]

Good morning! Time for my update - here is:

Day Two - Washington
I had a remarkably good sleep last night. I woke up at 1am and thought - Oh no - I'm awake for the rest of the night - but I had a drink of water, and the next thing I knew it was 8am! Woohoo!

I got up and made a coffee, then caught up on the news (remarkably, I was watching CNN and they showed the video of the car crashing into the BP servo in Penrith!)

I hit the road but started with a stop at McDonalds to grab a bite to eat. Full up on Sausage McMuffins and coffee, I walked towards the White House which is just a block from my hotel. I was surprised how small it was - it was great to see in real life though. It was a really beautiful day, so I walked all around the outside of the house and then headed down the National Mall to the World War Two memorial which is right next to the large reflecting pond. I followed the pond up to the Lincoln Memorial and walked all around that.

Next up - I decided to walk the entire length of The National Mall, past the Washington Monument (covered in scaffolding from the earthquake in 2011) and up to the Capitol Building.

I then headed back into the City area to Ford Theater where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. I then went to the International Spy Museum which was fantastic (and I got a discount due to my job - LOL)

After a few hours there (and a t-shirt) I headed back towards the hotel past the White House again. After a bite to eat in the restaurant downstairs, I'm settling in for the night to watch the Nascar racing!

So - do you want to see photos? Here they are!


My White House selfie!


The White House north side


The White House south side


The Washington Mall


Me at the Reflecting Pond


Lincoln Memorial and me!


Lincoln (without me!)


The Washington Monument


The Vietnam War Memorial


The Capitol Building


Ford Theater

[churros]

Great photos Keith!

How brilliant that your job as a museum curator has some perks!

[mushu mama]

Awesome update Keith...

Def on my bucket list to visit these places.

[KeithS]

Day Three - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
My last day before twelve straight days of work - so my updates will be sporadic from here on. This is all about the aircraft museum, so it may not be so exciting to you all!

I got up this morning and it was bright and sunny outside. It is hot too - about 34 degrees. Tomorrow it will be even hotter with thunderstorms - great.

First thing I did was head to a local subway station to pick up a smart card for travel on the trains tomorrow. I then decided to walk all the way to the National Air and Space Museum. This took me past the White House, the Washington Monument and back up the Mall towards the Capitol Building again. I get to the museum about five minutes before opening at 10am.

I was pretty excited to be here - as it is a place I've always wanted to see given the great collection they have.

After entering the museum (still surprised about how these places are free) - I looked up to see an amazing collection of aircraft and space vehicles, and that is just the entrance! Above me was The Spirit of St Louis - first non-stop flight across the Atlantic, The Bell X1 - broke sound barrier, Apollo 11 Command Module - moon landing; and the list goes on.

I headed to the left and went into the space vehicle section. That section included the second Skylab that was never launched, along with a lunar lander that never made it into space.

Without going into detail, lets just say I spent the entire day going through all the galleries. I saw aircraft from the original Wright Flyer of Kittyhawk fame - right up to modern stealth UAV's used today in the military (and everything in between).

After spending hours there, I bought a few items in the gift shop before heading back to the hotel around 6pm.

I then had to start getting ready for work - which meant ironing everything I bought with me and charging stuff.

So here are some photos from today - mainly planes.


Eisenhower Executive Building (next door to White House)


Entry to the Museum


Manned Lifting Body


U2 Spy Plane


Overview of a hall


World War I aircraft


Amelia Earhardt's Lockheed Vega


X-15


Bell X-1


Apollo 11


Entry hall


Wright Flyer


Wright Flyer again


The Spirit of St Louis


Detail view of the Spirit of St Louis

[churros]

Very jealous as I'm sure you can guess!

I would love to see Apollo 11