Tulips, White House Tour, and Lunch

This was White House Tour Day!  The actual tour was not scheduled until 12:00 noon, but we still had a full morning planned.  It was another early start day.  The weather is holding at sunny and warm, and this morning’s walk through our Capitol Hill neighborhood took us up 2^nd Street SE to Pete’s Diner where we enjoyed a Bacon and Eggs breakfast with Sweet Potato Pancakes, before walking to the Capitol South Metro station for our trip into the city. 

The plan for the morning was to get off the Metro at the Smithsonian station and walk north on Independence Avenue to the Tulip Library at 15^th & Maine.  We were successful and were able to take many lovely photos of the Washington Monument through the tulips.  From there, we walked over to the Tidal Basin to take photos of the Jefferson Memorial.  Had it been a calmer morning, the photos would have included the reflection of the Jefferson Memorial in the water, but alas, we had a breeze and the water was not still.  However, we did get some great shots of the memorial.  On our way back to Independence Avenue and The Mall, we saw the Pope and his entourage drive down Independence Avenue on their way to the airport.  I’m sure they waved at us as they went by.

We continued our walk west on 15^th Street, past the Washington Monument on our way to the White House Visitor Center.  There were many street vendors and souvenir stands next to the park as we walked between Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue.  We arrived at the visitor center around 10:00 AM and were able to look around and enjoy a short film about The White House.  It was good to have the background information for the tour.  About 11:00 AM, we walked the two blocks up the street to drop off our purses at AAA , then walked the two blocks back down the street to get in line for the tour.  It was already hot!

Once in line for the tour, everything was very smooth.  Our names were on the list and we breezed by security (except for Barbara’s pedometer).  We entered The White House by the East Wing Visitor’s Entrance. They already had pictures of the Pope’s visit from yesterday on the walls!  On the ground floor, we saw the Library and the Vermeil Room (the China Room was closed off for some reason).  Upstairs we were able to view the East Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room, the Red Room, the State Dining Room and the Main Entrance and Cross Halls.  We took a moment to appreciate the fact that we were actually standing in the White House, looking out at the Jefferson Memorial through the windows of the Blue Room. It was pretty awe-inspiring!  The portraits of the recent Presidents and First Ladies were something to see. While chatting with the security person in the Entrance Hall, he showed us where the Pope had stood to blow out the candles on his birthday cake the night before.  He said he was standing close enough to feel the Pope’s breath as he blew out the candles.  We assured him he had been blessed!

After the tour, we retrieved our belongings from AAA and returned to The White House for exterior photos.  We decided to walk around for a view of the South Portico, but when we approached the pathway on the south side of The White House, a security person on horseback would not let us through. The President’s helicopter was due to arrive any minute for a landing on the South Lawn.  (Guess he was coming back from the Pope thing at the airport.)  We stayed for a few minutes and took pictures of the helicopter as it flew over our heads.  I’m sure that the President waved at us too!  Exciting as it all was, we were hot, tired and getting hungry!  It was time to make our way uptown for our 1:15 lunch reservation.  In the heat of the day, we made our way through Lafayette Park and up to Georgia Brown’s located on 15^th Street NW across from McPherson Square.

The low-country cuisine at Georgia Brown’s was exceptional.  I started my meal with a Georgia Peach Martini, Barbara had something called a Coosawachee Lemonade and Kris went directly for the Iced Tea (she was really hot!).  For a main course, Kris had the Southern Fried Chicken (Marinated in Buttermilk and served piping hot with Mashed Potatoes, Braised Collard Greens, and Pan Gravy); Barbara ordered the “Jerked” Chicken (Spicy half Chicken with Hoppin’ Jon, Chef’s Vegetable and finished with Mango Butter Sauce and Kumquat Marmalade); and I had the Louisiana “Devil” Shrimp (Tender Gulf Shrimp Stuffed with Georgia Brown’s Crab Cakes, served with Sauteed Spinach, Macaroni and Cheese, and a Sweet and Spicy Chipotle Sauce).  There were many sounds of pleasure at the luncheon table this day.  Barbara and I even got to keep the commemorative martini glasses.  We all enjoyed the leisurely lunch and the interesting legal conversation at the table next door.  Unfortunately, it put us behind schedule for arriving at our next destination---the National Gallery of Art.