A day at the zoo! The pandas are the big draw and they were sleeping a lot in the heat, but I finally got a shot of one from a vantage point that no one else had! 
The gibbons were taking their mid-day nap, so they're distinctive call went unheard.
Beautiful rare birds, elephants (building a new area for them), etc. The little primates were adorable. Here a photo of some tiny orange monkeys with babies piggy-backing! The monkeys were less than about 8 inches so the babies were half the size of my fist. Their little faces peaking out over their parents' backs.
By the next night I was exhausted from walking on hard surfaces all day. That plus the heat and humidity! whew! I haven't taken my Nikon with me for 2 days .. just cell photos. Friday I get a Capitol tour with Natalie Brown (my grad student) who works in Senator Snowe's office.
Wednesday I spent the day at the National Museum of Art .. both the main building and the modern building. After that I went to the National Archives. There was quite a wait there, but finally got in. I texted my girls and family when I was in front of the Declaration of Independence .. pretty emotional. A lot of things here bring up emotions. Pride and just - wow: seeing these amazing documents and items that started and created our country. Amazing!
Today I arrived at the Mall early and ran into Al Roker doing the Today Show weather from there. The people standing around got to jump in the background during his weather stuff, and I got on the Today Show! It was something I'd wanted to do since I worked for WCSH about 25 years ago .. but I thought I'd do it in NYC, not WDC. Not a major life goal, but a life "hope I get to do". Also the President flew over in his helicopter while I was there.
I spent most of the day at the American Indian museum. Very well done, very impressive. More emotions: amazement for their cultures and accomplishments and ache for what the Europeans did to them. The museum is beautiful. I had my most healthy meal of the week there: whole wild rice mixture and purple/sweet potato salad. (White alabaster Inuit sculpture of a polar bear)
Walking toward Union Station, I stopped by the National Botanic Garden (may go back with my Nikon), walked by the Capitol, and stopped to visit Nat in the Senator's Office building. At Union Station a healthy smoothie then back on the metro to the hotel.
Doesn't sound like alot but walking and each museum takes hours! Phew!
Friday I'm getting the tour with Natalie, leaving my suitcase at Snowe's office while wandering around for the last time, before having dinner with Nat at 6 then flying home! Arriving in PWM about midnight Friday.
