Fifteen Minutes in Washington, DC

I don't work in DC anymore, but I have to drive into the city once in a while, because my agency is headquartered there.  This past Friday, I had to drive into the city on a particularly nice summer day, and once I finished my business, I called Mrs Gunfighter and asked her if she was available for a lunch date.  To my good fortune, she was.

I drove across town from my agency to her's, and just because I am such a creative fellow (try not to laugh here) I decided to see what sorts of pictures I could take with my Blackberry in the 15 minutes it took to drive across town. 

 

The first place that I could SAFELY take a picture was when I drove through the National Mall, I was at the intersection in front of the National Art Gallery, and had a view of the dome of the Museum of Natural History (soccergirl's favorite).  Not only can you see the museum, but you can also see one of the ost common Washington, DC sights in the foreground:  The ever-present Tourmobile

This is a better look for those of you who are from out of town.  Should you ever get to DC, and want to save yourself some walking, the Tourmobile isn't a bad idea.  No, I'm not on the payroll, I'm just saying.

The front of the Natural History Museum... just because I thought that you might want to know about The Hidden Life of Ants.

As I passed the museum, this stupid cow decided to pedal out in front of me.  Excuse me for saying this, but it really can't be considered smart to drive a bicycle in front of a moving Tahoe.  Of course, being on duty, I could only mutter to myself.

Getting through the Mall, I was presented with a good view of the Wasthington Monument... the weather is still pretty sunny, but this is what comes of taking a picture through a tinted window.

 

Passing the Washington Monument, a better look at the grounds.  One of the things I like most about Washington, DC is that fact that so many Americans make it their vacation destination.  I know that it really screws up the already-bad traffic, but I still love seeing all of the people enjoying their nation's Capitol.

The Lincoln Memorial, as viewed from 17th street, with the WW2 memorial in the foreground... I wanted a better shot, but I took this on the move while looking at the traffic.

This place look familiar?

This is the Organization of American States, at the intersection of 17th and Constitution... and a lady talking on a cell phone.

What would this city be without tourists?  Clearly dad is lost.

What would Washington be without traffic?  This is at the intersection of 19th & C streets, near OPM, the Office of Personnel Management.

 

This is the Pan-American Health Organization... the building to the right is the State Department.

The Watergate.  You remember what happened there.... right?  As swanky an address as the Watergate is, it sure is one hell of an ugly bit of architecture.

Mrs GF and I had a nice lunch.  I enjoyed seeing her in the middle of the day.... just the two of us, you know?.. unfortunatley, I contracted a mild bit of food poisoning.  Damn!

On the way back to my office, in Virginia, I took a few more pictures.

A better view of the Lincoln memorial.

A view of the Pentagon.  As you look at the building, the right side of the picture is where the plane impacted on 9/11.  The blast wall you see in the photo is new.  Mrs GF and I drove past this place about four hours before the attack that day.

About to enter 395, heading back into Virginia, and my office, ten miles away.

Wasn't that fun?